Needle receptacle for increased operating room efficiency
Inventors
Gorek, Josef E. • Trauner, Kenneth B. • Rimer, Douglas G.
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-11413037-B2
Publication Date
2022-08-16
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 surgical needle handling through an operating-room needle handling system that mounts a suture pack and a used-needle receptacle in a near surgical field on the surgeon’s extremity or on instruments. The system provides self-dispensing of armed sutures or armed needles from the near-field suture pack and self-securing of used needles into a used-needle receptacle in a secure zone.
The needle receptacle includes an enclosure having a cavity extending from an opening that provides access to the cavity and a secure zone within the cavity. The enclosure further includes a slot extending through the enclosure to the cavity, and a needle receiver sized and shaped to receive one or more needles and configured to move within the cavity with advancement of the one or more needles into the secure zone.
The concepts further include structures and features that inhibit needle sticks while supporting visualization, placement, and handling in the near surgical field. Examples described include forearm/wrist barriers, backlighting, optically transmissive, transparent, or translucent needle receptacles, needle driver slots or entry zones, needle retention features that resist removal, ratcheting or cover concepts, tactile depth or position indicators, and needle counting and reconciliation mechanisms.
Claims Coverage
The provided claims include one independent claim directed to a needle receptacle structure comprising an enclosure, a slot, a secure zone, and a needle receiver configured to move into the secure zone as needles advance. Dependent claims refine the receiver movement modes, retention behavior, needle-arrangement behavior, and interface structures between the receptacle and a needle driver.
Enclosure with cavity and secure zone for needle retention
An enclosure comprising a cavity extending from an opening that provides access to the cavity and a secure zone within the cavity.
Slot extending through enclosure to provide access to cavity
A slot extending through the enclosure to the cavity.
Needle receiver sized to receive and move within cavity into secure zone
A needle receiver sized and shaped to receive one or more needles and configured to move within the cavity with advancement of the one or more needles into the secure zone within the cavity.
Ratcheting needle receiver movement into cavity
The needle receiver is configured to ratchet into a cavity.
Needle receiver movement constrained to allow in but prevent moving out
The needle receptacle includes a needle receiver configured so that the needle receiver allows the needle receiver to move into the cavity while preventing it from moving out of the cavity.
Needle receiving tabs holding needles in a spaced apart array
The needle receptacle is configured so that needle receiving tabs hold the needles within a cavity in a spaced apart array.
Needle receiver openings sized to receive a needle driver tip
The needle receptacle includes needle receiver(s) with one or more openings sized to receive the tip of a needle driver.
Overall claim coverage focuses on a needle receptacle enclosure with a secure zone and cavity-access slot, plus a needle receiver sized to receive one or more needles and configured to move into the secure zone upon needle advancement, with dependent refinements specifying ratcheting or one-way movement behavior, spaced-apart needle arrangement, and receptacle-to-needle-driver interfacing openings.
Stated Advantages
Improves safety in an operating-room near surgical field by inhibiting needle sticks.
Improves operating-room efficiency by enabling self-dispensing of armed sutures/armed needles and self-securing used needles near the surgical field.
Supports visualization of used needles via backlighting and optically transmissive, transparent, or translucent needle receptacles.
Supports needle counting and reconciliation during and after use.
Secures one or more needles within a secure zone inside the cavity during needle advancement through the slot.
Supports movement of the needle receiver into the cavity while preventing movement out of the cavity.
Holds needles in a spaced-apart array using needle receiving tabs.
Interfaces with a needle driver by including openings sized to receive a tip of a needle driver.
Documented Applications
Operating-room needle handling where the surgeon self-dispenses armed sutures/armed needles from a near-field suture pack and self-secures used needles into a nearby needle receptacle/needle trap/retainer.
Mounting of low-profile sterile kits and attachment/mounting interfaces for mounting the used-needle receptacle and the suture pack on barriers, drapes, tools, and surgical apparel in an operating room.
Surgical needle handling and securing, including systems that manage multiple needles and secure needle portions within a secure zone for use with a needle driver.
Interested in licensing this patent?