Standard test method for penetration testing of needles used in surgical sutures - ASTM F3014

Normative References  

ASTM F3014: Standard Test Method for penetration testing of needles used in surgical sutures

This test method quantifies the force required to penetrate through a medium and its ability to do so multiple times. Furthermore, it describes the fixation of straight and curved surgical needles.
Straight needles penetrate the medium perpendicular to the surface with uniform speed and depth, curved needles penetrate the media so that the needle´s major axis is followed throughout the test until required depth is attained.
The applied load necessary to penetrate the medium/tissue will be determined.
For statistical purposes, a minimum of 30 needles is recommended.