Surgical needle

Abstract

An autoclavable needle assembly and method of making the same is provided for endodontic surgical procedures. The needle assembly includes a supporting hub member containing an adhesive in which one end of the needle is embedded. The surgical needle is preferably fabricated from NiTi alloy and includes, at its distal end, a side vent in the form of a skived portion extending a predetermined distance inwardly from the tip from the distal end of the needle. One or more coatings may be applied to the needle. An angle-adjustment sleeve can be bent to hold a desired angle in the needle.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A surgical needle assembly for endodontic procedures, said assembly comprising:
 a needle having one end encapsulated and grippingly supported by a hub member and including a coextensive bore;   said needle further including a protruding hollow shaft portion of predetermined length;   an angle-adjustment sleeve surrounding a portion of said needle;   the distal end of said needle including an arcuate longitudinal skived portion having an arcuate height of a predetermined proportional ratio relative to the diameter of said bore.   
     
     
       2. The needle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the angle-adjustment sleeve is formed from an annealed stainless steel. 
     
     
       3. The needle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the angle-adjustment sleeve is secured to said hub member. 
     
     
       4. The needle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the angle-adjustment sleeve is adhesively secured to said hub member. 
     
     
       5. The needle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the angle-adjustment sleeve is secured to said needle using a pressure stressed connection. 
     
     
       6. The needle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the angle-adjustment sleeve surrounds approximately one-third of the needle protruding hollow shaft portion. 
     
     
       7. A method of fabricating a surgical needle assembly for endodontic procedures including the steps of:
 providing a tubular shaft; 
 die cutting said shaft to provide a surgical needle of predetermined length, said needle having a first end and a second end; 
 machining one end of said needle to provide a skived portion of predetermined length; 
 providing a hub member having a cup-like interior; 
 supplying an autoclavable adhesive to the cup-like interior of said hub member; and 
 inserting the opposite said first end of said needle in said adhesive for retention and support thereof by said hub member; 
 providing an angle-adjustment sleeve; 
 placing said angle-adjustment sleeve over the needle and into said adhesive for retention and support thereof by said hub member. 
 
     
     
       8. A method of fabricating a surgical needle assembly for endodontic procedures including the steps of:
 providing a tubular shaft; 
 die cutting said shaft to provide a surgical needle of predetermined length, said needle having a first end and a second end; 
 machining one end of said needle to provide a skived portion of predetermined length; 
 providing a hub member having a cup-like interior; 
 supplying an autoclavable adhesive to the cup-like interior-of interior of said hub member; and 
 inserting the opposite said first end of said needle in said adhesive for retention and support thereof by said hub member; 
 providing an angle-adjustment sleeve; 
 positioning said angle-adjustment sleeve over said needle; 
 forming a pressure stressed connection between said angle-adjustment sleeve and said needle by deforming said angle-adjustment sleeve. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 7, further including the step of machining said second end of said needle to provide a skived portion of predetermined length. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 8, further including the step of machining said second end of said needle to provide a skived portion of predetermined length. 
     
     
       11. The method of claim 7, wherein the needle comprises a nickel titanium alloy.