title: Biomechanics of curved surgical needle bending.
abstract: Because needle bending resistance is such an important factor in the selection of surgical needles, a standard quantitative test of needle bending has been devised to study the biomechanics of deformation of needles from three different commercial manufacturers. The superior resistance to deformation of needles made by one manufacturer has been related to the specific alloy, ASTM 45500 stainless steel, employed in its production. The needles produced from ASTM stainless steel 45500 have stronger tensile and yield strengths than those of the other alloys, accounting for their greater resistance to bending.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville 22908.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Abidin
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Towler
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Rodeheaver
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Thacker
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Cantrell
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Edlich
mesh_terms: D000497:Alloys; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004868:Equipment Failure; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000379:methods*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009339:Needles; D013193:Stainless Steel; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013525:Surgical Instruments
chemical_list: D000497:Alloys; D013193:Stainless Steel