초록 ▼

A method for making sterile suture packages employs a frame assembly line, a sterilization line and a blanker/cartoner line. A web of foil is advanced in a series of movements through the frame assembly line to assemble a frame containing needle-suture assemblies in a plurality of cavities in the fr

A method for making sterile suture packages employs a frame assembly line, a sterilization line and a blanker/cartoner line. A web of foil is advanced in a series of movements through the frame assembly line to assemble a frame containing needle-suture assemblies in a plurality of cavities in the frame, the frame having top and bottom aluminum foils with heat seal coatings on their facing surfaces. The cavities are formed in the bottom foil of each frame by a combination of pressurized air and mechanical plugs which are forced against the bottom foil and an underlying die having recesses for defining the cavities. A blanking operation following sterilization and sealing separates individual packages, each containing one needle-suture assembly, from the frame. The packages are then conveyed by belts through inspection stations and reoriented for loading into shipping cartons.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A method for processing sterile suture packages, comprising:a. forming a plurality of packages, each having a needle-suture assembly sealed therein in a sterile condition;b. transporting the packages on a first conveyor belt through an automated optical inspection station for detec

[ We claim:] [1.] A method for processing sterile suture packages, comprising:a. forming a plurality of packages, each having a needle-suture assembly sealed therein in a sterile condition;b. transporting the packages on a first conveyor belt through an automated optical inspection station for detecting defects in the integrity of the seal in each package as it passes over a video camera;c. flipping the packages upside down to permit inspection by human operators of the bottom of each package at a subsequent station down line from the automated optical inspection station;d. following inspection by human operators, moving the packages to a second conveyor belt and inverting the packages to a top-side-up orientation on the second conveyor belt; ande. moving the packages on the second conveyor belt to a downstream station for loading the packages into shipping cartons.