title: A new compound curved needle for skin and skin-graft closure.
abstract: A new compound curved needle has been developed for skin and skin-graft closure from a unique stainless steel alloy, American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) 45500. This needle has a short, straight, sharpened point with a reverse cutting edge and a curved distal section. In spite of its geometry, it exhibits sharpness and resistance to bending and breakage similar to that of a needle with a single radius of curvature that is manufactured from the same alloy. The design of this new needle enables the surgeon to pass it through the skin with greater accuracy to a controlled depth and length of bite.
authors: Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville 22908.
authors: T S
authors: TS
authors: Cook
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Towler
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Girard
authors: W
authors: W
authors: McGregor
authors: P M
authors: PM
authors: Devlin
authors: R F
authors: RF
authors: Edlich
mesh_terms: D002056:Burns / Q000601:surgery*; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009339:Needles; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013193:Stainless Steel; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013718:Tensile Strength
chemical_list: D013193:Stainless Steel