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-10987100-B2
Publication Date
2021-04-27
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 relates to a needle receptacle that includes an enclosure with a needle slot extending from an opening to a secure zone, and a needle driver slot extending through a portion of the enclosure to the needle slot. A needle receiver is sized and shaped to receive one or more needles and move along the needle slot with advancement of the one or more needles into the secure zone. The disclosed arrangement focuses on guiding and advancing needles from an opening toward a secure zone within the enclosure.
The disclosed needle receptacle further incorporates structural features that refine how needles are retained and advanced, including configurations in which the needle receiver is configured to ratchet into the needle slot. Needle receiving tabs are configured to hold the needles within the needle slot in a spaced apart array, and the array comprises an ordered array. The needle receiver is also described as being formed of flexible material in certain configurations.
The disclosure also includes configurations in which the enclosure includes a lower structure with an aperture within an entry zone or a transition zone, where the needle receiver is configured to pass from underneath the lower structure, through the aperture, and into the needle slot. Overall, the core innovation is the integration of the enclosure, needle slot, needle driver slot, and needle receiver movement and retention path to advance one or more needles into a secure zone within the needle receptacle.
Claims Coverage
The claim coverage centers on one independent claim directed to a needle receptacle, with dependent refinements. The inventive features are concentrated on the enclosure and slot geometry and the needle receiver configuration that advances needles into a secure zone.
Enclosure with needle slot to secure zone
An enclosure comprising a needle slot extending from an opening to a secure zone of the enclosure.
Needle driver slot extending to the needle slot
A needle driver slot extending through a portion of the enclosure to the needle slot.
Needle receiver that receives needles and advances along the needle slot
A needle receiver sized and shaped to receive one or more needles and move along the needle slot with advancement of the one or more needles into the secure zone.
Needle receiver ratcheting engagement into needle slot
The needle receiver is configured to ratchet into the needle slot.
Needle receiving tabs holding needles in a spaced apart array
One or more needle receiving tabs are configured to hold the needles within the needle slot in a spaced apart array.
Ordered needle array in needle slot
The array comprises an ordered array.
Flexible needle receiver material
The needle receiver comprises a flexible material.
Aperture in lower structure to guide needle receiver into needle slot
An aperture through the lower structure within an entry zone or a transition zone, wherein the needle receiver is configured to pass from underneath the lower structure, through the aperture, and into the needle slot.
The claim coverage centers on a needle receptacle structure in which an enclosure defines a needle slot to a secure zone, a needle driver slot directs advancement to the needle slot, and a needle receiver receives and moves with the needles into the secure zone, with refinements including ratcheting engagement, arrayed needle positioning via needle receiving tabs, flexible receiver material, and a lower-structure aperture defining the receiver’s passage path into the needle slot.
Stated Advantages
Surgeons can dispense new suture needles and immediately secure used needles in a near-surgical-field receptacle/needle trap without relying on an assistant.
Needle safety and inventory reconciliation is supported via automated or simplified needle counting.
Enables immediate used-needle counting by securing needles in a defined array.
Supports optional electronic/optical/pressure-based needle counting and tracking.
Enables near-surgical-field surgeon-only needle loading and secure storage.
Documented Applications
Operating-room efficiency use for suture needle handling in a near surgical field, including dispensing new armed suture needles and securing used needles in a needle receptacle/needle trap.
Surgeon-mounted configurations for near-surgical-field workflow, including forearm, wrist, hand, or instrument/barrier mounted setups with sterile barrier configurations such as forearm puncture-resistant barriers.
Needle receptacle/needle trap structural use cases, including organizing an entry zone and secure zone and enabling needle advancement into a secure zone via needle slot and needle driver slot geometry.
Operating-room efficiency system for near-surgical-field needle and suture handling, including forearm-mounted workflow elements enabling surgeon-only needle loading and secure storage near the surgical field.
Used-needle counting and tracking near the surgical field using ordered needle array organization and optional electronic/optical/pressure-based approaches.
Sharps container mechanisms for used needles, including described sharps container structures and proximal needle-end protection through barrier/platform concepts.
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