Our needles are identified by means of a combination of letters and numbers, as recommended by the Technical Committee of the Registered Association of Surgical Suture Material Manufacturers. The first letter denotes the needle shape, the second letter denotes the needle type. If a third or fourth letter follows, this refers to particular features of the needle. The number after the letters denotes the length of the needle in mm when straightened.
Needle points in detail
Steel quality used for needles
Nowadays, it can be assumed that manufacturers, at least European ones, generally use stainless steel needles, i.e. made from non-corroding steel, for their surgical suture materials. We use 300 series steel exclusively in our manufacturing process, in order to guarantee the specified characteristics of our needles.
The following stainless steel groups are distinguished for needles – designation according to AISI (American Iron and Steel Institute):
- 420 series:
- standard steel quality, martensitic, minimal ductility, lowest bending force
- 455 series:
- improved 400 series quality, martensitic, better ductility, higher bending force
- 300 series:
- best steel quality, austenitic, the best ductility, the best bending force. This quality is often only offered for cardiovascular surgery.