Single Use Endoscopic Ultrasound Needles

Material Selection

The Endoscopic Ultrasound Needle is crafted from high-quality cobalt-chromium (Co-Cr) alloy for the main shaft, ensuring exceptional durability, flexibility, and sharpness for accurate tissue acquisition. For enhanced strength, the needle tip is made from 630 stainless steel (17-4PH), providing high hardness (HRC 52-56), ensuring superior performance during procedures.

CNC Turning - Sliding Headstock Lathe

The manufacturing process begins with heat treatment to harden the needle tip. The Citizen L12-1M7 Sliding Headstock Lathe is used for precision turning, particularly to shape the needle body. This lathe offers excellent accuracy, with a positioning tolerance of ±0.005 mm and repeatability of ±0.002 mm, ensuring the exact dimensions required for the needle shaft and tip.

Grinding - Grinding Machine

Once the needle is formed, a high-precision grinding machine is used to refine the needle's sharpness and geometry. A coarse grinding wheel initially shapes the needle, followed by a finer wheel to achieve the desired sharpness and smooth finish. Regular inspections are conducted during this stage to ensure consistency in shape, sharpness, and tolerance, guaranteeing that each needle meets stringent specifications.

Laser Etching - 5-Axis Laser Cutting Machine

For engraving, the needle undergoes a precise laser etching process using a 5-axis laser cutting machine. This machine provides the flexibility to etch complex designs, including lot numbers, product identifiers, and measurement markings directly onto the needle surface. The laser etching ensures high precision, with tolerances ranging from ±0.01 mm to ±0.001 mm, ensuring clear and permanent markings.

Electrolytic Polishing

After grinding and etching, the needle is subjected to electrolytic polishing. This process smooths the needle's surface, removing any microscopic imperfections and enhancing its resistance to corrosion. The smooth finish also reduces friction, improving the ease of insertion during clinical procedures.

Ultrasonic Cleaning

To eliminate any remaining particles or contaminants, the needle undergoes ultrasonic cleaning. This process uses high-frequency sound waves to remove impurities, ensuring that the needle is free from any debris or contaminants that could compromise patient safety or procedural accuracy.

Inspection & Packing

Each needle is thoroughly inspected using precision calipers and 2D measuring tools to confirm it meets strict quality standards. Key factors such as sharpness, flexibility, and dimensional accuracy are checked before the product is packed. The needles are securely packaged in custom-made boxes to ensure safe delivery, with shipping options including TNT, DHL, UPS, or FedEx for prompt and reliable delivery.