This disclosure relates generally to radio frequency (RF) amplification devices and methods of limiting an RF signal current. Embodiments of the RF amplification device include an RF amplification circuit and a feedback circuit. The RF amplification circuit is configured to amplify an RF input signal so as to generate an amplified RF signal that provides an RF signal current with a current magnitude. The feedback circuit is used to limit the RF signal current. In particular, a thermal sense element in the feedback circuit is configured to generate a sense current, and thermal conduction from the RF amplification circuit sets a sense current level of the sense current as being indicative of the current magnitude of the RF signal current. To limit the RF signal current, the feedback circuit decreases the current magnitude of the RF signal current in response to the sense current level reaching a trigger current level.

A pop-free single-ended output class-D amplifier includes: an input signal generator for generating an input signal; a power supply for supplying input power; a reference voltage generator for generating a reference voltage; a gain-adjustable stage for generating an amplified signal according to the reference voltage and adjusting a gain of the single-ended output class-D amplifier; a pulse width modulation module for outputting a pulse width modulation signal according to the reference voltage, the amplified signal, and the input power; a low-pass filter for low-pass filtering the pulse width modulation signal to generate an output voltage; and a logic controller for generating at least one control signal to control the reference voltage generator, the gain-adjustable stage, and the pulse width modulation module according to the input power, the reference voltage, and the pulse width modulation signal.

Circuitry for reducing power consumption is described. The circuitry includes a power amplifier. The circuitry also includes a predistorter coupled to the power amplifier. The circuitry further includes a power supply coupled to the power amplifier. The circuitry additionally includes a controller coupled to the power amplifier, to the predistorter and to the power supply. The controller captures a transmit signal and a feedback signal concurrently and determines a minimum bias voltage from a set of voltages and a predistortion that enable the power amplifier to produce an amplified transmit signal in accordance with a requirement.

Differential power amplifier circuitry includes a differential transistor pair, an input transformer, and biasing circuitry. The base contact of each transistor in the differential transistor pair may be coupled to the input transformer through a coupling capacitor. The coupling capacitors may be designed to resonate with the input transformer about a desired frequency range, thereby passing desirable signals to the differential transistor pair while blocking undesirable signals. The biasing circuitry may include a pair of emitter follower transistors, each coupled at the emitter to the base contact of each one of the transistors in the differential transistor pair and adapted to bias the differential transistor pair to maximize efficiency and stability.

A semiconductor package device comprises a radio frequency power transistor having an output port operably coupled to a single de-coupling capacitance located within the semiconductor package device. The single de-coupling capacitance is arranged to provide both high frequency decoupling and low frequency decoupling of signals output from the radio frequency power transistor.

A radio frequency system includes a power amplifier that outputs a radio frequency signal to a matching network via a transmission line between the power amplifier and the matching network. A sensor monitors the radio frequency signal and generates first sensor signals based on the radio frequency signal. A distortion module determines a first distortion value according to at least one of (i) a sinusoidal function of the first sensor signals and (ii) a cross-correlation function of the first sensor signals. A first correction circuit (i) generates a first impedance tuning value based on the first distortion value and a first predetermined value, and (ii) provides feedforward control of impedance matching performed within the matching network including outputting the first impedance tuning value to one of the power amplifier and the matching network.

A power amplifier module includes a power amplifier including a GaAs bipolar transistor having a collector, a base abutting the collector, and an emitter, the collector having a doping concentration of at least about 3×1016 cm−3 at a junction with the base, the collector also having at least a first grading in which doping concentration increases away from the base; and an RF transmission line driven by the power amplifier, the RF transmission line including a conductive layer and finish plating on the conductive layer, the finish plating including a gold layer, a palladium layer proximate the gold layer, and a diffusion barrier layer proximate the palladium layer, the diffusion barrier layer including nickel and having a thickness that is less than about the skin depth of nickel at 0.9 GHz. Other embodiments of the module are provided along with related methods and components thereof.

An automatic antenna impedance matching method for a radiofrequency transmission circuit. An impedance matching network is inserted between an amplifier and an antenna. The output current and voltage of the amplifier and their phase difference are measured by a variable measurement impedance, and the complex load impedance of the amplifier is deduced from this; the impedance of the antenna is calculated as a function of this complex impedance and as a function of the known current values of the impedances of the matching network. Starting from the value found for the impedance of the antenna, new values of the matching network are calculated that allow the load to be matched to the nominal impedance of the amplifier. The measurement impedance has a value controllable by the calculation processor according to the application and notably as a function of the operating frequency and of the nominal impedance of the amplifier.

Apparatus and methods disclosed herein perform gain, clipping, and phase compensation in the presence of I/Q mismatch in quadrature RF receivers. Gain and phase mismatch are exacerbated by differences in clipping between I & Q signals in low resolution ADCs. Signals in the stronger channel arm are clipped differentially more than weaker signals in the other channel arm. Embodiments herein perform clipping operations during iterations of gain mismatch calculations in order to balance clipping between the I and Q channel arms. Gain compensation coefficients are iteratively converged, clipping levels are established, and data flowing through the network is gain and clipping compensated. A compensation phase angle and phase compensation coefficients are then determined from gain and clipping compensated sample data. The resulting phase compensation coefficients are applied to the gain and clipping corrected receiver data to yield a gain, clipping, and phase compensated data stream.

A transceiver includes: a power amplifying circuit arranged to generate differential output signals during a transmitting mode of the transceiver; a balance-unbalance circuit arranged to convert the differential output signals into a single-ended output signal; a switchable matching circuit arranged to receive the single-ended output signal on a signal port of the transceiver during the transmitting mode, and to convert a single-ended receiving signal on the signal port into a single-ended input signal during a receiving mode of the transceiver; and a low-noise amplifying circuit arranged to convert the single-ended input signal into a low-noise input signal during the receiving mode. The power amplifying circuit, the Balun, the switchable matching circuit, and the low-noise amplifying circuit are configured as a single chip.

Systems and methods are provided for amplifying multiple input signals to generate multiple output signals. An example system includes a first channel, a second channel, and a third channel. The first channel is configured to receive one or more first input signals, process information associated with the one or more first input signals and a first ramp signal, and generate one or more first output signals. The second channel is configured to receive one or more second input signals, process information associated with the one or more second input signals and a second ramp signal, and generate one or more second output signals. The first ramp signal corresponds to a first phase. The second ramp signal corresponds to a second phase. The first phase and the second phase are different.

An apparatus for amplifying power is provided. The apparatus includes a supply modulator for generating a supply voltage based on an amplitude component of a transmission signal, and a power amplify module for amplifying power of the transmission signal using the supply voltage, wherein the power amplify module includes a first power amplifier and a second power amplifier, and when an output power of the transmission signal is greater than a reference power, the first power amplifier amplifies the power of the transmission signal using the supply voltage, and when the output power of the transmission signal is equal to or less than the reference power, the second power amplifier amplifies the power of the transmission signal using the supply voltage.

Embodiments of the present invention generally provide chamber components with enhanced thermal properties and methods of enhancing thermal properties of chamber components including bonding materials. One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for fabricating a composite structure. The method includes applying a bonding material to a first component, and converting the bonding material applied to the first component to an enhanced bonding layer by heating the bonding material to outgas volatile species from the bonding material. The outgassed volatile species accumulates to at least 0.05% in mass of the bonding material. The method further includes contacting a second component and the enhanced bonding layer to join the first and second components.

An attachment apparatus for a reciprocating tool provides a tool holder having an angled bracket and a guide rod extending from the angled bracket. The guide rod can engage a travel slot on the reciprocating tool. An instrument such as a saw blade can be attached to the angled bracket or guide rod. The guide rod stabilizes the instrument during use. The travel slot can be defined integrally on the reciprocating tool or on an attachment to the tool. In some embodiments, a neck mount assembly is attached to the neck on the reciprocating tool. The neck mount assembly can include a frame and a guide plate. The guide plate can include a travel slot shaped for receiving the guide rod.

An interface between a receptacle body and an insert designed, in particular, as a tool or workpiece insert, comprises a receptacle body (2) having a cylindrical receiving bore (4), which is circumscribed by a first plane surface (6) extending at a right angle to the bore axis and in which a first cone surface (9) is arranged, said first cone surface being coaxial with the bore axis and being arranged so that its tapered end faces toward the plane surface. The insert (3) has a pin (15) that is disposed to be plugged into the receiving bore (4) and is circumscribed by a second plane surface (22). At an axial distance from the second plane surface (22), said pin has a second cone surface (22), the tapered end of said second cone surface being arranged so as to face toward the second plane surface. With the pin (15) inserted in the receiving bore (4), the two plane surfaces are in superimposed contact while the two cone surfaces (9, 22) can be biased relative to each other by limited twisting of the insert relative to the receptacle body.

An adhesive layer that bonds the back surface of a plate capable of attracting a wafer and the front surface of a cooling plate together that includes a main adhesive portion, which is made of a hardened matter of a fluid adhesive, and an outer peripheral adhesive portion, gas-supply-hole adhesive portions, lift-pin-hole adhesive portions, and terminal-hole adhesive portions made of a double-faced tape. The tape portions bond the outer peripheral edge on the back surface of the plate and the outer peripheral edge on the front surface of the cooling plate together, and the outer peripheral edges of the holes on the back surface of the plate and the outer peripheral edges of these holes on the front surface of the cooling plate together.

The test fixture includes a housing, a first grip, and a second grip. The first grip and the second grip are each configured to clamp onto an upper surface and lower surface of a material coupon. The test fixture also includes an upper input jaw and a lower input jaw each configured to clamp onto the material coupon near a center of the upper surface and the lower surface of the material coupon. The test fixture is configured to load the material coupon in a first direction and a second direction. The first grip and the second grip are each configured to clamp onto the material coupon at a location which accordingly results in a desired testing ratio regardless of a variation in thickness of the material coupon.

The present invention discloses a kind of universal mounting hole means for different tool heads of electric tools, which are disposed on a mounting portion of the tool head, comprising a central hole and a plurality of long and narrow limiting holes which orient radially surrounding the central hole and disposed in distance with each other. Compared with the prior art, the present invention is applicable to various kinds of structures of the mounting seat on electrical tool and is more universal. It takes much convenience to people when changing different tool heads of electric tools, and it is benefit for storing.

An apparatus, particularly a chuck for retaining a thin part for micro-machining processing, is disclosed. The chuck is formed of a plate-shaped body having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The plate-shaped body includes a light-transmissive material, and at least one of the first surface or the second surface is a roughened surface. The chuck can be incorporated into a micro-machining system using a chuck support that allows light through to backlight a processed part for inspection.

A pin-and-collet assembly, a longwall shearer comprising a ranging arm attached to a lifting bracket with such assembly, a method for the secure fastening of one piece to another, such as securely fastening the ranging arm to the lifting bracket of a longwall shearer using such assembly as a bushing, and a method for longwall mining of ore, such as trona, using such longwall shearer. This assembly is easy to install, does not have to be tightened during longwall operation of an ore panel, and is also demountable when it is time to stop the longwall mining operation and time to remove/replace the ranging arm for maintenance and/or when the end of the ore panel is reached.

A device for forming containers from heated parisons of thermoplastic material, which includes a heating section and a blow molding unit provided with at least one blow molding station. The parisons are held along at least a portion of a transport path between the heating section and the blow molding unit by a carrying element, which has a head that can be inserted into a mouth section of a parison and which includes at least two positionable clamping elements. At least one of the clamping elements is positioned in a recess provided on a side of the head relative to a longitudinal axis of the carrying element. The recess has upper and lower sliding surfaces that extend obliquely relative to the longitudinal axis for acting on the clamping element. The upper head part and the lower head part are braced relative to each other by at least one spring.

The invention relates to a high-precision clamping device for tools in machine tools of the conventional type according to ISO 15488 and to a collet chuck, a base and a tensioning nut. The invention also relates to a chuck key for tightening the locknut without radial stress. The clamping device according to the invention is characterized by a substantially improved runout accuracy, torsional rigidity of the collet chuck and rigidity of the tool clamped therein.

A tool holder has a body with a spindle side for fastening the tool holder to a spindle of a machine tool and a tool side for accommodating a tool and has a lubricating media passage from the spindle side to the tool side that contains a lubricating media bush adjustable in the axial direction in the body. The lubricating media bush opens out on the tool side of the body, wherein a guide for the lubricating media hush is provided in the body. The guide contains a fitting section in which the lubricating media bush is adjustably guided, wherein a seal is provided which seals the lubricating media bush relative to the body.

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.

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. A handle positioned at the proximal end of the outer tube and inner rod is manipulated to slide the inner rod through the recessed channel and clamp the suture in the hollow passage between the two clamping surfaces. The inner rod positioned through the recessed channel also reinforces the outer tube during percutaneous introduction into the patient.

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.

An automated machine for attaching a suture to a surgical needle comprises a first apparatus located at a first predetermined location for sorting a plurality of randomly oriented needles and orienting each needle for automatic handling at a first predetermined location, each of the needles having a suture receiving opening formed therein. A second apparatus located at a second predetermined location is provided for automatically cutting an indefinite length of suture material to a definite length suture strand and for automatically inserting an end of the definite length suture strand into the suture receiving opening formed in the needle. Also provided is a third apparatus for swaging the needle to close the suture receiving opening about the suture to secure said suture thereto and form therefrom a needle and suture assembly. An indexing device automatically receives each individual needle in a predetermined orientation at the first predetermined location and conveys the needle for sequential processing from the first to the second locations to form the needle-suture assembly.

An apparatus having a frame; a shuttle member, adapted to receive and hold a needle blank, and movably mounted to the frame; a clamp member detachably mounted on the frame for supplying needle blanks to the shuttle member; a transfer mechanism mounted on the frame for facilitating the transfer of the needle blanks from the clamp member to the shuttle member; a press mechanism for imparting first flat surfaces to first opposing sides of the needle blanks held by the shuttle member; a mandrel mounted on the frame for imparting an arcuate profile to the needle blanks; a transport mechanism for transporting the needle blanks from the shuttle member to the mandrel; and a needle side press for imparting second flat surfaces to second opposing sides of the needle blanks. A method of forming a curved, rectangular bodied needle from substantially round-elongated needle blanks is also disclosed and comprises the steps of: transferring needle blanks from a clamp to a holding shuttle having die surfaces on needle engaging faces thereof; flat pressing first opposing sides of the needle blanks between die surfaces; transporting the needle blanks from the shuttle onto a rotatable mandrel; curving the needle blanks between the rotatable mandrel and a reciprocable belt; rotating the needle blanks about the mandrel and adjacent side press dies and depositing the needle blanks therebetween; and side pressing second opposing sides of the needle blanks between side press dies.

An apparatus for forming at least one curved, rectangular bodied surgical needle which comprises frame means, flat press means associated with said frame means for imparting first flat surfaces to opposite sides of at least a portion of at least one needle blank, curving means associated with said frame means for imparting an arcuate profile to at least a portion of the at least one needle blank and side press means mounted on said frame portion for imparting second flat surfaces to opposite sides of the needle blank, wherein said second flat surfaces are imparted substantially perpendicular to said first flat surfaces. There is also disclosed a method of forming a curved rectangular bodied needle from a substantially round-elongated needle blank comprising the steps of flat pressing opposite sides of the needle blanks between a pair of flat press dies, drawing the needle blanks from at least one of said flat press dies onto a rotatable mandrel, curving the needle blanks between said rotatable mandrel and a reciprocable belt, rotating the needle blanks adjacent side press dies and depositing the needle blanks therebetween and side pressing opposite sides of the needle blanks between said side press dies, on sides of the needle blanks substantially perpendicular to the flat pressed sides. A surgical needle is also disclosed having a tapered distal portion, a rectangular central portion and a bored proximal portion formed according to the apparatus and method described above. The tapered distal portion of the needle has a generally circular cross-section, the rectangular central portion is generally square and the bored proximal portion also has a generally circular cross-section.

There is disclosed an apparatus for forming a surgical incision member comprising which includes a first die associated with a base and having a first groove therein for receipt of at least a portion of a needle blank. A second die is mounted for movement on the base between a position remote from the first die and a position adjacent the first die. The second die includes a second groove alignable with the first groove to hold a needle blank therebetween, the first and second dies each having spaced apart channels intersecting the first and second grooves. A notching die is provided and is mounted for movement within at the channels so as to engage and notch an edge of the needle blank contained within the first and second grooves. The apparatus also includes structure for curving a needle blank contained within the first and second grooves. A method of forming a surgical incision member is also disclosed, and a surgical incision member blank.

An apparatus is disclosed for attaching a surgical needle having a generally cylindrical end portion defining an elongated aperture having a generally circular cross-section and a suture having a generally elongated end portion of generally circular cross-section corresponding in dimension to the elongated aperture of the needle. The apparatus includes a pair of dies, each having a die face with an inner die surface portion. The inner die surface portion includes at least one generally planar crimping surface having an arcuate recess formed therein which extends along at least a portion of the planar crimping surface. The arcuate recess defines a material relief zone such that when the end portion of the suture is positioned within the aperture of the needle and the dies are positioned about the generally cylindrical end portion of the needle with the crimping surfaces generally facing the outer surface thereof, the application of an inward crimping force to the dies causes the dies to impact the needle and produce inward crimping forces on opposed sides of the needle end portion to attach the needle to the suture. The relief zones defined by the arcuate recesses receive and collect deformed material from the needle. According to the invention, the symmetry of the needle is maintained and the attachment is predictable and superior to those of the prior art.

A method and apparatus for attaching sutures to curved surgical needles. A vibratory bowl and vibratory rail function to present individual surgical needles to a transfer system in a predetermined orientation. The transfer system then delivers each oriented needle to a frame which positions the needle for subsequent swaging by a rotating die system which selectively impacts the needle to secure the suture thereto.

An apparatus for forming at least one curved, rectangular bodied surgical needle which comprises frame means, flat press means associated with said frame means for imparting first flat surfaces to opposite sides of at least a portion of at least one needle blank, curving means associated with said frame means for imparting an arcuate profile to at least a portion of the at least one needle blank and side press means mounted on said frame portion for imparting second flat surfaces to opposite sides of the needle blank, wherein said second flat surfaces are imparted substantially perpendicular to said first flat surfaces. There is also disclosed a method of forming a curved rectangular bodied needle from a substantially round-elongated needle blank comprising the steps of flat pressing opposite sides of the needle blanks between a pair of flat press dies, drawing the needle blanks from at least one of said flat press dies onto a rotatable mandrel, curving the needle blanks between said rotatable mandrel and a reciprocable belt, rotating the needle blanks adjacent side press dies and depositing the needle blanks therebetween and side pressing opposite sides of the needle blanks between said side press dies, on sides of the needle blanks substantially perpendicular to the flat pressed sides. A surgical needle is also disclosed having a tapered distal portion, a rectangular central portion and a bored proximal portion formed according to the apparatus and method described above. The tapered distal portion of the needle has a generally circular cross-section, the rectangular central portion is generally square and the bored proximal portion also has a generally circular cross-section.

There is disclosed an apparatus and a method for progressively forming high strength surgical needles from bulk needle stock material. The apparatus generally includes a series of progressive needle processing stations. A first series of needle processing stations removes material from needle stock material to rough form needle blanks attached to a carrier strip while a second series of processing stations refine the rough formed needle blanks attached to the strip into the desired surgical needles. The disclosed method generally includes the steps of gutting needle stock material to rough form needle blanks attached to a carrier strip and progressively coining the rough formed blanks into surgical needles. Finally, there is disclosed a high bend strength surgical needle formed on the disclosed apparatus or by the disclosed method. Preferably, the surgical needle is a surgical incision member having a predetermined radius of curvature and an optimized conical radius at the tips.

There is disclosed an apparatus and method for forming curved and pointed needle blanks from a coiled length of wire needle stock material. The apparatus includes an inner mandrel having a circumferential wire receiving groove and at least one longitudinally extending broach receiving channel formed in the outer surface. The apparatus also includes an outer member having an inner surface defining a bore sized to receive the inner mandrel wrapped with wire needle stock. The outer member includes at least one longitudinal broach receiving channel formed in the outer member inner surface. The outer mandrel further includes a circumferential wire receiving groove formed in the inner surface such that, when wrapped with the length of wire needle stock material, the inner mandrel is threaded into the outer member. The apparatus further includes at least one broach which is movable within the channels to cut the length of wire needle stock into curved and pointed needle blanks. The method includes wrapping a length of wire needle stock around an inner mandrel and inserting the wire wrapped mandrel within an outer member. The method further includes moving at least one broach within a longitudinal channel formed in at least one of the mandrel and outer member to cut the length of wire needle stock into needle blanks. A needle blank formed by the apparatus and method is disclosed.

There is disclosed an apparatus for forming curved and rectangular bodied needle blanks from a length of needle stock which includes a generally cylindrical inner mandrel having a plurality of longitudinal channels formed in an outer surface thereof, the mandrel being dimensioned and configured for insertion within the length of needle stock. The apparatus also includes a plurality of broaches insertable into the longitudinal channels such that an edge of each broach projects radially outwardly of the mandrel to form a plurality of inner grooves on an inner surface of the length of needle stock. There is also provided structure for forming outer grooves in an outer surface of the length of needle stock to form a substantially grooved length of needle stock, cutters for cutting the grooved length of needle stock to form rings of curved rectangular bodied needle blanks interconnected by web portions and structure for dividing the rings at the web portions to form a plurality of curved rectangular bodied needle blanks. There is also disclosed a method of forming needle blanks from a length of needle stock having a longitudinal cavity therethrough and defining a longitudinal axis by forming at least two inner grooves in an inner surface of the length of needle stock and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, forming a number of outer grooves, equal to the number of inner grooves, in an outer surface of the length of needle stock and in substantial radial alignment with the at least two inner grooves to form a grooved length of needle stock and sectioning the grooved length of needle stock to form individual needle blanks.

A taper point surgical needle having improved needle point strength is disclosed. In one embodiment of the needle, a tip portion includes first and second integral tapered regions having first and second cross-sectional areas respectively which decrease progressively toward the tip of the needle in accordance with first and second angles of inclination respectively, with the first angle being greater than the second angle. In another embodiment of the needle of the present invention, the tip portion includes a third tapered region integral with the second tapered region and having a cross-sectional area which decreases progressively toward the needle tip in accordance with a third angle of inclination which is smaller than the second angle.

There is disclosed an apparatus for forming curved and rectangular bodied needle blanks from a length of needle stock which includes a generally cylindrical inner mandrel having a plurality of longitudinal channels formed in an outer surface thereof, the mandrel being dimensioned and configured for insertion within the length of needle stock. The apparatus also includes a plurality of broaches insertable into the longitudinal channels such that an edge of each broach projects radially outwardly of the mandrel to form a plurality of inner grooves on an inner surface of the length of needle stock. There is also provided structure for forming outer grooves in an outer surface of the length of the needle stock to form a substantially grooved length of needle stock, cutters for cutting the grooved length of needle stock to form rings of curved rectangular bodied needle blanks interconnected by web portions and structure for dividing the rings at the web portions to form a plurality of curved rectangular bodied needle blanks. There is also disclosed a method of forming needle blanks from a length of needle stock having a longitudinal cavity therethrough and defining a longitudinal axis by forming at least two inner grooves in an inner surface of the length of needle stock and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, forming a number of outer grooves, equal to the number of inner grooves, in an outer surface of the length of needle stock and in substantial radial alignment with the at least two inner grooves to form a grooved length of needle stock and sectioning the grooved length of needle stock to form individual needle blanks.

A continuous process for heat treating and cleaning and tempering martensitic stainless steel surgical needles is disclosed. The method comprises exposing the surgical needles to a partial vacuum at a temperature less than the heat treating temperature to remove volatile surface contaminant. Then the needles are heat treated in an argon gas environment at a pressure equal to or greater than 1.0 Torr. Next the temperature of the oven is lowered to temper the needles.

A steel pin is disclosed of a type to be forcibly driven into a steel substrate by using a powder-actuated tool. The steel pin has a substantially cylindrical shank and a substantially sharp point which extends from one end of the substantially cylindrical shank, which conforms substantially to a tangent or secant ogive except for a substantially spherical tip having a radius in a range of approximately 0.02 inch (approximately 5 millimeters) to approximately 0.03 inch (approximately 7.5 millimeters), which has substantially true concentricity, which has surface-texture irregularities with a roughness-height index value in a range from approximately 10 microinches (approximately 0.25 micrometers) to approximately 15 microinches (approximately 0.38 micrometers), and which appears to be substantially free of other surface imperfections when viewed under 60× magnification. The substantially cylindrical shank is joined to the substantially sharp point at a transition having a substantially smooth, continuously curved surface, and is knurled near the transition. The steel pin is made by deforming a length of steel wire as by forging or swaging, so as to form the steel pin with the substantially cylindrical shank and with the substantially sharp point, and reshaping the substantially pointed end as by barrel finishing the steel pin in a finishing medium.

A process for the manufacture of suture needles and, more particularly, a process for enhancing the physical strength of the suture needles through an expedient cold-working or cold-forming procedure. Also disclosed is the provision of a novel and physically strengthened suture needle, particularly a surgical suture needle possessing a curvilinear configuration wherein the cross-sectional configuration of the needle is cold-formed into varying shapes in order to produce a needle having superior physical characteristics and strengths imparted thereto through the inventive process. The needles are essentially cold formed, and which process includes the aspect of imparting to straight metal rods which are preferably constituted from stainless steel, manufacturing steps which include sharpening one end of rod severed segments so as to form the needle tip, thereafter curving the needle with the metal still being in a relatively ductile state, and subjecting the needle to a cold forming process, such as through the intermediary of pressure die molds or stamping, to produce varying cross-sectional shapes along the length of the needle.

A steel pin is disclosed of a type to be forcibly driven into a steel substrate by using a powder-actuated tool. The steel pin has a substantially cylindrical shank, and a substantially sharp point which extends from one end of the substantially cylindrical shank, which conforms substantially to a tangent or secant ogive except for a substantially spherical tip having a radius in the range of approximately 0.015 inch (approximately 3.75 millimeters) to approximately 0.03 inch (approximately 7.5 millimeters), which has substantially true concentricity, which has surface-texture irregularities with a roughness-height index value not greater than approximately 30 microinches (approximately 0.76 micrometers), and which appears to be substantially free of other surface imperfections when viewed under 60× magnification. Optimally, the ogive is a tangent ogive with an ogive radius approximately ten times the shank diameter and with an ogive length approximately twice the shank diameter, and the tip radius is approximately 0.1 times the shank diameter. The substantially cylindrical shank is joined to the substantially sharp point at a transition having a substantially smooth, continuously curved surface, and which is knurled near the transition. The steel pin is made by deforming a length of steel wire, as by forging or swaging, so as to form the steel pin.

The present invention provides a surgical needle having a needle tip end and a clamping portion to be clamped by a needle holder for applying a current, wherein the needle tip end is made from a conductive material which is electrically connected to a conductive material of the clamping portion, an insulating layer is provided over the clamping portion and a tip surrounding portion of the surgical needle, whereas at least the needle tip end is electrically exposed, and when the insulating material over the clamping portion is clamped by the needle holder, the conductive material of the clamping portion is electrically connected to the needle holder.

Channel-bodied surgical needles and surgical incision members are disclosed having a generally U-shaped cross-sectional body portion and a penetrating tip portion formed on at least one end thereof. Preferably, penetrating tip portions are formed at both ends of the channel-bodied portion. The surgical needle and/or surgical incision member may additionally includes apparatus engagement structure formed adjacent either end of the body portion and engagable with a suitable surgical suturing apparatus. The channel-bodied surgical needle and/or surgical incision member may additionally include securement structure for attachment of a length of suture material thereto. There is also disclosed apparatus for forming a channel-shaped body portion and the suture attachment structure. Additionally, methods for suturing tissue sections, particularly vascular tissue sections, with the channel-bodied surgical needle and the channel-bodied surgical incision members, are disclosed. Also, methods for forming the channel-bodied surgical needle and channel-bodied surgical incision member are disclosed.

This invention relates to a method for manufacturing a needle attached suture and an apparatus therefor. A needle attached suture is obtained by inserting a suture into an insertion hole formed in the end of a needle N which is held by a needle retaining unit 16 and by swaging the end of the needle with the suture. The method and the apparatus have been developed to accurately position the end of the needle for swaging with the suture to stabilize the swaging strength between the suture and the needle. Before the swaging, the needle is held by the needle retaining unit 16, and the end of the needle N is pushed to a certain position by a rod 99 or its equivalent. Thereby, the end of the needle N relative to the needle retaining unit 16 is accurately positioned.

An apparatus for forming armed sutures has a swaging station for receiving, holding and swaging needles that are deposited therein. A linear motor drives a suture insertion gripper, which pulls suture from a supply reel and inserts a cut end thereof into a needle held in the swaging station. A ganged needle transfer assembly with a plurality of spaced needle gripper units carries needles along a line substantially at right angles to the suture line and transfers them to and from the swaging station and other needle processing stations. A precisor orients needles prior to placement in the swaging station and a pull test assembly tests armed sutures in both destructive and non-destructive modes. Both ends of the production line may be automated, e.g., by robots which load and offload needles prior to and after swaging, respectively. The apparatus is capable of forming double armed sutures by using a rotatable mount for the suture insertion gripper and a secondary, loop gripper. A suture transfer gripper extending up to the suture from a multi-tiered stack of slide tables. The suture transfer gripper cooperates with the suture insertion and loop grippers to hold the suture during cutting, insertion and transfer to the pull test apparatus and thereby protects the suture during processing.

A method for manufacturing a surgical needle devoid of a grinding process includes the steps of swaging a needle blank to define a substantially tapered or conical needle end, pressing the tapered needle to form a plurality of intersecting surfaces and forming cutting edges along the lines of intersection of the intersecting sides. The needle may be subjected to an etching process (e.g., an acid bath) to sharpen the cutting edges and/or provide a matte finish on the needle. The needle produced by the novel process is extremely sharp and durable, and exhibits an enhanced retention of sharpness relative to conventional ground needles over periods of prolonged use.

In a manipulator needle portion defect repairing method, the existence of an abrasion or a fracture in a needle portion for holding a sample at an end of a manipulator disposed in an FIB device is confirmed using a microscope function of the FIB device. The abrasion or the fracture in the needle portion is then repaired by chemical vapor deposition using a focused ion beam of the FIB device.

Surgical needles are produced by immersing a needle possessing a distal end surrounded at least in part by flash material and a body portion in an acid bath according to a predetermined sequence, wherein the distal end of the needle is exposed to the acid bath under conditions sufficient to remove flash material from the distal end of the needle and the body portion of the needle is exposed to the acid bath under conditions sufficient to provide a matte finish on at least a portion of the body portion of the needle.

A method of mechanically treating alloy metal surgical needles to improve bending strength is disclosed. The needles are curved and reverse-curved in this method to improve bending strength.