| 摘要 |
<p>This invention relates to a suture needle for use in endoscopic operations and its method of manufacture. The suture needle of the present invention is made of shape memory alloy so that it remains straight at normal temperatures and changes into a curved shape in the temperature range of 25 °C to 40 °C through a shape memory transformation. The suture needle of the invention is manufactured by carrying out the following procedures: forming a wire rod (1) made of a shape memory alloy; forming a straight suture needle (2) from the wire rod by sharpening one end of the wire rod and by providing a needle eyehole at the other end of the wire rod; bending at least the body of the suture needle into a curved form (3); fixing the curved suture needle in a mold and subjecting the suture needle to a specific heat treatment in order to endow the needle with the property of changing into the curved shape at a temperature within the temperature range of 25 °C to 40 °C through a shape memory transformation; and stretching the suture needle into a straight shape at a normal temperature. Therefore, the suture needle of the present invention can be more readily and precisely used in endoscopic operations due to the above characteristics.</p> |
