Patent US5709067A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5709067A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for making sterile suture packages
Assignee: Ethicon Inc
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Filing: 1997-01-14
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Granted: 1998-01-20
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Expires: 2017-01-14
Abstract
Abstract A method for making sterile suture packages employs a frame assembly line, a sterilization line and a blanker/cartoner line. A web of foil is advanced in a series of movements through the frame assembly line to assemble a frame containing needle-suture assemblies in a plurality of cavities in the frame, the frame having top and bottom aluminum foils with heat seal coatings on their facing surfaces. The cavities are formed in the bottom foil of each frame by a combination of pressurized air and mechanical plugs which are forced against the bottom foil and an underlying die having recesses for defining the cavities. A blanking operation following sterilization and sealing separates individual packages, each containing one needle-suture assembly, from the frame. The packages are then conveyed by belts through inspection stations and reoriented for loading into shipping cartons.
Inventors
- 👤 Clifford A. Dey
- 👤 Robert J. Cerwin
- 👤 J. Mark Findlay
- 👤 Konstantin K. Ivanov
- 👤 Robert Nunez
- 👤 Donald Pompei
- 👤 William R. Reinhardt
- 👤 Mehmet Reyhan
- 👤 David A. Szabo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:51
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B55/00; B65B55/02; B65B47/00; B65B47/08; B65B9/00; B65B9/02; B65B9/04; A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/04; A61B17/06; A61B17/06114; A61B17/06133
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for processing sterile suture packages, comprising: a. forming a plurality of packages, each having a needle-suture assembly sealed therein in a sterile condition; b. transporting the packages on a first conveyor belt through an automated optical inspection station for detecting defects in the integrity of the seal in each package as it passes over a video camera; c. flipping the packages upside down to permit inspection by human operators of the bottom of each package at a subsequent station down line from the automated optical inspection station; d. following inspection by human operators, moving the packages to a second conveyor belt and inverting the packages to a top-side-up orientation on the second conveyor belt; and e. moving the packages on the second conveyor belt to a downstream station for loading the packages into shipping cartons.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for processing sterile suture packages, comprising: a. forming a plurality of packages, each having a needle-suture assembly sealed therein in a sterile condition; b. transporting the packages on a first conveyor belt through an automated optical inspection station for detecting defects in the integrity of the seal in each package as it passes over a video camera; c. flipping the packages upside down to permit inspection by human operators of the bottom of each package at a subsequent station down line from the automated optical inspection station; d. following inspection by human operators, moving the packages to a second conveyor belt and inverting the packages to a top-side-up orientation on the second conveyor belt; and e. moving the packages on the second conveyor belt to a downstream station for loading the packages into shipping cartons.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
85 words
The method of claim 1 wherein one end of the individual packages extends beyond one edge of the first conveyor belt and the flipping step is performed by yokes which grasp the extended end of the individual packages without extending over the first conveyor belt during a pause in the movement of the first conveyor belt, each yoke then lifting a package off the belt, rotating the package 180°, lowering the package back down to the surface of the belt, and then releasing the package.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the packages are moved from the first conveyor belt to the second conveyor belt by a pivot arm which reorients the package 90° and places it on a flopper table, the flopper table then rotating 180° to drop the package on the second belt.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the first conveyor belt includes means for maintaining proper alignment and spacing of the individual packages on the first conveyor belt.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
180 words
A method for processing sterile suture packages, comprising: a. forming a plurality of suture packages, each having a needle-suture assembly sealed therein in a sterile condition; b. transporting the packages on first and second parallel conveyor belts through an automated optical inspection station for detecting defects in the integrity of the seal in each package as it passes over a video camera; c. flipping the packages upside down to permit inspection by human operators of the bottom of each package at a subsequent station down line from the automated optical inspection station; d. following inspection by human operators, moving the packages from the first conveyor belt to a third conveyor belt and inverting the packages to a top-side-up orientation on the third conveyor belt, and moving the packages from the second conveyor belt to a fourth conveyor belt and inverting the packages to a top-side-up orientation on the fourth conveyor belt; and e. moving the packages on the third and fourth conveyor belts to a downstream station where only those packages that have passed inspection are loaded into shipping cartons.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
180 words
A method for processing sterile suture packages, comprising: a. forming a plurality of suture packages, each having a needle-suture assembly sealed therein in a sterile condition; b. transporting the packages on first and second parallel conveyor belts through an automated optical inspection station for detecting defects in the integrity of the seal in each package as it passes over a video camera; c. flipping the packages upside down to permit inspection by human operators of the bottom of each package at a subsequent station down line from the automated optical inspection station; d. following inspection by human operators, moving the packages from the first conveyor belt to a third conveyor belt and inverting the packages to a top-side-up orientation on the third conveyor belt, and moving the packages from the second conveyor belt to a fourth conveyor belt and inverting the packages to a top-side-up orientation on the fourth conveyor belt; and e. moving the packages on the third and fourth conveyor belts to a downstream station where only those packages that have passed inspection are loaded into shipping cartons.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
113 words
The method of claim 5 wherein one end of the individual packages on the first conveyor belt extends beyond one edge of the first conveyor belt and one end of the individual packages on the second conveyor belt extends beyond one edge of the second conveyor belt, and the flipping step is performed by yokes which grasp the extended end of the individual packages without extending over the respective conveyor belt during a pause in the movement of the first and second conveyor belts, each yoke then lifting a package off the belt, rotating the package 180°, lowering the package back down to the surface of the belt, and then releasing the package.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
103 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the packages on the first conveyor belt are moved to the third conveyor belt by a first pivot arm which reorients the package 90° and places it on a first flopper table, the first flopper table then rotating 180° to drop the package on the third conveyor belt, and the packages on the second conveyor belt are moved to the fourth conveyor belt by a second pivot arm which reorients the package 90° and places it on a second flopper table, the second flopper table then rotating 180° to drop the package on the fourth conveyor belt.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the first and second conveyor belts have means for maintaining proper alignment and spacing of the individual packages on the first and second conveyor belts.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-01-19 | 2001-07-21 | 2002-01-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-01-19 | 2005-07-21 | 2006-01-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-01-19 | 2009-07-21 | 2010-01-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |