Systems and methods for increased operating room efficiency
Inventors
Gorek, Josef E. • Trauner, Kenneth B. • Rimer, Douglas G.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10485534-B2
Publication Date
2019-11-26
Expiration Date
Abstract
Systems, devices and methods to improve safety and efficiency in an operating room comprise providing a suture package that holds new suture needles and needle receptacles for storing used needles. The devices can be safely worn for the surgeon to self-dispense new suture needles in the near surgical field and to secure the used needles into a needle trap or a needle retainer located on his extremity, on his operative instruments or on the surgical drapes. The device may provide automated and/or simplified needle counting both during use and after removal from the surgical field. The device may be configured for ergonomic and efficient use so as to minimize the actions and motions of the surgeon to dispense and secure the needle.
Core Innovation
The invention describes an apparatus for dispensing and storing a needle. The apparatus includes a housing having an upper outward facing surface, a lower outward facing surface, a first opening, and a second opening. A needle slot is positioned within the housing and extends between the first opening and the second opening, with a storage zone configured to store a needle between the upper outward facing surface and the lower outward facing surface.
A needle driver slot extends from the upper outward facing surface to the needle slot and between the first opening and the second opening. The needle driver slot is configured to receive a needle driver therethrough as the needle driver advances the needle along the needle slot. This establishes a dispensing path in which the needle is guided from the storage zone through the needle slot as the needle driver advances.
The provided embodiments further describe configurations that support needle visibility and needle retention. The needle driver slot can be configured so the needle is viewed in the storage zone through the needle driver slot. Additional needle retention features can be included in the needle slot, including directional resistance behavior within the storage zone, and dimensional relationships between openings and the needle slot.
Claims Coverage
The provided claim coverage identifies one independent claim centered on an apparatus for dispensing and storing a needle using a housing with a needle slot and a needle driver slot that receives a needle driver to advance the needle along the needle slot. Dependent refinements add needle retention features, direction-dependent resistance, viewing through the needle driver slot, dimensional relationships, and curved suture needle advancement constraints.
Needle dispensing and storage housing with openings and needle slot
A housing comprising an upper outward facing surface, a lower outward facing surface, a first opening, and a second opening, and a needle slot within the housing extending between the first opening and the second opening, wherein the needle slot comprises a storage zone configured to store a needle between the upper outward facing surface and the lower outward facing surface.
Needle driver slot aligned to receive a needle driver to advance the needle along the needle slot
A needle driver slot extending from the upper outward facing surface to the needle slot and between the first opening and the second opening, wherein the needle driver slot is configured to receive a needle driver therethrough as the needle driver advances the needle along the needle slot.
Needle retention features configured to store a needle in the storage zone
One or more needle retention features in the needle slot configured to store a needle in the storage zone.
Direction-dependent resistance of needle retention features
The needle retention features are configured to resist movement of the needle within the storage zone more from the first opening toward the second opening than in the opposite direction.
Viewing of the needle in the storage zone through the needle driver slot
The needle driver slot is configured so that the needle can be viewed in the storage zone through the needle driver slot.
Curved suture needle advancement with end orientation away from advancement direction
The apparatus is configured to advance a curved suture needle along the needle slot with both ends of the curved suture needle oriented away from a direction of the advancement.
Overall, the claims coverage centers on an apparatus that stores a needle in a storage zone within a needle slot in a housing and dispenses it by receiving a needle driver through a needle driver slot aligned with the needle slot so the needle is advanced along the needle slot. Dependent refinements further emphasize needle retention in the storage zone, direction-dependent resistance, viewing of the needle through the needle driver slot, and dispensing or advancing a curved suture needle with ends oriented relative to the direction of advancement.
Stated Advantages
Improved safety and reduced needle-staff handling by eliminating assistant transfer in the near surgical field workflow [procedural detail omitted for safety].
Reduced needle-stick and lost needle risk.
Improved micro-ergonomics and workflow efficiency.
Faster turnover.
Inventory tracking through needle counting/tracking approaches.
Improves operating room efficiency by enabling surgeon self-dispensing and self-securement of needles in the near surgical field.
Reduces needle passing between the surgeon and an assistant.
Improves safety by reducing needle-stick risk.
Supports earlier reconciliation via near-surgical-field workflow for securement and counting/reconciliation.
Reduces OR time.
Documented Applications
Use in a near surgical field workflow for dispensing armed needles from a suture pack and inserting used needles into a needle receptacle/needle trap secured on the same barrier/platform [procedural detail omitted for safety].
Needle counting/tracking use cases including visual, mechanical, and electronic counting approaches (including optical/RF/camera sensors and optional RFID/active sensors on packs) for used needle management.
Sharps container use cases for shielding proximal needle ends and providing locking/indicator behavior for retained used needles [procedural detail omitted for safety].
Near-surgical-field operating room use enabling a surgeon to self-dispense new needles and self-secure used needles while reducing needle passing between surgeon and assistant.
Needle counting and needle reconciliation use, including electrical/visual/mechanical needle detection approaches and viewing/counting options such as transparent/backlit materials and windows.
Mounting and workflow support in proximity to the surgeon’s near surgical field (e.g., forearm/wrist/hand barrier) to enable placement of a suture/needle dispensing package and a used-needle receptacle.
Needle identification and tracking in a needle trap using visible markings detected via an optical sensor (scanner/camera) and processed for needle tracking/reconciliation.
Alternative needle tracking using RFID with suture packs integrating a tracking signal.
Use of forearm-mounted barriers and surgical gown/glove barrier zones for mounting or handling needle traps and suture packs.
Needle trap safety designs and used-needle receptacle/needle-trap containment structures as part of a sterile kit overview.
Safe suture-cutting mechanisms integrated into the sterile kit context.
Dispensing and storing needle embodiments within a sterile kit context, including needle visibility-based counting/observation via the needle driver slot configuration and related needle trap counting/reconciliation concepts.
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