초록 ▼

The specification discloses an automated apparatus and method for packaging surgical needles having sutures attached thereto wherein a bundle of needles and sutures are placed at a semi-automated separation station and an operator feeds the needles, one at a time, into a rotating needle feed wheel.

The specification discloses an automated apparatus and method for packaging surgical needles having sutures attached thereto wherein a bundle of needles and sutures are placed at a semi-automated separation station and an operator feeds the needles, one at a time, into a rotating needle feed wheel. As the feed wheel advances, the suture is tensioned and directed along a pre-determined path to separate it from the remaining sutures in the bundle. The apparatus has a plurality of individually rotatable tool nests which are sequentially spaced on a rotating or indexing turntable. These tool nests sequentially receive plastic packages for receiving the needle and suture at a first station. At a second station, a needle is inserted into the package by robotic fingers which have retrieved the needle and attached suture from the rotating needle feed wheel. The rotating needle feed wheel and the rotating tool nests are synchronized to step together as each advances. At a third station, the package and needle are rotated to tension the suture and position the package and the suture for automatic winding of the suture into the package. At a fourth station, the rotatable tool nest is rapidly rotated to wind the suture into a circumferential channel in the package which surrounds the needle.

대표청구항 ▼

A method of semi-automatically singulating needles having attached sutures for subsequent packaging in a tray to form suture packages, said method comprising the steps of: (a) arranging a plurality of needles on a horizontal work surface while gathering the sutures into a bundle for tensioning; (b)

A method of semi-automatically singulating needles having attached sutures for subsequent packaging in a tray to form suture packages, said method comprising the steps of: (a) arranging a plurality of needles on a horizontal work surface while gathering the sutures into a bundle for tensioning; (b) singulating one of said needles and its suture and sliding the needle across said worksurface to a rotating needle feed wheel; (c) semi-automatically sliding and inserting the singulated needle with attached suture into a pocket formed on said rotating needle feed wheel, and advancing the needle feed wheel; (d) imparting axial tension to the suture to register the needle in said pocket; (e) automatically gripping, lifting said needle with a robotic handling device, and then indexing the robotic handling device to advance said needle from said pocket to a package tray.