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Surgical needle configuration with five-sided cross-section

Assignee: Ethicon Inc
•
Filing: 1990-03-06
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Granted: 1991-07-09
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Expires: 2010-03-06
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Abstract

Abstract A needle having three fluted edges, all of the same angular size. The needle presents a five sided cross-section at a tapered end. This results in easier tissue penetration, reduced cross-sectional needle area, better wound opening area performance, and minimized tissue distortion. In an alternate embodiment, the flat surface from which the taper is formed is on the inside of the needle so that the outer fluted edges are formed outside that configuration.

Inventors

  • 👤 John Wong
  • 👤 Thomas D. Maurer
  • 👤 Robert Brown
  • 👤 Robert J. Baker

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 12:15
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/04; A61B17/06; A61B17/06066; A61B17/06004; A61B2017/06028

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 117 words
A surgical needle having a tapered cutting edge with a five-sided cross-section, said cross-section comprising: a flat lower surface forming a first side and having two ends, each said lower surface end forming a first and second fluted edge; the fluted edges being the second and third sides and approaching each other opposite said flat lower surface, said fluted edges having equal lengths; said fluted edges each ending at an angular connection to the fourth and fifth sides, said fourth and fifth sides angularly connected to form a third fluted edge; such that there is an indentation along said needle cross-section formed at both said first and third fluted edges and said second and third fluted edges.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 117 words
A surgical needle having a tapered cutting edge with a five-sided cross-section, said cross-section comprising: a flat lower surface forming a first side and having two ends, each said lower surface end forming a first and second fluted edge; the fluted edges being the second and third sides and approaching each other opposite said flat lower surface, said fluted edges having equal lengths; said fluted edges each ending at an angular connection to the fourth and fifth sides, said fourth and fifth sides angularly connected to form a third fluted edge; such that there is an indentation along said needle cross-section formed at both said first and third fluted edges and said second and third fluted edges.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 21 words
The surgical needle of claim 1 wherein the cross-sectional angles of said first, second and third fluted edges are all 45°.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 38 words
The surgical needle of claim 2 wherein the cross sectional angles between said first and third fluted edges and said second and third fluted edges are equal and fall in the range from about 190° to about 240°.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 23 words
The surgical needle of claim 3 wherein said needle forms a double concave surface with said lower surface enclosing said third fluted edge.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 23 words
The surgical needle of claim 1 wherein said needle forms a double concave surface with said lower surface enclosing said third fluted edge.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 25 words
The surgical needle of claim 5 wherein the radius of curvature on said flat lower surface is between about 0.050 inches to about 6 inches.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 19 words
The needle of claim 6 wherein the arc of the needle is between 3/8 to about 1/2 a circle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 26 words
The needle of claim 1 wherein the fluted edges come to a tapered point with an end forming a point between about 1° and about 40°.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1599059A Cited
US3038475A Cited
US3238942A Cited
US4513747A Cited
US4524771A Cited
US4799484A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1994-07-08 1995-01-07 1995-07-09 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1998-07-08 1999-01-07 1999-07-09 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2002-07-08 2003-01-07 2003-07-09 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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