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-9572568-B2
Publication Date
2017-02-21
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 patent describes an apparatus for storing a plurality of suture needles, where a housing defines a needle slot with a secure zone configured to store the plurality of suture needles therein. The housing also defines a lateral opening into the needle slot, and the secure zone is structured for storage of the suture needles in the needle slot.
The housing further defines a needle driver channel extending along an upper side of the housing, configured to receive a tip of a needle driver therethrough as the needle driver advances each of the plurality of suture needles along the needle slot into the secure zone. The described concepts include refinements that configure the geometry and behavior of the needle slot and needle driver channel to constrain how needles are advanced and retained in the secure zone.
Additional refinements include needle retention features in the housing and structures and materials for retention, as well as configurations that constrain orientation during advancement, including for curved suture needles. Further described features include enabling viewing of needles via transparent or translucent surfaces and/or viewing through the driver channel, and specifying whether the housing is flexible or rigid.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim in the provided material covers one inventive feature centered on a needle-storing apparatus. The dependent claims primarily refine needle-slot and driver-channel geometry, add needle retention features and retention materials or structures, constrain needle orientation during advancement, and specify viewing through transparent or translucent elements and/or through the driver channel.
Needle storage in a secure zone within a housing
A housing defining a needle slot with a secure zone configured to store a plurality of suture needles therein, and a lateral opening into the needle slot.
Needle driver channel for advancing needles into the secure zone
A needle driver channel extending along a length of an upper side of the housing, configured to receive a tip of a needle driver therethrough as the needle driver advances each of the plurality of suture needles along the needle slot into the secure zone.
Needle slot geometry with relative dimensions
Configuring the needle slot length greater than the needle slot width and the needle slot width greater than the needle slot thickness.
Needle driver channel passing through needle slot thickness
Configuring the needle driver channel to run through the full thickness of the needle slot.
Needle retention features inside the housing
Adding needle retention features within the housing configured to hold a plurality of suture needles in a needle slot.
Retention feature materials or structures
Providing needle retention features made from one or more materials or structures selected from foam, gel, loop and hook fasteners, protrusions, flaps, or bristles.
Orientation constraints for curved suture needles
Configuring multiple curved suture needles so the needle slot and needle driver channel advance each curved needle with both ends oriented away from the advancement direction.
Overall, the claim set centers on secure storage of multiple suture needles in a needle slot secure zone within a housing, with a needle driver channel that receives a needle driver tip to advance needles along the needle slot into the secure zone, and includes refinements that constrain geometry, needle orientation, retention structures, and viewing or structure parameters.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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