Abstract: Surgical needles are produced from martensitic precipitation-hardening stainless steel and then vacuum heat treated and vacuum cooled to increase its tensile strength while retaining the polished surface of the needle. A needle made by this process is also disclosed.

Abstract: A suture driver for clamping a suture in the hollow passage and a recessed channel thereof and manipulating the suture to and from a surgical site. The driver includes an outer member tube having a closed and pointed distal end for percutaneous introduction into the body of a patient. The outer tube also includes a recessed channel positioned proximal the closed distal end of the hollow passage extending longitudinally therein and for receiving the suture therein. An inner rod is positioned in the passage of the outer tube and has a clamping surface at the distal end thereof for engaging a suture positioned in the recessed channel. The inner rod is slid through the recessed channel to clamp the suture in the hollow passage of the outer tube against another clamping surface at the distal end of the tube.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for positioning and pressing surgical needle blanks. The apparatus includes a needle blank transferring system which transfers needle blanks between a gripping position and a pressing position. A side press system presses a portion of the needle blank when the blank is in the pressing position, and a gripping member is provided to hold the needle blank at least during the transfer and press operations of the apparatus. The method according to the present invention includes inserting a needle blank into a needle blank gripping member at a gripping position, transferring the needle blank between the gripping position and a pressing position, and pressing a side portion of a body portion of the needle blank with pressing dies.

Abstract: A sewing machine needle is manufactured without producing any burrs on a blade by subjecting the whole blade to die pressing. A needle blank (10) is subject to double swaging, resulting in it being formed with blade sections (14, 16). Then, the needle blank is formed with an elongated portion (22) for subsequently forming a clearance-above-eye above a needle eye. The die pressing permits both side surfaces of a long groove (28) to be spread so as to be spaced from each other at a predetermined angle, and permits the clearance-above-eye (40) and eye portion (33) to be formed. The sewing machine needle thus formed exhibits sufficient rigidity and provides an increased space between the blade and a sewing thread, resulting in a sewing operation being carried out stably and at an increased speed.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a curved, flat sided surgical needle, which comprises a frame member including an anvil member having an arcuate surface profile; a movable first die member for simultaneously imparting an arcuate profile and at least a pair of first opposing flat surfaces to a body portion of a needle blank and adapted to receive a needle blank, the first die member having an arcuate needle forming surface which is substantially parallel to the arcuate surface of the anvil member; a first side tool for curving a tapered end portion of the needle blank about the anvil; a transfer tool adapted to slide the needle blank along the anvil a side press adapted to import second flat surfaces to a second pair of opposing sides of the body portion of the needle blank; a second side tool member for curving a drill end portion of the needle blank about the anvil; and an ejection tool for moving the needle blank away from the anvil.

Abstract: An apparatus for presenting a curved workpiece to a workstation, includes a frame member and a guide channel associated with the frame member for receiving a curved workpiece in a generally upright position. A first pusher mechanism is reciprocally movable in a transverse direction relative to the guide channel for engaging and positioning the workpiece against a bearing surface of the guide channel. A second pusher mechanism is advanceable within the guide channel to engage the workpiece and to advance the workpiece to the workstation. The apparatus has particular application in the manufacture of curved surgical needles.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming curved needles from needle blanks of differing sizes and material characteristics having a guide die, driven by a linear actuator, for biasing the needle blank against a forming surface. Bending dies also driven by linear actuators are provided for bending the ends of the needle blank around the top of the forming surface. Adjusting micrometers are provided to adjust the contact point at which the bending dies contact the needle blank. The apparatus can therefore be readily adapted for differing needle stocks. The entire bending process is automated so that uniform needles may be rapidly produced.

Abstract: In the production of a suture needle, a distal end portion of an elongated material is ground into a generally quadrangular pyramid shape. Then, the distal end portion of the elongated material is further ground into a generally triangular-pyramid shape, so that the distal or foremost end of the elongated material is positively pointed. The suture needle has four main surfaces and an auxiliary surface. The above triangular-pyramid shape is defined by two of the main surfaces and the auxiliary surface.

Abstract: There are disclosed a method of and apparatus for grinding an elongated material for a suture needle. An elongated grinding tape is reciprocally moved in its longitudinal direction, and simultaneously the material is pressed against the grinding tape in such a manner that the material is disposed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the grinding tape and is inclined relative to one face of the grinding tape, thereby grinding the material to form a cutting edge on at least one side edge of a grounded surface of the material.

Abstract: Process for preparing a pointed device by a photochemical process by coating the top and bottom surfaces of a sheet material with a light-sensitive photoresist, exposing the photoresist with light through a light-impenetrable mask in the form of an image of the device shaped with a blunt end at the tip of the point to compensate for lateral etching during the etching step, said image on the top surface being slightly offset relative to the image on the bottom surface, further exposing with light a portion of the image of the point of the device on the top surface of the sheet material, said exposure conforming generally to a V-shaped configuration running along the inside perimeter of the point, removing exposed photoresist, and then contacting the treated sheet material with an etchant to remove material not protected by the remaining photoresist.

Abstract: A fastener dispensing needle is manufactured by a machining process which includes bending a metal tube to assist in obtaining an important configuration for the tip of the needle. A flared portion of the needle tip determines the diameter of the hole made through the material of the object being penetrated by the needle. This flared portion is sized to make a hole at least large enough to overlap with the diameter of the central bore through the needle. This minimizes unnecessary stresses on the fastener as it is ejected from the needle, thus resulting in fewer undesired breakages of the fasteners. In addition, the area of the needle where the central bore and longitudinal groove merge into the tip portion of the needle is configured to minimize cutting action on the filament of the fastener, again resulting in fewer undesired breakages.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for accurately forming suture cut-off feature in a surgical needle of the socketed type.

Abstract: An apparatus for connecting a thread wound on a bobbin to a surgical needle including feeding rollers for unwinding the thread from the bobbin, a tube-like chuck for selectively fix the thread thereto, a guide for guiding the front end of the thread, a feeding device for supporting the needle such that a hole formed in a rear end face of the needle is faced to the front end of the thread, and a clamping device having pushing rods for pressing the rear end of the needle to clamp the thread in the hole. By moving the needle to the guide, the front end of the thread is inserted into the hole of the needle, and then the clamping device is driven to press the rear end of the needle so that the thread is clamped in the hole. Then, the thread is unwound from the bobbin by a desired length by moving the feeding device away from the guide, and finally the thread is cut along an inclined line.

Abstract: A method for the production of bamboo-made knitting sticks provided with a gauge scale comprises the steps of processing a bamboo material into a rod of a round or quadratic shape in cross-section, linearly providing a groove of a concave shape in cross-section in a central surface of said rod, inserting into a bonding to said groove a scale sheet formed of paper, synthetic resin or metal and bearing length readings in cm or mm, casting and curing transparent synthetic resin in said groove to seal said scale sheet in said groove, and finish-processing the surface of the cured synthetic resin to make it uniformly contiguous to the surface of said bamboo material for a knitting stick without any step therebetween and make the circumference of said knitting stick complete, whereby said scale is seen through the cast and cured transparent synthetic resin.

Abstract: A suturing needle with suture used in a surgical operation and a method of producing the same. The suturing needle is formed of a single or two or more doubled hollow tubes and a core material inserted thereinto, which is fixed to the tip and root of the suturing needle, whereby, when the suturing needle is broken during the operation, broken pieces are not scattered and extraction of each broken piece from a body tissue during operation is facilitated.

Abstract: A progressive die process for making medical needles attached to a carrier strip, as well as the product of the process. The process includes steps of forming a flat blank in unitary attachment with a carrier strip and coining edges of the tip of each flat blank, arcuately shaping the blank, and closeably forming the arcuate blank to create a medical needle having a holding portion, a cannulated portion and a tip. In addition, the cannulated portion may be encased for fluid delivery or grooved so the needle may be split.

Abstract: Surgical needles are produced by a process which comprises the steps of:(a) coating at least one side of a metal sheet with a light sensitive photoresist;(b) exposing the photoresist with light in the image of a plurality of surgical needles, each needle having a pointed end and a suture attachment end;(c) removing the unexposed photoresist, to thereby leave in place on the metal sheet hardened photoresist in the image of a plurality of surgical needles;(d) exposing the product of step (c) to an etchant to remove metal not protected by said hardened photoresist, to thereby form a plurality of surgical needles.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for staking a proximal end of an operating needle, with one end of a suture being inserted into a bore in the proximal end of the needle, to attach the suture to the needle. A staking unit has a pair of staking disc at least one of which is movable relative to the other. The dies are respecitvely provided therein with recesses between which the proximal end of the needle is staked. The staking unit is mounted on a table so as to be demountable therefrom. An electric power supply unit is provided which is separate from the staking unit, but is connected thereto through a plug and a socket. A foot switch is connected to the power supply unit for controlling the operation of the staking unit. A plurality of the staking units are prepared which include their respective pairs of staking dies different in dimension of the recesses from each other. One of the staking units is selected, which includes its corresponding pair of staking dies adapted to a needle to be staked.

Abstract: A method of forming a bore for attachment of an end of a suture, in a proximal end portion of an eyeless operating needle. An original needle is prepared which has its outer diameter greater than that of the operating needle. Beam is applied to an end face of a proximal end portion of the original needle to form the bore therein extending along an axis of the proximal end portion of the original needle, with an outer peripheral portion of the original needle serving as a heat conductive material. Subsequently, an outer diameter of the original needle is reduced to remove the outer peripheral portion from the original needle, to form the operating needle. Alternatively, a separate heat conductive material is disposed around at least one eyeless operating needle and is removed after the bore is formed in the proximal end portion of the operating needle.

Abstract: Elongate grooves are provided along both or one side of the shank of a knitting needle. The elongate groove is parallel with the back edge and is positioned between the back and front edges of the shank of the needle. The elongate grooves reduce the weight of the needle without substantially reducing the vertical rigidity of the shank of the needle and function to reduce the transmission of impact shock from the needle butt to the hook. The grooves also provide a passageway extending longitudinally along the needle shank to provide for improved retention and distribution of lubricant along the needle shank.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for finlessly pressing sewing machine needles without compromising any predetermined final needle configuration by operating on the needle blank prior to any deformation by pressing step to form in the blank a varying cross-sectional area along its length matching the finished needle cross-sectional area.

Abstract: Surgical needles are produced by a process which comprises the steps of:(a) coating at least one side of a metal sheet with a light sensitive photoresist;(b) exposing the photoresist with light in the image of a plurality of surgical needles, each needle having a pointed end and a suture attachment end;(c) removing the unexposed photoresist, to thereby leave in place on the metal sheet hardened photoresist in the image of a plurality of surgical needles;(d) exposing the product of step (c) to an etchant to remove metal not protected by said hardened photoresist, to thereby form a plurality of surgical needles.

Abstract: A improved needle and method of forming the improved needle from an elongated cylindrical shank. The needle is formed by first cutting or grinding one end of the shank to create a first bevel surface disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the needle. Thereafter as many as five additional bevel surfaces are formed or ground at the end of the shank with each bevel surface removing at least a portion of the peripheral edge of a previously formed bevel surface.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing sewing machine needles, each having a needle shank with a point, a needle butt and a section between the shank and the butt, from a cylindrical length of wire constituting two coaxial connected needle blanks being of one-piece which are worked simultaneously such that two of the needles are formed therefrom arranged with points of the two needles facing each other.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing sewing machine needles from a cylindrical length of wire by compression molding, comprising the steps of selecting the length of the wire substantially corresponding to two of the needles to be manufactured and a diameter of the wire corresponding to the thickness of a butt of the needles to be manufactured, the length being equal substantially to two coaxial connected needle blanks of one-piece for the needles to be manufactured, simultaneously working the two needle blanks to form the two needles, with the two needle blanks being worked such that the butts respectively face each other, by the steps of forming the blanks approximately to a final cross-sectional dimension of the two needles to be manufactured over their shanks and sections between the butts and shanks while leaving the butts of the two needles facing each other back to back and pressing grooves in the wire from transversely convexly curved outer surfaces of the wire within a region of the shanks, while simultaneously

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the manufacture of sewing machine needles from a cylindrical length of wire by form pressing a length of wire having a diameter which corresponds to the thickness of the needle butt, the wire is reduced to approximately the final cross sectional dimension over at least the length of the needle shank and the shoulder. The thread grooves are pressed in from the curved outer surfaces of the length of wire within the region of the needle shank. The reduction in cross section is effected by pressing opposite cross sections of wire material to form laterally protruding flat burrs. In between the flat burrs are transverse convex curved outer surfaces which lie within the final diameter. This intermediate form of the needle closely resembles its complete final shape. Several needle blanks, in particular two needle blanks, are attached together in the region of their points for simultaneous form pressing.

Abstract: A method for forming a suture-receiving hole in an eyeless suture needle. An oxidation resistant needle material and a heat resistant pressing tool are provided. The base end of the needle is heated to a temperature near its melting point and the heat resistant perforating tool is pressed into the base of the needle to form the desired suture-receiving hole. As an alternative, a preliminary hole can be formed in the base end of the needle material before the perforating tool is pressed into the hole as the final finishing step. Other variations include rotating or vibrating the perforating tool as it is pressed into the base end of the needle.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing hollow needles from round metal blanks in order to form a needle which has an inner front portion with a front end tapering to a point and a rear portion having a larger diameter than the front portion and forming a mounting shank, comprising forming a longitudinally extending needle guide to the needle such that the guide is open at the rear end of the mounting shank and tapers from a substantially uniform depth along a major portion of its length to a minimum depth adjacent the tip. The channel is of a shape to receive substantially cylindrical cross pins having an appended piece of filament which form a part of fasteners for tags, buttons and similar items to be attached to carrier materials such as textiles. The method is carried out by the use of a disc-shaped miller cutter which has U-shaped convex teeth for milling the central area of the channel in side tooth portions for milling shoulders on each side of the channel which are of lesser depth than the channel.

Abstract: A method and tool is disclosed for placing a series of beads on a braid of hair in which the braid is received through a loop formed of a cord on which the beads have been strung, the beads then being pushed onto the braid which is then removed from the loop.

Abstract: Process for smoothing the eye of a needle during maufacture using high power density radiation from a laser to melt the surfaces of the eye area and subsequently permitting the melted surfaces to solidify giving smoother surfacing.

Abstract: Surgical needles are attached to sutures with controlled pull-out characteristics by a short crimp--that is a crimp whose length is markedly less than the length of the end of the suture in the needle; with an essentially undistorted portion of the needle adjacent to where the suture emerges from the needle, and an essentially undistorted portion around the front of the suture, so that only a short section of the needle is crimped around the suture. This leaves the suture uncrushed where it emerges from the needle and hence of superior strength where sharp bends occur during use. It also leaves an undistorted portion of the suture ahead of the crimp so that on pull-out, the suture is retained not only by frictional engagement of the crimp but also by the forces required for the distortion of the head of the suture so that it will pull through the reduced section of the crimp.

Abstract: Surgical needles are attached to sutures with controlled pull-out characteristics by a short crimp--that is a crimp whose length is markedly less than the length of the end of the suture in the needle; with an essentially undistorted portion of the needle adjacent to where the suture emerges from the needle, and an essentially undistorted portion around the front of the suture, so that only a short section of the needle is crimped around the suture. This leaves the suture uncrushed where it emerges from the needle and hence of superior strength where sharp bends occur during use. It also leaves an undistorted portion of the suture ahead of the crimp so that on pull-out, the suture is retained not only by frictional engagement of the crimp but also by the forces required for the distortion of the head of the suture so that it will pull through the reduced section of the crimp.

Abstract: The method of fabricating a sewing machine needle is disclosed in which the needle blade including the long groove and the eye portion with a thin eye-accommodating web is cold formed in one finless flow pressing operation. The method of forming the needle orienting flat on the needle butt and laterally displacing the needle blade relatively thereto by a flow pressing operation is disclosed. A method of flaring the side flanges particularly in the eye portion to facilitate threading and a needle so constructed is also disclosed.

Abstract: The steps in the manufacture of a sewing machine needle are disclosed in which the needle blade is shaped by first being subjected to a flow-pressing operation to form a groove with raised side flanges and thereafter the eye portion is subjected to a die pressing operation which can further raise the side flanges. The needle is then completed by eye punching, pointing, and fin removal.

Abstract: A device for inserting dental floss in difficult-to-reach areas under dental bridges or splints, comprising a length of flexible material formed into a loop, the ends of which are bonded together over a substantial portion to provide a stiffened elongated guide portion. The floss is threaded through the loop and the device, with the guide portion leading, is passed under two connected teeth of a bridge through interproximal areas whereby the floss is inserted through such areas.

Abstract: A method of manufacture is disclosed by which punched holes in mass produced parts, such as sewing machine needles and yarn guiding elements for textile machines, can be readily shaped, deburred and polished using die-shaping procedures only.

Abstract: Needle apparatus is disclosed which includes a pair of flexible members secured together at the ends of the members and biased together but separable apart to provide an eye for the needle which is substantially the length of the needle.

Abstract: This is a knitting machine latch needle. The latch pivot is formed by displacing portions of the walls of the slot so that the displaced portions extend into the pivot hole of the latch. The displaced portions of the walls are fused together by a high energy heat source emitting sufficient energy to either drill a hole through the displaced portions or melt the displaced portions.