THERMAL FORMING OF REFRACTORY ALLOY SURGICAL NEEDLES AND FIXTURE AND APPARATUS

摘要

A method of thermal forming of refractory alloy suture needles is disclos ed. Needle blanks made from refractory alloys are used to form surgical need les, which are heated to a temperature above the ductile to brittle transiti on temperature but below the recrystallization temperature of the refractory alloy. The heated needle blanks are then mechanically formed into a surgica l needle. A Fixture (300) and an apparatus (500) for forming refractory allo y surgical needles using this method are also disclosed.