Apparatus and method for curving surgical needles

Abstract

An apparatus and corresponding manufacturing method for configuring a surgical needle such that the surgical needle has a barrel having a substantially elongate configuration and a point having a substantially curvilinear configuration are disclosed. First and second curving members having an axis of rotation are disposed adjacent and separated by a gap. Third and fourth curving members are slidably disposed in a path traversing the first and second curving members. When a surgical needle is inserted into the gap, the third and fourth curving members can be slid in the path to impose a holding force on the barrel of the needle and can be further slid in the path to cause curvature of the point of the needle by one of the first and second curving members. A corresponding method of manufacturing the needle having a curved point substantially without causing curvature of the barrel is also disclosed.

1 . An apparatus for configuring a surgical needle such that the surgical needle has a barrel having a substantially elongate configuration and a point having a substantially curvilinear configuration, wherein the apparatus comprises:
 a first curving member having an axis of rotation;   a second curving member having an axis of rotation and disposed adjacent to the first curving member and separated by a gap therefrom; and   a third curving member having an axis of rotation and movably disposed in a path traversing the first and second curving members.   
   
   
       2 . An apparatus for configuring a surgical needle according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises:
 a fourth curving member having an axis of rotation and movably disposed in the path traversing the first and second curving members.   
   
   
       3 . An apparatus for configuring a surgical needle according to  claim 2 , wherein the fourth curving member moves concurrently with the third curving member in the path traversing the first and second curving members. 
   
   
       4 . An apparatus for configuring a surgical needle according to  claim 1 , wherein the path of the third curving member is orthogonal to the axes of rotation of the first and second curving members. 
   
   
       5 . An apparatus for configuring a surgical needle according to  claim 2 , wherein the path of the fourth curving member is orthogonal to the axes of rotation of the first and second curving members. 
   
   
       6 . An apparatus for configuring a surgical needle according to  claim 1 , wherein the curving members are configured such that when at least one surgical needle having a barrel and a point each of a substantially linear configuration is inserted into the gap between the first and second curving members, the second curving member can be moved toward the first curving member to impose a holding force on the barrel of the at least one needle. 
   
   
       7 . An apparatus for configuring a surgical needle according to  claim 6 , wherein the curving members are configured such that the third curving member can be moved in the path to cause curvature of the point of the needle by at least one of the first and second curving members. 
   
   
       8 . An apparatus for configuring a surgical needle according to  claim 2 , wherein the curving members are configured such that when a surgical needle having a barrel and a point each of a substantially linear configuration is inserted into the gap between the first and second curving members, the second curving member can be moved toward the first curving member to impose a holding force on the barrel of the needle. 
   
   
       9 . An apparatus for configuring a surgical needle according to  claim 8 , wherein the curving members are configured such that the third and fourth curving members can be moved concurrently in the path to cause curvature of the point of the needle by at least one of the first and second curving members. 
   
   
       10 . An apparatus for configuring a surgical needle according to  claim 7 , wherein the curving members are configured such that the curving members can be rotated around the respective axis of rotation to cause additional curvature of the point of the needle substantially without causing curvature of the barrel of the needle. 
   
   
       11 . An apparatus for configuring a surgical needle according to  claim 8 , wherein the curving members are configured such that the curving members can be rotated around the respective axis of rotation to cause additional curvature of the point of the needle substantially without causing curvature of the barrel of the needle. 
   
   
       12 . An apparatus for configuring a surgical needle according to  claim 6 , further comprising a curving belt disposed on the apparatus with respect to the curving members, the curving belt having an interior surface and an exterior surface and wherein the second and third curving members are disposed and movably positionable to contact the interior surface of the curving belt. 
   
   
       13 . An apparatus for configuring a surgical needle according to  claim 12 , wherein when the at least one surgical needle is inserted into the gap between the first and second curving members and the first curving member is imposing a holding force on the barrel of the at least one needle, the second curving member is disposed and movably positionable to enable the at least one needle to be contacted by the exterior surface of the curving belt. 
   
   
       14 . An apparatus for configuring a surgical needle according to  claim 2 , further comprising a curving belt disposed on the apparatus with respect to the curving members, the curving members having an interior surface and an exterior surface and wherein the second, third and fourth curving members are disposed and movably positionable to contact the interior surface of the curving belt. 
   
   
       15 . An apparatus for configuring a surgical needle according to  claim 14 , wherein when the at least one surgical needle is inserted into the gap between the first and second curving members and the second curving member is imposing a holding force on the barrel of the at least one needle, the first curving member is disposed and movably positionable to enable the at least one needle to be contacted by the exterior surface of the curving belt. 
   
   
       16 . A method of manufacturing a surgical needle having a point with a substantially curvilinear configuration, comprising the steps of:
 providing a needle curver apparatus comprising:
 a first curving member having an axis of rotation; 
 a second curving member having an axis of rotation and disposed adjacent to the first curving member and separated by a gap therefrom; and 
 a third curving member having an axis of rotation and moveably disposed in a path traversing the first and second curving members; 
   inserting a substantially elongate surgical needle into the gap between the first and second curving members; and   moving the second curving member toward the first curving member to impose a holding force on the barrel of the needle.   
   
   
       17 . A method of manufacturing a surgical needle according to  claim 16 , wherein the needle curver apparatus further comprises a fourth curving member having an axis of rotation and moveably disposed in the path traversing the first and second curving members. 
   
   
       18 . A method of manufacturing a surgical needle according to  claim 16 , further comprising the step of:
 moving the third curving member in the path with respect to the first and second curving members to cause curvature of the point of the needle.   
   
   
       19 . A method of manufacturing a surgical needle according to  claim 17 , further comprising the step of:
 moving the third and fourth curving members in the path concurrently with respect to the first and second curving members to cause curvature of the point of the needle.   
   
   
       20 . A method of manufacturing a surgical needle according to  claim 18 , further comprising the step of:
 rotating the curving members around the respective axis of rotation to cause additional curvature of the point of the needle substantially without causing curvature of the barrel of the needle.   
   
   
       21 . A method of manufacturing a surgical needle according to  claim 19 , further comprising the step of:
 rotating the curving members around the respective axis of rotation to cause additional curvature of the point of the needle substantially without causing curvature of the barrel of the needle.   
   
   
       22 . A method of manufacturing a surgical needle according to  claim 16 , further comprising the steps of:
 providing a curving belt disposed on the apparatus with respect to the curving members, the curving belt having an interior surface and an exterior surface; and   disposing and movably positioning the second and third curving members to contact the interior surface of the curving belt.   
   
   
       23 . A method of manufacturing a surgical needle according to  claim 22 , wherein when the at least one surgical needle is inserted into the gap between the first and second curving members and the second curving member is imposing a holding force on the barrel of the at least one needle, the first curving member is disposed and movably positionable to enable the at least one needle to be contacted by the exterior surface of the curving belt. 
   
   
       24 . A method of manufacturing a surgical needle according to  claim 18 , further comprising the steps of:
 providing a curving belt disposed on the apparatus with respect to the curving members, the curving belt having an interior surface and an exterior surface; and   disposing and movably positioning the second, third and fourth curving members to contact the interior surface of the curving belt.   
   
   
       25 . A method of manufacturing a surgical needle according to  claim 24 , wherein when the at least one surgical needle is inserted into the gap between the first and second curving members and the second curving member is imposing a holding force on the barrel of the at least one needle, the first curving member is disposed and movably positionable to enable the at least one needle to be contacted by the exterior surface of the curving belt.