Needle receptacle for increased operating room efficiency
Inventors
Gorek, Josef E. • Trauner, Kenneth B. • Rimer, Douglas G.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11660087-B2
Publication Date
2023-05-30
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
A needle receptacle includes an upper structure and a lower structure coupled to the upper structure. A needle driver slot extends through one or more of the upper structure or the lower structure, and a needle slot is located between the upper structure and the lower structure and extends from an opening to a secure zone. A needle receiver is sized and shaped to receive one or more needles and move along the needle slot as the one or more needles advance into the secure zone.
The needle receptacle is configured so the needle receiver ratchets into the needle slot and can move into the needle slot but is resisted from moving out of the needle slot. One or more needle receiving tabs hold needles in the needle slot as a spaced-apart array, and the spaced-apart array is an ordered array. Guiding features such as ramps, tabs, beveled edges, and compliant or foam elements provide holding force and maintain positioning within the secure zone.
The document further describes needle-counting and tracking mechanisms integrated with a needle trap, needle container, and/or needle receptacle, including mechanical counting, visual counting, optical counting, pressure-based counting, and remote or near-field tracking. It also describes assembled dispenser and receiver hardware for surgical use, with planar housings, bases and posts/spindles, swaged needle dispensers and needle receptacles, and releasable coupling to surgical drapes, trays, stands, and sterile package or barrier mounting base arrangements.
Claims Coverage
The document centers on one independent claim directed to a needle receptacle, with dependent claims refining how a needle receiver enters, locks in, and maintains secure positioning, including movement resistance and ordered multi-needle array arrangements.
Upper and lower coupled structures with driver slot and secure-zone needle slot
A needle receptacle includes an upper structure and a lower structure coupled to the upper structure, a needle driver slot extending through one or more of the upper structure or the lower structure, and a needle slot located between the upper structure and the lower structure that extends from an opening to a secure zone.
Needle receiver advances along needle slot into secure zone
A needle receiver sized and shaped to receive one or more needles moves along the needle slot with advancement of the one or more needles into the secure zone.
Needle receiver ratchets into the needle slot
The needle receptacle is configured so the needle receiver ratchets into the needle slot.
Needle receiver is resisted from moving out of the needle slot
The needle receptacle is configured so the needle receiver can move into the needle slot but is resisted from moving out of the needle slot.
Spaced-apart needle array using receiving tabs
The needle receptacle includes one or more needle receiving tabs that hold needles in the needle slot as a spaced-apart array.
Ordered spaced-apart needle array
The spaced-apart array is an ordered array.
Needle receiving tabs formed by slit cutting and deformation
The needle receiving tabs are made by cutting a slit through the needle receiver and deforming the tabs formed by the slit in a direction through the needle receiver’s upper surface.
Overall coverage focuses on a needle receptacle architecture that combines an upper/lower structure with a needle driver slot, a needle slot from an opening to a secure zone, and a needle receiver that advances into the secure zone and is retained there, including ratcheting or resistance to exit and the use of tabs to hold an ordered, spaced-apart needle array.
Stated Advantages
Eliminating assistant needle passing by enabling surgeon self-dispensing and self-securing of needles into a needle trap or receptacle.
Reducing needle handling passes during suturing.
Improving safety and efficiency in needle handling and suture workflow.
Providing transparent/translucent materials and optional backlighting or a light guide for needle counting viewing.
Enabling automated or simplified needle counting and reconciliation within the near surgical field.
Organized storage and retention of one or more needles within a secure zone, including a planar needle depth array for counting and compliant holding force to resist needle translation out of the secure zone.
Zone-based counting support, including optional light sources and tactile protrusions for zone-based counting.
Releasable coupling to surgical drapes, trays, stands, and sterile package/barrier mounting base arrangements for organized used-needle deposition/count reconciliation.
Visual display of needle count and monitoring.
Error detection for lost needles.
Documented Applications
Operating-room needle handling and suture workflow in which a surgeon mounts a used-needle receptacle and a suture package on the surgeon’s near surgical field.
Needle counting and reconciliation within the near surgical field using transparent/translucent materials and optional backlighting/light guide viewing.
Mounting needle-handling components using forearm barriers and puncture resistant barrier structures (barrier kits) in an operating-room environment.
Surgical use of a swaged needle dispenser and needle receptacle hardware for storing swaged needles with attached sutures in an array.
Used-needle deposition and count reconciliation, including organized deposition using forceps-mounted sterile configurations and zone-based counting.
Sterile package and barrier mounting base use for mounting/adjusting bases and needle receptacle/dispenser configurations.
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