Inventors:
John Wong - Bridgewater NJ
Thomas D. Maurer - San Angelo TX
Robert Brown - Edinburgh, GB6
Robert J. Baker - Hampton NJ
Assignee:
Ethicon, Inc. - Somerville NJ
International Classification:
A61B 1700
Abstract:
A needle having three fluted edges, all of the same angular size. The needle presents a five sided cross-section at a tapered end. This results in easier tissue penetration, reduced cross-sectional needle area, better wound opening area performance, and minimized tissue distortion. In an alternate embodiment, the flat surface from which the taper is formed is on the inside of the needle so that the outer fluted edges are formed outside that configuration.