A sputtering target with low generation of particles in which oxides, carbides, nitrides, borides, intermetallic compounds, carbonitrides, and other substances without ductility exist in a matrix phase made of a highly ductile substance at a volume ratio of 1 to 50%, wherein a highly ductile and conductive metal coating layer is formed on an outermost surface of the target. Provided are a sputtering target capable of improving the target surface in which numerous substances without ductility exist and preventing or inhibiting the generation of nodules and particles during sputtering, and a method of producing such a sputtering target.

Provided is an inorganic-particle-dispersed sputtering target in which inorganic particles are dispersed in a Co base material, wherein the inorganic particles have an electric resistivity of 1×101 Ω·m or less and the volume ratio of the inorganic particles in the target is 50% or less. The sputtering target thus adjusted is advantageous in that, when sputtering is performed using a magnetron sputtering device comprising a DC power source, the inorganic particles are less charged, and arcing occurs less frequently. Accordingly, by using the sputtering target of the present invention, the occurrence of particles attributable to the arcing reduces, and a significant effect of improving the yield in forming a thin film is obtained.

Provided is a sputtering apparatus which deposits a metal catalyst on an amorphous silicon layer at an extremely low concentration in order to crystallize amorphous silicon, and particularly minimizes non-uniformity of the metal catalyst caused by a pre-sputtering process without reducing process efficiency. This sputtering apparatus improves the uniformity of the metal catalyst deposited on the amorphous silicon layer at an extremely low concentration. The sputtering apparatus includes a process chamber having first and second regions, a metal target located inside the process chamber, a target transfer unit moving the metal target and having a first shield for controlling a traveling direction of a metal catalyst discharged from the metal target, and a substrate holder disposed in the second region to be capable of facing the metal target. A distance difference between a linear distance, which is a distance between a substrate loaded on the substrate holder and the metal target, and a length of the first shield is less than 3 cm.

A method for producing a transparent and conductive metal oxide layer on a substrate, includes atomizing at least one component of the metal oxide layer by highly ionized, high power pulsed magnetron sputtering to condense on the substrate. The pulses of the magnetron have a peak power density of more than 1.5 kW/cm2, the pulses of the magnetron have a duration of ≦200 μs, and the average increase in current density during ignition of the plasma within an interval, which is ≦0.025 ms, is at least 106 A/(ms cm2).

A metal material is provided with a bismuth coating which enables the subsequent coating to be accomplished at a high throwing power, and has excellent corrosion resistance, coating adhesion and is able to be produced with reduced damage to the environment. The metal material has a surface and a bismuth-containing layer deposited on at least a part of the surface of the metal material, wherein the percentage of bismuth atoms in the number of atoms in the surface layer of the metal material with a bismuth coating is at least 10%.

A sputtering target including a sintered body including In, Ga and Mg, the sintered body including one or more compounds selected from a compound represented by In2O3, a compound represented by In(GaMg)O4, a compound represented by Ga2MgO4 and a compound represented by In2MgO4, andhaving an atomic ratio In/(In+Ga+Mg) of 0.5 or more and 0.9999 or less and an atomic ratio (Ga+Mg)/(In+Ga+Mg) of 0.0001 or more and 0.5 or less.

The invention relates to design of short oligonucleotides and analogs thereof (such as, di-, and trinucleotide compounds) useful for various therapeutic applications. It is believed that the compounds of the invention can be used as antiviral agents, anticancer agents and so on. In certain embodiments, the compounds of the invention can modulate immune-stimulatory pathways and non-TLR pathways. The invention also relates to design modified oligonucleotides for therapeutic applications, by excluding nucleotide segments having off-target effects from the modified oligonucleotides. In another aspect, the invention provides pharmaceutical compositions including one or more compounds of the invention. It is believed that the compounds and compositions as described herein have therapeutic utility against a variety of diseases, including viral diseases, autoimmune diseases (such as, allergy, asthma, and inflammatory disorders) and cancer.

A system for determining a cut location at a work surface includes a position sensor and a controller. The controller stores a final design plane of the work surface and determines an actual profile of the work surface. A plurality of target profiles extending along a path are determined, each corresponding to a cut location. The target profiles are based at least in part upon the cut location, a loading profile, slot parameters, and the actual profile of the work surface. The controller is further configured to determine a lowest cost target profile and the lowest cost target profile defines an optimized cut location. A method is also provided.

An articulated cutting head and conveyor mount for sod harvesting machines. The invention provides a linkage design that can provide many benefits including: allowing the operator to see the cutting operation, enabling the high lifting of the cutting head for service and maneuvering, managing the vertical bending load of the ground reference roller, providing high transverse stiffness, maintaining the position of the conveyor relative to the cutting head. The linkage design can include fewer parts than previous designs while still being robust and durable. As such, cutting heads employing the linkage design of the present invention can produce higher quality slabs with less service and maintenance than when using current designs.

A system for determining a cut location at a work surface includes a position sensor and a controller. The controller stores a desired operating parameter and a final design plane of the work surface and determines an actual profile of the work surface. The controller determines a plurality of target profiles corresponding to different cut locations. The target profiles are based at least in part upon the cut location, a loading profile, slot parameters, and the actual profile of the work surface. The controller further determines an optimized target profile relative to the desired operating parameter and the optimized target profile defines an optimized cut location.

In an outer tube for a front fork, a metal upper collar to which an upper vehicle body attaching bracket is connected is fitted and attached to an upper end portion of the plastic pipe, a metal sleeve is fitted and attached between an intermediate portion and a lower end portion of the plastic pipe, and the sleeve is provided with a lower collar to which a lower vehicle body attaching bracket is connected, and a seal case for inserting and supporting the inner tube.

Interior panels having integrated airbag doors for motor vehicles and methods for making such interior panels are provided herein. In one example, an interior panel comprises a substrate having outer and inner surfaces and an opening extending therethrough. A multi-shot injection molded airbag chute-door assembly is mounted to the substrate and comprises a chute wall that at least partially surrounds an interior space. A door flap portion is pivotally connected to the chute wall and at least partially covers the opening. A perimeter flange extends from the chute wall and has a flange section that overlies the outer surface of the substrate. A molded-in lip feature extends from the flange section and contacts the outer surface to form a seal between the flange section and the substrate. A skin covering extends over the substrate and a foam is disposed between the skin covering and the substrate.

A cutting tool cutting tool may include a tool body having a plurality of blades extending radially therefrom; and a plurality of rotatable cutting elements mounted on at least one of the plurality of blades, wherein the plurality of rotatable cutting elements are mounted on the at least one blade in a nose and/or shoulder region of the cutting tool at a side rake angle ranging from about 10 to about 30 degrees or −10 to about −30 degrees.

A drilling control system monitors and compares drilling and completion operation sensor values and autonomously acts in response to conditions such as a kick or surge. Sensors in various combinations may monitor return fluid flow rate, fluid inflow rate, wellhead bore pressure, temperature of returning fluid, torque, rate of penetration and string weight change. The control system has corresponding control logic to monitor, warn and act based on the sensor inputs. The actions may include the warning of support personnel, closing an annular blowout preventer, shearing drill pipe using a ram shear, pumping heavier fluid down choke and kill lines, disconnecting the riser or various other actions.

A drilling apparatus for drilling boreholes in an underground formation includes a tool body that can be positioned in a borehole where drilling is to take place. The apparatus further includes a gas cutting torch having a nozzle, a supply of a cutting gas connected to the gas cutting torch. In some embodiments, the gas cutting torch and supply of cutting gas may be connected by an umbilical link. The tool body may be advanced through the borehole as drilling takes place. In some embodiments, the tool body may be advanced via a tractor device that forms part of the tool body or attached to the tool body.

A cutting element for an earth-boring tool. The cutting element comprises a substrate base, and a volume of polycrystalline diamond material on an end of the substrate base. The volume of polycrystalline diamond material comprises a generally conical surface, an apex centered about a longitudinal axis extending through a center of the substrate base, a flat cutting surface extending from a first point at least substantially proximate the apex to a second point on the cutting element more proximate a lateral side surface of the substrate base. Another cutting element is disclosed, as are a method of manufacturing and a method of using such cutting elements.

A method for managing a drilling operation, including generating, by a first sensor and a second sensor of a bottom hole assembly (BHA), a first time based data log and a second time based data log, respectively, representing a borehole parameter along a drilling trajectory, determining, by a computer processor of the BHA and during the drilling operation, a time shift by comparing the first time based data log and the second time based data log, where offsetting the first and second time based data logs by the time shift maximizes a correlation factor of the first and second time based data logs, and determining, within a pre-determined time period from generating the first and second time based data logs, a drilling speed based on the time shift and a pre-determined distance between the first sensor and the second sensor.

Apparatus and method for automated drilling of a borehole in a subsurface formation. In one embodiment, a method includes selecting at least one control variable. A drilling performance objective having a value that is influenced by drilling of the borehole using the at least one control variable is defined. A first interval of the borehole is drilled maintaining the at least one control variable at a first value. A second interval of the borehole is drilled maintaining the at least one control variable at a second value. A third interval of the borehole is drilled maintaining the at least one control variable at a third value. The third value is selected based on a comparison of the values of the drilling performance objective while drilling the first interval and second interval to a predetermined optimal value of the drilling performance objective.

A cutting element for a drill bit includes an outer support element and an inner rotatable cutting element, a portion of which is disposed in the outer support element, where the inner rotatable cutting element has a body with a non-planar cutting face.

This invention relates to a two-dimensional detection system for neutron radiation comprising a means (1) for emitting a neutron beam (10), a support means (2) adapted for receiving a sample (3), a photoemission means (5) adapted for being activated by a neutron radiation, a cooled low light level charge-coupled detection device (7). The emission means (1) emits a monochromatic neutron beam (10). The system further comprises a filter means (4), the filter means (4) being located between the support means (2) and the photoemission means (5) and being adapted for trapping at least a substantial part of the monochromatic neutron beam transmitted (12) by the sample (3), and an amplification means (6) located upstream the charge-coupled detection device (7) and coupled with the charge-coupled detection device (7).

An approach is disclosed for acquiring multi-sector computed tomography scan data. The approach includes activating an X-ray source during heartbeats of a patient to acquire projection data over a limited angular range for each heartbeat. The projection data acquired over the different is combined. An image having good temporal resolution is reconstructed using the combined projection data.

The invention relates to a device (10; 10a;10b; 10c; 50) for checking pharmaceutical products (1), in particular hard gelatin capsules, by means of at least one radiation source (30; 60) preferably embodied as an X-ray source, and a conveying device which conveys the products (1) in a clocked manner in a radiation area (31) of the radiation source (30; 60). The radiation emitted by the radiation source (30; 60) penetrating the products (1) preferably perpendicular to the longitudinal axes thereof (2), and the radiation is captured on the side of the products (1) opposite the radiation source (30) by means of at least one sensor element (35) which is coupled to an evaluation device (36). The invention is characterized in that the conveyor device is embodied as a conveyor wheel (15; 15a; 51) which can rotate in a stepped manner about an axis (12; 52), and the products (1) are arranged, while being conveyed in the radiation area (31), in receiving areas (28; 37; 56) of the conveyor wheel (15; 5a; 51).

An apparatus comprises a plasma flood gun for neutralizing a positive charge buildup on a semiconductor wafer during a process of ion implantation using an ion beam. The plasma flood gun comprises more than two arc chambers, wherein each arc chamber is configured to generate and release electrons into the ion beam in a respective zone adjacent to the semiconductor wafer.

An arrangement for, and a method of, electro-optically reading a target by image capture, employ an aiming assembly for projecting an aiming light pattern on the target that is located within a range of working distances relative to a housing, an imaging assembly for capturing an image of the target and of the aiming light pattern over a field of view, and a controller for determining a distance of the target relative to the housing based on a position of the aiming light pattern in the captured image, for determining a scanning resolution based on the determined distance, for comparing the determined scanning resolution with a scanning resolution setting, and for processing the captured image based on the comparison.

An automatic circle forming apparatus adapted for automatically forming OPP (O-phenylphenol) plastic circles includes a lower equipment cabinet, a first base plate, a transmitting module, an automatic separating module, an automatic tearing film module, a sucking waste mechanism, a displacement module, an automatic forming module and an upper equipment cabinet. The upper equipment cabinet is positioned on the first base plate for installing the transmitting module, the automatic separating module, the automatic tearing film module, the sucking waste mechanism, the displacement module and the automatic forming module therein. The upper equipment cabinet is equipped with a man-machine control interface which connects with and controls the transmitting module, the automatic separating module, the automatic tearing film module, the sucking waste mechanism, the displacement module and the automatic forming module for automatically forming the OPP plastic circles so as to improve operation efficiency and save a human cost.

An automatically-adjusting tensioning mechanism for use in a roll-fed web media transport system, the tensioning mechanism adding tension to the web media, comprising a bracket assembly being adapted to freely pivot around a pivot axis, and first and second tensioning shoe having curved surfaces attached to the bracket assembly. The web media feeds through the tensioning mechanism in an S-shaped media path where the web media is wrapped around the first and second tensioning shoes. The pivot angle of the bracket assembly automatically adjusts in response to differences in a coefficient of friction between the web media and the tensioning shoes such that the tension in the web media has a reduced level of variability relative to configurations where the bracket assembly is held in a fixed position.

A dispenser for dispensing paper toweling. The dispenser including a towel support that is positionable in a first dispensing position when a drive roller rotates in a first direction, and that is positionable in a second auto-loading position when the drive roller rotates in a second direction. Rotation of the drive roller in the first and second directions automatically loading the paper toweling for subsequent dispense.

The device (100) is destined to receive flanked continuous strips (1, 2) from an arrival line (L), and feed them towards a transversal cutting station (SR). The device (100) comprises: a basin (3), associated to a terminal part of the arrival line (L), destined to enable formation, in each of the strips (1, 2) of a free loop (A1, A2) in a downwards direction; deviator organs (4), at a 45° angle, provided downstream of the basin (3), destined to guide the strips (1, 2) such as to orientate them perpendicularly to the arrival direction, horizontally centered and correctly staggered in height such as to enter the transversal cutting station (SR).

A modulator generates a baseband digital signal from an information-bearing digital signal. The baseband signal has time-varying phase and amplitude defined by a sequence of complex data words, each having an in-phase (I) component and a quadrature (Q) component. A noise-shaping modulator generates a noise-shaped digital signal from the baseband digital signal such that quantization noise in the noise-shaping modulator is attenuated by a spectral null of its noise transfer function. The spectral null is selected by a noise-shaping parameter corresponding to a selected one of a plurality of output frequencies. A signal converter generates an analog signal conveying the information of the information-bearing digital signal on an analog carrier signal having the selected output frequency.

Methods and apparatus for translating duty cycle information in duty-cycle-modulated signals to higher frequencies or higher data rates. An exemplary duty cycle translator includes a duty cycle evaluator, a high-speed digital counter, and a comparator. The duty cycle evaluator generates a first digital number representing a duty cycle of a low-frequency input duty-cycle-modulated (DCM) signal. The comparator compares the first digital number to a second digital number generated by the high-speed digital counter, and generates, based on the comparison, an output DCM signal having a higher frequency or data rate than the frequency or data rate of the low-frequency input DCM signal but a duty cycle that is substantially the same as the duty cycle of the low-frequency input DCM signal.

A frequency modulating path for generating a frequency modulated clock includes a direct feed input arranged for directly modulating frequency of an oscillator, and a compensating feed input arranged for compensating effects of frequency modulating on a phase error; wherein the compensating feed input is resampled by a down-divided clock that is an integer edge division of the oscillator. A reference phase generator for generating a reference phase output includes a resampling circuit, an accumulator and a sampler. The resampling circuit is for resampling a modulating frequency command word (FCW) input to produce a plurality of samples. The accumulator is for accumulating the samples to generate an accumulated result. The sampler is for sampling the accumulated result according to a frequency reference clock, and accordingly generating a sampled result, wherein the reference phase output is updated according to at least the sampled result.

A radio frequency generator includes a power control module, a frequency control module and a pulse generating module. The power control module is configured to generate a power signal indicating power levels for target states of a power amplifier. The frequency control module is configured to generate a frequency signal indicating frequencies for the target states of the power amplifier. The pulse generating module is configured to (i) supply an output signal to the power amplifier, (ii) recall at least one of a latest power level or a latest frequency for one of the target states of the power amplifier, and (iii) adjust a current power level and a current frequency of the output signal from a first state to a second state based on the power signal, the frequency signal, and at least one of the latest power level and the latest frequency of the power amplifier.

An arc chute assembly includes a housing having a first wall, a second wall, and a pair of side walls coupled to the first wall. The walls configured to form an arc area. The housing further having a divider wall coupled to the first wall between the side walls. The divider wall configured to form a first sub-arc area, a second sub-arc area, and an arc plate area. The first sub-arc area and the second sub-arc area are configured to be in flow communication with the arc plate area. The arc chute assembly further comprises a support coupled to the first wall and the side walls, and an arc plate coupled to the support. The arc plate having a body extending between the side walls and over the divider wall.

A spout assembly is provided. The spout assembly includes a spout and a spout base. The spout base has a cross-sectional area that is smaller than a spout sized to enclose an electrical switching apparatus electrical coupling. That is, the spout base includes a CT support surface with a cross-sectional area that is smaller than the spout cross-sectional area. Current transformers are disposed upon the spout base CT support surface.

A catheter assembly including an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end has at least one drainage opening. A hydrophilic coating is provided on at least a portion of the elongate end of the catheter. A fluid containing member is provided and is either arranged on the elongate member or within a separate area of the container. The fluid containing member contains sufficient hydrating fluid to hydrate the coating of the catheter. A container contains the elongate member and the fluid containing member and incorporates at least one foil layer to prevent evaporation of the hydrating fluid. A method of using the catheter includes inserting a catheter into a user's body and draining fluid from the user's body.

A reversible folio for a tablet computer has a tablet shell with a cavity removably receiving the tablet computer. A keyboard is pivotally and removably coupled to the tablet shell. A channel is pivotally coupled to an edge of the keyboard. An interior of the channel removably receives the proximal edge of the tablet shell, and has a profile mating with a profile of the tablet shell. The channel and proximal edge have first and second symmetrical magnet arrays, respectively. The proximal edge of the tablet shell physically mates with the channel of the keyboard, and the second magnet array of the tablet shell magnetically mates with the first magnet array of the channel, in both a first orientation and an opposite second orientation.

The present invention relates to utility surfaces. Specifically, the invention relates to a utility surface, generally a table or other flat surface, with drawers attached to the utility surface. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the utility surface and attached drawers may be folded into a collapsed format that is convenient for portability.

A storage case (100) for storing a pharmaceutical syringe unit (4) that is mounted to a pharmaceutical administering device (8) comprises a base body (1) that is open at its upper face, and a cover (2) for covering the opening in the base body (1). The base body (1) has in its interior a concave portion (5) that holds the cylindrical pharmaceutical syringe unit (4). The concave portion (5) has holders (6) that hold two ends of the pharmaceutical syringe unit (4), and a center concave portion (7) for attaching and removing the pharmaceutical syringe unit (4) and being provided in a position that corresponds to the main body portion of a stored pharmaceutical syringe unit (4). The center concave portion (7) further has a bottom part positioned lower than the holders (6), and is formed such that the pharmaceutical administering device (8) can be disposed in an upright position.

An input receiver circuit including a single-to-differential amplifier and a semiconductor device including the input receiver circuit are disclosed. The input receiver circuit includes a first stage amplifier unit and a second stage amplifier unit. The first stage amplifier unit amplifies a single input signal in a single-to-differential mode to generate a differential output signal, without using a reference voltage. The second stage amplifier unit amplifies the differential output signal in a differential-to-single mode to generate a single output signal.

A pop-free single-ended output class-D amplifier includes: an input signal generator for generating an input signal; a power supply for supplying input power; a reference voltage generator for generating a reference voltage; a gain-adjustable stage for generating an amplified signal according to the reference voltage and adjusting a gain of the single-ended output class-D amplifier; a pulse width modulation module for outputting a pulse width modulation signal according to the reference voltage, the amplified signal, and the input power; a low-pass filter for low-pass filtering the pulse width modulation signal to generate an output voltage; and a logic controller for generating at least one control signal to control the reference voltage generator, the gain-adjustable stage, and the pulse width modulation module according to the input power, the reference voltage, and the pulse width modulation signal.

An amplifier circuit amplifies a signal for wireless transmission. A feedback circuit, including a capacitor, is coupled to the amplifier circuit. Components of the feedback circuit are selected based on a feedback factor such that an input impedance to the amplifier circuit has a same impedance characteristic as a feedback circuit impedance of the feedback circuit.

An automatic antenna impedance matching method for a radiofrequency transmission circuit. An impedance matching network is inserted between an amplifier and an antenna. The output current and voltage of the amplifier and their phase difference are measured by a variable measurement impedance, and the complex load impedance of the amplifier is deduced from this; the impedance of the antenna is calculated as a function of this complex impedance and as a function of the known current values of the impedances of the matching network. Starting from the value found for the impedance of the antenna, new values of the matching network are calculated that allow the load to be matched to the nominal impedance of the amplifier. The measurement impedance has a value controllable by the calculation processor according to the application and notably as a function of the operating frequency and of the nominal impedance of the amplifier.

An automatic gain control device includes: a variable gain adjusting unit, for adjusting an input signal by a variable gain and outputting an adjustment result; an analog-digital converting unit, for performing analog-digital conversion on the adjustment result to obtain an analog-digital conversion result; and a gain determining unit, for determining a distribution status over a predetermined period of time of a maximum or a minimum of the analog-digital conversion result, comparing the distribution status with a first distribution condition, and if the distribution status meets the first distribution condition, then keeping the variable gain unchanged, otherwise changing the variable gain and determining newly a distribution status until the newly determined distribution status meets a second distribution condition which is at least as strict as the first distribution condition.

A damping tool holder, such as a boring head, a chuck, or a milling cutting arbor, integrates a damping device (2), in the form of an elongated body. The damping device (2) is housed in a mounting body (3), connected by one end to the tool-holder body (1) and having at its other end an end fitting (4) for mounting a tool, whereby the mounting body (3) is equipped with at least one lubricant feed pipe (32), emptying at its front end into the end fitting (4) for mounting a tool and connected at its other end to a circular groove (102) for distributing lubricant that is provided on the front surface of the tool holder (1).

A surgical milling cutter includes a milling cutter bracket, a locking device and a bottom electric motor connected successively. The milling cutter bracket includes a fixing seat with a through hole. A finger guide apparatus with an L-type first bracket at the top end thereof is provided on the upper part of the fixing seat. The end of the L-type first bracket's short side is provided with a downward projection. The lowest point of the projection is lower than that of the milling cutter's cylindrical head when the milling cutter is working normally. The surgical milling cutter utilizes the projection to prevent the possibility of an object contacting with the cylindrical head, thus avoiding an object being cut unevenly. Meanwhile, the L-type bracket can be driven by the finger guide apparatus to rotate so as to change the running direction of the milling cutter, thus facilitating surgical procedures.

A cutter-changing device includes a cutter-magazine carrying cutters, a rotary telescopic cylinder, and a clamping sub-assembly. The clamping sub-assembly includes a cutter-changing arm, and a pair of clamping assemblies. The rotary telescopic cylinder drives the cutter-changing arm to rotate, extend and retract. Each clamping assembly includes a mounting member, an elastic member, a piston, and at least one resisting member. The mounting member is mounted on the cutter-changing arm, and defines at least one mounting hole through the sidewall thereof. The elastic member and the piston are sleeved with the mounting member, and the two opposite ends of the elastic member press against the piston and the mounting member. The resisting member is mounted between the elastic member and the mounting member, and capable of being resisted by the piston to be partially exposed from the mounting hole.

A holder for a cutting tool includes a body having a first channel for receiving a stem portion of the cutting tool. The body has a second channel intersecting with the first channel. The holder further includes a plunger to be inserted in the second channel, the plunger having a third channel the cross section of which at least partly overlaps with the cross section of the first channel when the plunger is inserted into the body so as to enable the stem of the cutting tool to extend into the third channel when the stem is inserted in the first channel. The holder further includes a mechanism for locking the stem against movement relative to the body by means of the plunger. A cutting tool for use in such a holder and a cutting insert are also provided.

A cutting tool includes a chuck, a compressible conical collet and a lock nut for locking the collet. The cutting tool lock nut has a nut portion with a threaded portion for threading with the chuck, and a locking portion with a collet-locking surface formed with angled coolant grooves thereon. The collet-locking surface presses on the collet head, thereby compressing it to grip a tool shank in a collet bore thereof. As the locking portion presses only against a peripheral surface of the collet head, the lock nut is suitable for locking collets with different bore diameters. When the chuck is provided with a coolant fluid, the coolant fluid flows through the chuck and through the collet towards the locking portion, passing through the coolant notches between the locking portion and the collet head, and sprayed towards a location along the tool shank.

A suture driver for clamping a suture in the hollow passage and a recessed channel thereof and manipulating the suture to and from a surgical site. The driver includes an outer member tube having a closed and pointed distal end for percutaneous introduction into the body of a patient. The outer tube also includes a recessed channel positioned proximal the closed distal end of the hollow passage extending longitudinally therein and for receiving the suture therein. An inner rod is positioned in the passage of the outer tube and has a clamping surface at the distal end thereof for engaging a suture positioned in the recessed channel. The inner rod is slid through the recessed channel to clamp the suture in the hollow passage of the outer tube against another clamping surface at the distal end of the tube. A handle positioned at the proximal end of the outer tube and inner rod is manipulated to slide the inner rod through the recessed channel and clamp the suture in the hollow passage between the two clamping surfaces. The inner rod positioned through the recessed channel also reinforces the outer tube during percutaneous introduction into the patient.

An apparatus is disclosed for attaching a surgical needle having a generally cylindrical end portion defining an elongated aperture having a generally circular cross-section and a suture having a generally elongated end portion of generally circular cross-section corresponding in dimension to the elongated aperture of the needle. The apparatus includes a pair of dies, each having a die face with an inner die surface portion. The inner die surface portion includes at least one generally planar crimping surface having an arcuate recess formed therein which extends along at least a portion of the planar crimping surface. The arcuate recess defines a material relief zone such that when the end portion of the suture is positioned within the aperture of the needle and the dies are positioned about the generally cylindrical end portion of the needle with the crimping surfaces generally facing the outer surface thereof, the application of an inward crimping force to the dies causes the dies to impact the needle and produce inward crimping forces on opposed sides of the needle end portion to attach the needle to the suture. The relief zones defined by the arcuate recesses receive and collect deformed material from the needle. According to the invention, the symmetry of the needle is maintained and the attachment is predictable and superior to those of the prior art.