Stylus winding fixture for winding surgical sutures and method of winding a suture
Novel adaptive stylus winding assemblies for use in winding surgical sutures in tray packages are disclosed. The stylus winding assemblies have a pivotally mounted stylus member and a biasing element to facilitate winding a suture into a suture track of a suture tray. The winding assemblies provide for reliable product supply, quality improvements and cost reductions.
1. A suture winding stylus, comprising:
a base member, the base member having a top side, a bottom side and opposed front and rear lateral sides; and,
a stylus member pivotally mounted to the base member, the stylus member having a proximal end, a distal end, a top side and a bottom side;
a stylus head member mounted to the distal end of the stylus member; and,
a biasing element associated with the base member for engaging the stylus member.
2. The suture winding stylus of claim 1 , wherein the suture winding stylus additionally comprises a bearing.
3. The suture winding stylus of claim 1 , wherein the biasing element comprises a compression spring.
4. The suture winding stylus of claim 3 , wherein the biasing element additionally comprises a tip member for engaging the bottom side of the stylus member.
5. The suture winding stylus of claim 1 , wherein the stylus head member comprises a nose member and a heel member separated by a gap.
6. A suture winding assembly, comprising:
a nest member for receiving a suture tray package having a winding channel:
a winding head; and,
a suture winding stylus engaging the winding head, the suture winding stylus comprising:
a base member, the base member having a top side, a bottom side and opposed front and rear lateral sides; and,
a stylus member pivotally mounted to the base member, the stylus member having a proximal end, a distal end, a top side and a bottom side; and,
a biasing element associated with the base member for engaging the stylus member.
7. The suture winding assembly of claim 6 , wherein the suture winding stylus additionally comprises a bearing.
8. The suture winding assembly of claim 6 , wherein the biasing element comprises a compression spring.
9. The suture winding assembly of claim 8 , wherein the biasing element additionally comprises a tip member for engaging the bottom side of the stylus member.
10. The suture winding assembly of claim 6 , wherein the stylus member additionally comprises a stylus head associated with the distal end of the stylus member.
11. The suture winding assembly of claim 10 , wherein the stylus head comprises a nose member and a heel member separated by a gap.
12. A method of winding a suture into a suture tray:
mounting a suture tray having a suture channel into a nest member;
inserting a section of a suture winding stylus into the suture channel, wherein the suture winding stylus comprises:
a base member, the base member having a top side, a bottom side and opposed front and rear lateral sides;
a stylus member pivotally mounted to the base member, the stylus member having a proximal end, a distal end, a top side and a bottom side; and,
a biasing element associated with the base member for engaging the stylus member;
engaging the nest member with a winding head causing the nest member and the suture tray to rotate with respect to the suture winding stylus, thereby causing a suture to be wound into the suture channel.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the suture winding stylus additionally comprises a bearing.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the biasing element comprises a compression spring.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the biasing element additionally comprises a tip member for engaging the bottom side of the stylus member.
16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the stylus member additionally comprises a stylus head associated with the distal end of the stylus member.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the stylus head comprises a nose member and a heel member separated by a gap.