Needle transporting apparatus.

摘要

An apparatus (10) for transporting surgical needles includes a needle holding apparatus (12) having a movable jaw structure (18). The jaw structure is releasably biased (30) in a closed position for holding needles in a predetermined position. The jaw structure may include laterally movable first (20) and second (252) sections for rotating a needle therebetween. The needle holding apparatus may be removably positionable on a work surface (11) such that the needle holding apparatus (16) may interface with a needle loading apparatus. The needle loading apparatus provides accommodating means (132) capable of containing a multiplicity of needles. A needle advancing structure, such as a movable track (134), advances the needles in a predetermined fashion from the accommodating means. The needle advancing structure positions needles such that said jaw structure of the holding apparatus can selectively grasp the needles and transport the needle to another location. An alternative embodiment of a needle holding apparatus includes first and second independently movable jaw structures. The jaw structures are selectively and independently actuable into open and closed positions. The first jaw structure may include laterally movable first and second sections for rotating a needle therebetween. The needle transporting apparatus may further provide a calibrating apparatus having a mounting surface. The calibrating apparatus includes a gauge for measuring lateral motion of the jaw structure of the holding apparatus.