Patent ID: 6128816
Filing Date: 2000-10-10
Classification: A61B,B21G,B26D,B65H,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for cutting an indefinite length of suture strand to a uniform length and inserting said indefinite length suture strand into a suture receiving opening of a surgical needle, comprising the steps of:a. feeding said indefinite length suture strand to a drawing axis for drawing and cutting thereof, said drawing axis being defined as being parallel to first and second longitudinal members of a drawing frame;b. mounting a cutting means on a moveable carrier for movement along the drawing frame and parallel to said drawing axis;c. gripping said indefinite length suture strand by a first gripping means, said first gripping means being mounted for reciprocal movement on said first longitudinal member;d. drawing said indefinite length suture strand along said drawing axis by said first gripping means which is gripping said strand, said suture strand being drawn by said first gripping means from a start position along said drawing axis before the cutting means to a predetermined distance beyond the cutting means;e. inserting a free end of said indefinite length suture strand into said suture receiving opening of said needle for swaging thereof;f. reciprocating a second gripping means to said start position along said drawing axis before said cutting means while said first gripping means is drawing said indefinite length suture strand a predetermined distance beyond said cutting means, said second gripping means being mounted for reciprocal movement on said second longitudinal member;g. gripping said indefinite length suture strand at said start position by said second gripping means; andh. cutting said indefinite length suture strand while the indefinite length suture strand is gripped by said first gripping means beyond the cutting means and is gripped by said second gripping means before the cutting means, to form a suture strand of predetermined length received by said suture receiving opening of said needle and gripped by said first gripping means, and an indefinite length of suture strand gripped by said second gripping means at said start position.