Patent US5437726A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5437726A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for tipping sutures
Assignee: United States Surgical Corp
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Filing: 1993-12-13
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Granted: 1995-08-01
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Expires: 2013-12-13
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for tipping surgical sutures includes a drum around which the suture is wound. The drum is placed on a carriage which moves the drum into a chamber wherein selected portions of the suture are passed through a mist of cyanoacrylate tipping agent generated by ultrasonic atomization. The tipping agent quickly cures and the tipped portion of the suture may be cut to create a tipped end for insertion into a surgical needle to form a needle-suture device.
Inventors
- 👤 George R. Proto
- 👤 Francis D. Colligan
- 👤 Harold Bellmore, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 19:12
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/04; A61B17/06; A61B17/06195; A61B17/06004; A61B17/06166; A61B2017/00526; A61B2017/06028
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
A suture tipping apparatus comprising: a supply of tipping agent; atomizing means connected to the supply of tipping agent for atomizing said tipping agent to form a mist of tipping agent; a drum for holding a length of suture material and delimiting a portion of said suture material to be tipped; and transport means supporting the drum and synchronized with said atomizing means to contact the delimited portion of the suture material with said mist of tipping agent created by said atomizing means to tip said suture material with said tipping agent.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
92 words
A suture tipping apparatus comprising: a supply of tipping agent; atomizing means connected to the supply of tipping agent for atomizing said tipping agent to form a mist of tipping agent; a drum for holding a length of suture material and delimiting a portion of said suture material to be tipped; and transport means supporting the drum and synchronized with said atomizing means to contact the delimited portion of the suture material with said mist of tipping agent created by said atomizing means to tip said suture material with said tipping agent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said supply of tipping agent comprises a cyanoacrylate monomer solution.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said cyanoacrylate monomer solution has a viscosity of from about 2 to about 3 centipoise.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said cyanoacrylate mOnomer solution comprises a solution of ethyl cyanoacrylate monomer in a suitable solvent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said ethyl cyanoacrylate monomer solution comprises ethyl cyanoacrylate monomer in methylethylketone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said atomizing means comprises an ultrasonic head.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said atomizing means comprises means for driving said tipping agent through said ultrasonic head to create said mist with said suture material disposed in the path of said mist.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said transport means comprises a movable tipping drum configured to have suture material wound thereon, a portion of said movable drum traversing through said mist as said drum is moved from a first position to a second position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said atomizing means comprises solvent means for flushing said ultrasonic head with solvent after said tipping agent has been driven through said ultrasonic head.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said atomizing means comprises means for driving inert gas through said ultrasonic head after said ultrasonic head has been flushed with solvent.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising nozzle means adjacent to said ultrasonic head, said nozzle means being supplied with an inert gas to create a curtain of inert gas directed toward said suture material for driving excess tipping agent off said suture material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
178 words
A suture tipping apparatus comprising: a supply of tipping agent: an ultrasonic atomization head to form a mist of tipping agent; and transport means synchronized with said ultrasonic atomization head for holding a length of suture material and delimiting a portion of said suture material to be tipped and contacting the delimited portion of the suture material with said mist of tipping agent to tip said suture material with said tipping agent, means connected to the ultrasonic atomization head for driving said tipping agent through said ultrasonic atomization head to create said mist with the delimited portion of the suture material disposed in the path of said mist, solvent means connected to the ultrasonic atomization head for flushing said ultrasonic atomization head with solvent after said tipping agent has been driven through said ultrasonic head, nozzle means adjacent to said ultrasonic head, said nozzle means being supplied with an inert gas to create a curtain of inert gas directed toward said suture material for driving excess tipping agent off said suture material, wherein said inert gas is nitrogen.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
178 words
A suture tipping apparatus comprising: a supply of tipping agent: an ultrasonic atomization head to form a mist of tipping agent; and transport means synchronized with said ultrasonic atomization head for holding a length of suture material and delimiting a portion of said suture material to be tipped and contacting the delimited portion of the suture material with said mist of tipping agent to tip said suture material with said tipping agent, means connected to the ultrasonic atomization head for driving said tipping agent through said ultrasonic atomization head to create said mist with the delimited portion of the suture material disposed in the path of said mist, solvent means connected to the ultrasonic atomization head for flushing said ultrasonic atomization head with solvent after said tipping agent has been driven through said ultrasonic head, nozzle means adjacent to said ultrasonic head, said nozzle means being supplied with an inert gas to create a curtain of inert gas directed toward said suture material for driving excess tipping agent off said suture material, wherein said inert gas is nitrogen.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
97 words
A suture tipping apparatus comprising: a drum having suture material wound thereon; a supply of tipping agent; art atomizing head connected to said supply of tipping agent; said atomizing head forming a mist of said tipping agent as said tipping agent is driven through the head; means connected to the atomizing head for driving said tipping agent through said atomizing head to form said mist; and a movable carriage, synchronized with said means for driving said tipping agent to move said drum so that a portion of the suture wound on said drum passes through said mist.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
97 words
A suture tipping apparatus comprising: a drum having suture material wound thereon; a supply of tipping agent; art atomizing head connected to said supply of tipping agent; said atomizing head forming a mist of said tipping agent as said tipping agent is driven through the head; means connected to the atomizing head for driving said tipping agent through said atomizing head to form said mist; and a movable carriage, synchronized with said means for driving said tipping agent to move said drum so that a portion of the suture wound on said drum passes through said mist.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said supply of tipping agent comprises cyanoacrylate monomer in a suitable solvent.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said atomizing head comprises an ultrasonic head.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising solvent means connected to said atomizing head for driving solvent through said head after said portion of the suture wound on said drum has passed through said mist.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising inert gas means connected to said atomizing head for driving inert gas through said head after said solvent has been driven through said head.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-07-31 | 1999-01-30 | 1999-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-07-31 | 2003-01-30 | 2003-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-07-31 | 2007-01-30 | 2007-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |