Surgical suture having a thermally formed tip

摘要

An apparatus for thermally forming a surgical suture tip from a length of unfinished surgical suture material having a varying cross-section. The thermally formed surgical suture tip has a generally uniform cross-section along its length, and the varying cross-section corresponds to a distribution of different cross-sectional sizes along the length of the unfinished surgical suture material. A first heating die has a first face with a first groove therein for receiving a portion of the length of the unfinished surgical suture material, and a second heating die has a second face with a second groove therein. The first and second grooves extend along a common axis. At least one mechanical actuator is provided for moving the first face of the first heating die against the second face of the second heating die and for contacting the first and second grooves against an outer surface of the unfinished surgical suture material. The first and second grooves define a singular heating die opening when the first face of the first heating die is positioned against the second face of the second heating die. The singular heating die opening has a constant cross-section perpendicular to the common axis. The constant cross-section is smaller than an average cross-sectional size represented by the distribution and conforms in size to the generally uniform cross-section. <IMAGE>