surgical suture needles
When a needle and thread are attached with caulking, the needle
easily falls off, and the needle easily slips when held with a
needle holder, and the processing expense is high. When a needle
breaks inside the tissue, the broken part is very difficult to
be removed, and creates a severe situation. Surgical knot fastening
is troublesome, and the knots often get loosened. To solve these
issues, a metal needle is insert-moulded to one end of resin made
suture material. The resin suture material is in a sash form,
the surface of the sash has a multiple number of serial projections
for prevention of untwining, the other end is made in a box form,
the inside of the box is formed to receive the untwine-prevention
projections, and thus the suture part is gradually fastened and
fixed. The manufacturing method is that the needle which is insert-moulded
is a curved needle, and the sash is formed so that the needle
would stand perpendicular to the sash suture material plane.
Claims:
What is claimed is:
1. A suture material used during a surgery, wherein a metal needle
is attached with insert-mould method inserted within resin material,
attached to one end of a resin suture material.
2. A surgical suture material according to claim 1, wherein the
center part of the resin suture material is in a sash form, the
surface of the sash has a multiple number of serial projections
formed to prevent untwining, the other end is formed in a box
form, and when the needle pierces through the suture part, the
needle is cut off; the cut section is passed through the box,
the lower part of the upper portion of the inside of the box having
receptors to receive the untwine-prevention projections, and thus
the suture part can be gradually fastened and fixed.
3. A surgical suture material according to claims 1 and 2, wherein
the resin is made of material that can be absorbed inside the
body with mechanisms such as hydrolysis or decomposition by enzymes.
4. A manufacturing method for the above surgical suture material
according to claim 3, wherein the metal needle which is made of
insert-mould method made in a curved shape, and the curved direction
is formed so that the needle can stand perpendicular against the
suture material plane.
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the invention
[0002] This invention relates to a surgical suture material utilized
during a surgery.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Majority of surgical suture material are called needle-attached
thread, wherein a needle that has a vertical hole is fixed with
caulking at one end of the thread. After the needle is pierced
through a body tissue, the needle is cut off, and knots are fastened
according to surgical fastening methods.
[0005] Needles fixed onto threads with caulking method easily
fall out of place. In cases of round needles with metal body,
the needles easily slip when held with a needle holder. When the
needle breaks inside the body tissue, the broken part is difficult
to be removed, and the situation for the patient could become
very severe. Surgical knot fastening is very troublesome, and
especially when suture is conducted with material with high smooth
surface, the knot sometimes becomes loose and untied. Also the
processing expense is high.
SUMMARY OF THIS INVENTION
[0006] To solve the above issues, this invention proposes a metal
needle that is made with insert-mould method inserted on one end
of resin suture material.
[0007] The center part of the resin suture material is in a sash
form, the surface of the sash has a multiple number of serial
projections to prevent untwining, the other end being formed in
a box form. After piercing of a body tissue for the suture is
conducted, the needle is cut off, the cut section is passed through
the box, the lower part of the upper portion of the inside of
the box has receptors to receive the untwining projections, and
thus the suture part can be fastened and fixed gradually.
[0008] The resin is used as a material which can be absorbed
in the body though mechanisms such as hydrolysis and decomposition
by enzymes.
[0009] The metal needle is made of insert-mould method in a curved
shape, and the manufacturing method proposed is to mould the needle
so that the curving direction is perpendicular to the sash form
suture material plane, so that the needle would stand against
the suture plane.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0010] Hereafter, a description of the preferred embodiments
of this invention is made in reference to drawings. FIG. 1 shows
one embodiment of this invention, wherein one end of sash form
suture material 1 has a metal needle 2 insert-mould, one side
of the inside of the sash has a multiple number of serial projections
for prevention of untwining. The other end of the sash is formed
in a box form 3, so after the needle is pierced through the tissue,
the needle is cut off and then the cut section is passed through
into box 3. The inside of the box has receptors to receive the
untwine prevention projections, enabling gradual fastening and
then fixing of the tissue. The needle is covered with resin up
to almost its center part, so there is no concern for the needle
to fall off or break, the tempering hardness is very high, and
it is possible to use affordable and cost effective material such
as stainless SUS420, SUS630 and such. As a curved suture needle
is inserted perpendicularly to the sash plane, the resin holds
the tissue in a flat way against the needle piercing plane, thus
causing least invasiveness and strong fastening. The preferable
material for the sash suture material and the solid body mould
box part is bio-adaptable material such as polyethylene, polypropyrene
and such. Also, when material such as polyglycol acid, poly lactic
acid, and polydioxanone that can be absorbed within the body is
utilized, the material would not be left inside the body.
[0011] As explained above, this invention enables easy and strong
fastening and suture of tissues. As the needle is covered with
resin, the needle does not slip so much when held with a needle
holder. There is less concern of the needle falling out or breaking,
the tempered hardness is high, and it is possible to use affordable
and cost effective material such as stainless SUS420, SUS630 and
such. As a curved suture needle is inserted perpendicularly to
the sash plane, the resin holds the tissue in a flat way against
the needle piercing plane, thus causing least invasiveness and
strong fastening. When material that can be absorbed within the
body is utilized, the material would not be left inside the body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is an explanatory drawing of one embodiment of
a surgical suture material wherein a needle is made of insert-mould
method.
An Innovative Surgical Suture and Needle Evaluation and Selection
Program
ABSTRACT
This report describes an innovative suture and needle clinical
evaluation program jointly designed by hospital representatives
of Consorta, Inc., a healthcare resource management and group
purchasing organization, and United States Surgical/Davis &
Geck Sutures (USS/D&G), manufacturer of surgical biomaterials.
Nineteen Consorta shareholder hospitals enrolled 699 surgeons
to participate in Phase I of this nonexperimental observational
study of the clinical performance of surgical needles and sutures.
Performance characteristics of the sutures and needles produced
by USS/D&G, which were evaluated in 3407 surgical procedures,
included packaging and ease of opening, needle strength and sharpness,
tissue drag, knot security, tensile strength, and clinically acceptable
and unacceptable determinations. In these 30-day studies, the
surgeons concluded that the needles and sutures were clinically
acceptable in 98.1% of the evaluations. 6 e general, cardiothoracic,
and orthopedic surgeons, who performed 73.8% of the product evaluations,
reported that the suture and needle products were clinically acceptable
in 97.2% of the evaluations. More than half (50.1%) of the evaluations
involved the POLISORB* braided synthetic sutures, which received
a clinically acceptable rating in 98.4% of the evaluation. The
next most frequently used sutures were the SOFSILK*, followed
by the monofilament nylon suture. SOFSILK* was found to be clinically
acceptable in 98.7% of the evaluations, whereas the monofilament
nylon was noted to be clinically acceptable in 96.3% of the evaluations.
Surgical needles made by USS/D&G had a 97.9% clinical acceptability
rating.
The surgical suturing assembly of the present invention protects
a user from accidental puncture wounds. A surgical needle is contained
within a rigidly-walled protective casing, having a proximate
end defining a first aperture through which the needle is inserted.
The casing tapers distally to define a second aperture for passage
and limiting protrusion of the sharp tip of the needle. The casing
defines a pair of openings near the distal end, through which
openings the needle shaft is exposed when the sharp tip extends
through the second aperture. Upon insertion of the needle, the
casing is plugged by a suture guide that engages the first aperture,
the suture guide having an eye for threading onto the suturing
thread. When plugged, the suture guide functions to slidingly
retain a needle within the casing. In use, a surgeon grasps the
suturing needle assembly where the exposed section of the needle
shaft contacts the casing. The surgeon then punctures the designated
patient biological tissue and extends the distal part of the assembly
therethrough. The surgeon then releases the assembly and regrasps
the distal casing thereof, pulling the remaining portion of the
assembly through the tissue sections. By engaging only the distal
casing, the surgeon frees the surgical needle, allowing it to
slidably recess into the proximate casing when the suturing needle
assembly is pulled completely through the apertures in the tissue,
to ultimately obscure the sharp needle tip and effectively prevent
accidental self-puncture.
Claims:
I claim:
1. A puncture-proof suturing needle assembly comprising:
a surgical needle having a distal end with a sharp tip and a
proximate end for securing a suturing medium to said surgical
needle;
a casing closely sheathing said surgical needle and allowing
freely slidable movement therein, said casing having a distal
end and a proximate end, said distal end being tapered to a reduced
diameter from said proximate end, said proximate end defining
a first aperture for receiving the surgical needle therethrough
and said distal end defining a second aperture for limiting protrusion
of said sharp tip, said casing dimensioned in length to substantially
exceed the length of said surgical needle; and
a suture guide for removably plugging said first aperture, said
suture guide defining an eye hole for threading of said suturing
medium therethrough.
2. The puncture-proof suturing needle assembly according to claim
1, wherein said casing is integrally defined by a distal section
and a proximate section and a pair of diametrically opposed flanges
connecting said distal section to said proximate section, said
flanges, said distal section and said proximate section together
defining a pair of diametrically opposed openings positioned along
said casing to expose said surgical needle when said sharp tip
extends through said second aperture at the fullest protrusion
of said tip and to fully occlude said tip from appearing in said
openings when said proximate end of said needle is nearest said
first aperture.
3. The puncture-proof suturing needle assembly according to claim
1, wherein said proximate section is beveled approaching and terminating
with said second aperture for eliminating discontinuities along
the surface of said suturing needle assembly.
4. The puncture-proof suturing needle assembly according to claim
1, said casing being substantially frusto-conical.
5. The puncture-proof suturing needle assembly according to claim
1, said suture guide being a substantial cylinder, said eye hole
positioned substantially concentrically on said cylinder and dimensioned
to prevent passage of said needle, said suture guide made of a
material suitable for crimping.
6. A suturing needle casing for use with a surgical needle having
a distal end with a sharp tip and a proximate end for securing
a suturing medium to said surgical needle, said suturing needle
casing comprising:
a casing closely sheathing the surgical needle and allowing freely
slidable movement therein, said casing having a distal end and
a proximate end, said casing integrally defining a distal section
and a proximate section and a pair of diametrically opposed flanges
connecting said distal section to said proximate section, said
distal end of said distal section being tapered to a reduced diameter,
said proximate end of said proximate section defining a first
aperture for receiving the surgical needle therethrough and said
distal end of said defining a second aperture for limiting protrusion
of the sharp tip, said casing dimensioned in length to substantially
exceed the length of the surgical needle;
wherein said flanges, said distal section and said proximate
section together define a pair of diametrically opposed openings
positioned along said casing to expose said surgical needle when
said sharp tip extends through said second aperture at the fullest
protrusion of said tip and to fully occlude said tip from appearing
in said openings when said proximate end of said needle is nearest
said first aperture; and,
a suture guide for removably plugging said first aperture, said
suture guide defining an eye hole for threading of the suturing
medium therethrough.
7. The suturing needle casing according to claim 6, wherein said
proximate section is beveled approaching and terminating with
said second aperture for eliminating discontinuities along the
surface of said suturing needle assembly.
8. A surgical suturing method comprising:
preparing a suturing needle assembly comprising:
a surgical needle, the surgical needle having a sharp tip at
its distal end and a proximate end for securing a suturing medium
to the surgical needle;
a substantially frusto-conical casing for sheathing the needle,
the casing having distal and proximate ends defining a first aperture
and second aperture respectively, the first aperture dimensioned
to allow insertion of the surgical needletherethrough and the
distal end tapering to define the second aperture of a reduced
diameter, the second aperture accommodating and limiting protrusion
of the sharp tip;
a suture guide defining an eye hole through which suturing medium
is threaded, and the suture guide insertably plugging the first
aperture;
the casing further comprising distal and proximate sections and
a pair of diametrically opposed flanges, the flanges integrally
connecting the proximate part of the distal section and the distal
part of the proximate section, the distal and proximate sections
and the flanges defining a pair of diametrically opposed openings
through which the surgical needle is exposed when the sharp tip
extends through the aperture defined by the distal end of the
casing, and the edges of the casing disposed proximate to the
surgical needle being beveled to eliminate discontinuities along
the surface of the suturing needle assembly; and,
the casing containing the surgical needle, so that the distal
section tapers to form a snug seal with the tip and the proximate
section engages the needle relatively loosely, to better facilitate
the sliding displacement thereof;
grasping the suturing needle assembly between the opposing jaws
of a surgical driving tool at the flanges and the exposed section
of the surgical needle proximate thereto;
directing the suturing needle assembly, with the needle tip exposed,
to puncture two opposing sections of patient biological tissue
to be sutured together;
extending the distal section through the apertures in the opposing
patient biological tissue sections;
disengaging the opposing jaws of the surgical driving tool from
the flanges and the exposed section of the surgical needle proximate
thereto;
grasping the suturing needle assembly between the opposing jaws
of the surgical driving tool at the distal section; and,
pulling the remaining portion of the suturing needle assembly
through the apertures in the patient biological tissue sections,
whereby the surgical needle slidably recesses into the proximate
section, thereby safely protecting the needle tip therein, to
prevent accidental self-puncture; and,
inverting the suturing needle assembly to allow the surgical
needle to return to its position at the distal section, thereby
exposing the needle tip for further penetration of patient biological
tissue.
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to suture needles for use in surgical
applications, and more specifically to medical grade suture needles
designed to prevent the accidental puncturing of a user's skin.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Recently, the grim repercussions of blood-borne infectious diseases
such as hepatitis and AIDS have forced the medical community to
better safeguard against contamination resulting from contact
with bodily fluids. One example of this current prophylactic awareness
involves surgical suture needles, and modifications thereto that
aim to protect a user from accidentally puncturing themselves,
which in the past has led to the transmission of lethal blood-borne
infectious diseases. Unlike other types of medical equipment,
the surgical suture needle is small and very sharp. These properties
make handling of the needle, even for a skilled surgeon, potentially
harmful, exposing the surgeon, as well as other medical personnel,
to unintentional skin penetration and its deadly consequences.
Accordingly, self-puncture preventative measures are warranted.
The surgical suture needle described in World Intellectual Property
Organization Patent WO 92/08412 features a blunt tip. Extensive
cadaver research documents the resistance of gloved palmar cutaneous
tissues (skin) to needles having tips of different "bluntness"
levels, which largely retain their piercing capabilities for puncturing
non-cutaneous soft body tissues. However, the constantly exposed
needle tip still presents ample opportunities for possible accidental
puncture of the user's skin. At the same time, tip bluntness could
adversely effect a suture needle's smooth penetration of non-cutaneous
tissue. Given the increased surface area of a blunt tip, the surgeon
must use more force to puncture non-cutaneous tissues, leading
to potential tearing of the suture hole.
Another approach to prevent accidental user puncture involves
a protective sheath, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,180,385
and 5,549,629. U.S. Pat. No. 5,180,385 teaches a suturing assembly
comprising a surgical needle having a hump within a casing or
sheath having an aperture, wherein the hump of the needle protrudes
through the casing aperture. In use, a surgeon deforms the hump
of the needle, forcing the sharpened distal point of the needle
to project through the distal opening of the casing. After penetrating
the tissue with the needle/casing assembly, the surgeon releases
the deforming force, causing the needle to return to its original
position and leaving an unsharpened point for safe manipulation.
While the hump needle design of the suturing assembly of '385
affords a mechanism by which the sharpened point can be safely
recessed into the casing thereof, it also creates problems involving
both surgical and manufacturing concerns. The hump of the needle,
while protruding only minimally through the aperture in the casing,
interrupts the otherwise continuous surface of the assembly, thereby
leading to potential tearing of the suture hole. Repeated sutures
using the device of '385 could also introduce surgical debris
into the recess defined by the hump, obstructing its deformation
and ultimately compromising its smooth operation. Furthermore,
the hump needle, and the driver designed especially for use with
it, would be more expensive to manufacture than existing conventional
surgical needles and drivers, which are incompatible with the
design of the device of '385.
The protective apparatus of '629 provides for a retractable,
telescoping, surgical needle cover and a collapsible needle, such
that the sharp tip of the needle is covered after use, thereby
protecting the user from accidental self-puncture. Three embodiments
of the device are disclosed. In two of the embodiments, the sharp
tip of the needle collapsibly retracts upon striking "a hard
object," but does not retract when piercing the soft flesh
of a patient during surgery. The hardness required for collapsing
the needle is not specified, leading one to conclude that if the
sharp needle penetrates the soft flesh of a patient, then it can
just as easily penetrate the soft flesh of a surgeon's hand or
finger, or of the hand or finger of anyone else handling the needle.
Thus the mechanism for safely covering the sharp point of the
needle is not well controlled nor reliable to prevent the accidental
puncturing of a user's skin.
The other embodiment of the device of '629 employs a lever mechanism,
movably disposed within a groove formed in the proximate end of
the needle, to control movement of the cover over the sharp needle
tip. Given the intricate nature of endosurgical suturing, activating
this type of lever mechanism could prove difficult and cumbersome,
ultimately complicating the procedure. Moreover this embodiment
of '629 would also require a needle designed specifically to incorporate
the groove and lever mechanism, and would thereby be more expensive
to manufacture than existing conventional surgical needles, which
are incompatible.
In light of the shortcomings of the above inventions and patents,
there is a need for a surgical suturing assembly that securely
protects a user from accidental puncture wounds. There is also
a need for such a surgical suturing assembly that can utilize
existing surgical needles, without necessitating structural modifications
thereto. Furthermore, an easily controlled protection mechanism
for a surgical suturing assembly is needed, whereby the safety
of the user is not compromised.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly
or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as
claimed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The surgical suturing assembly of the present invention aims
to protects a user from accidental puncture wounds, which have
been known to result in the transmission of lethal blood-borne
infectious diseases. To best facilitate such protection, the surgical
suturing assembly described herein provides a user-controlled
cover mechanism for the sharp needle tip. Also, the present invention
permits the utilization of existing surgical needles, without
necessitating structural modifications thereto.
An open-ended, rigidly walled casing for receiving a surgical
or suturing needle is provided, which casing has a curvature accommodating
the curvature of a suturing needle and is dimensioned to have
a length in excess of the suturing needle such that the needle
may be withdrawn into the casing. The proximate end of the casing
defines a first aperture through which the needle is inserted.
The casing tapers at its distal end and defines a second aperture
that both allows the sharp tip of the needle to protrude for use
during suturing and limits the protrusion of the tip. The casing
comprises interconnecting distal and proximate sections, which
are integrally connected by a pair of diametrically opposed flanges.
The sections and flanges together define a pair of diametrically
opposed openings, through which the surgical needle is exposed
for grasping by surgical needle driver, such as a hemostat clamp,
for securing the tip in an extended position through the second
aperture.
A substantially cylindrical suture guide insertably engages the
proximate end of the casing and plugs the first aperture to retain
a needle within the casing; the guide further defines an eye through
which the suturing medium is threaded. In conventional use, a
suturing needle is provided with a suturing medium, such as proline
thread, attached through the eye of the needle or affixed to the
blunt end of the needle. The suturing medium is passed through
the eye of the suture guide, the eye being dimensioned to prevent
passage of the needle. When the suture guide is plugged into the
first aperture, it forms a stop preventing the needle from escaping
the casing, thereby allowing reciprocal movement of the needle
within the casing. Thus, the sheath may be grasped by a clamp
and slid forward to allow the needle to be retracted and ultimately
drawn forward inside the sheath by virtue of the suture guide
abutting the eye of the needle. The suture guide can be crimped
to further secure the suturing medium therein.
Each component of the suturing needle assembly is manufactured
from surgical grade stainless steel, which is corrosion-resistant
and can be sterilized before use. The needle itself is a conventional
suturing needle, available in a wide array of sizes, shapes and
designs. Accordingly, the casing can be manufactured to accommodate
any of the known various surgical needle embodiments. While the
distal section of the casing tapers to form a snug seal with the
needle tip, the proximate section engages the needle relatively
loosely, to better facilitate the sliding displacement of thereof.
All edges of the casing disposed proximate to the needle are beveled
to eliminate discontinuities along the surface of the suturing
needle assembly.
In use, a surgeon employs the needle driver to manipulate the
suturing needle assembly, grasping the flanges and the exposed
section of the needle proximate thereto in the opposing jaws of
the driver, thereby securing the needle within the casing. The
surgeon can then direct the suturing needle assembly, with the
needle tip exposed, to puncture two sections of patient biological
tissue to be sutured together. Upon extending the distal casing
section through the apertures in the tissue sections, the surgeon
disengages the opposing jaws of the driver. The surgeon then repositions
the opposing jaws of the driver to grasp the distal casing section,
and pulls the remaining portion of the suturing needle assembly
through the apertures in the tissue sections. By engaging only
the distal casing section, the needle therefrom, so slidably recesses
into the proximate casing section when the suturing needle assembly
is pulled completely through the apertures in the tissue sections.
The "drag" of the suturing medium facilitates the displacement
of the needle within the casing. In this orientation, the needle
tip is safely sheathed within the proximate casing section, thereby
preventing accidental self-puncture.
When preparing to make a second suture, the surgeon inverts the
suturing needle assembly to allow the surgical needle to drop
into its extended-tip position, whereby the needle tip is exposed
for further penetration of patient biological tissue.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to protect
medical personnel from accidental puncture wounds.
It is another object of the invention to incorporate a user-controlled
mechanism for encasing the sharp needle tip after penetration
of tissue.
It is a further object of the invention to utilize existing surgical
needles, without necessitating structural modifications thereto.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a protective
device for utilization with standard surgical needle drivers including
hemostat clamps and the like.
It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements
and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described
which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing
its intended purposes.
These and other objects of the present invention will become
readily apparent upon further review of the following specification
and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the puncture-proof suturing
needle assembly of the present invention, in an open state with
the sharp needle tip exposed.
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the puncture-proof suturing
needle assembly of the present invention, in a closed state with
the sharp needle tip recessed.
FIG. 3 is an exploded, side elevational view of the components
of the puncture-proof suturing needle assembly of the present
invention.
FIG. 4 is an environmental, perspective view of the puncture-proof
suturing needle assembly of the present invention in the open
state, inserted through tissue to be sutured.
FIG. 5 is an environmental, perspective view of the puncture-proof
suturing needle assembly of the present invention in a closed
stated, while pulled through the tissue to be sutured.
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently
throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The present invention, referenced as 10 herein, is illustrated
in FIG. 1. A surgical needle 12 of well-known design is shown
contained within a rigid-walled, substantially frusto-conical
casing 14, having a curvature paralleling the surgical needle
12. The proximate end of surgical needle 12 defines an eyelet
30 through which the desired length of chosen suturing medium
32 is threaded in a well-known fashion. The proximate end of casing
14 defines a first aperture 28, through which surgical needle
12 has been inserted into the casing 14. The distal end of casing
14 tapers to define an open-end or second aperture 16, which accommodates
protrusion of the sharp tip 18 of surgical needle 12. The aperture
is sized in diameter to limit the protrusion of the needle to
only the tip 18.
Casing 14 comprises distal and proximate sections 20, 22, each
integrally connected to a pair of diametrically opposed flanges
24. Flanges 24 connect the proximate part of section 20 to the
distal part of section 22. Together sections 20, 22 and flanges
24 define a pair of diametrically opposed openings 26. The openings
are positioned so that the surgical needle 12 is substantially
exposed when tip 18 extends through aperture 16 (as shown in FIG.
1); however, the openings are positioned beyond the end of the
tip when the needle is fully retracted in a closed state (as shown
in FIG. 2).
A substantially cylindrical suture guide 34 insertably plugs
aperture 28 after surgical needle 12 is inserted therein. Suture
guide 34 defines an eye hole 36 that extends through its substantial
center, through which suturing medium 32 is threaded. Suture guide
34 can be crimped to further secure suturing medium 32 therein.
The eye hole 36 is dimensioned in diameter to prevent passage
of the needle. When the suture guide is plugged into the first
aperture, it forms a stop preventing the needle from escaping
the casing, thereby allowing reciprocal movement of the needle
within the casing.
FIG. 2 illustrates the suturing needle assembly 10 with surgical
needle 12 having been slidably displaced so that section 22 of
casing 14 contains it completely. Suture guide 34 functions to
retain surgical needle 12 in its recessed position within casing
14. In this orientation, needle tip 18 is safely protected within
section 22, to prevent accidental self-puncture.
Surgical needle 12, casing 14 and suture guide 34 are shown as
separate components in FIG. 3. Each of the components is manufactured
from surgical grade stainless steel, which is corrosion-resistant
and can be sterilized before use. Surgical needle 12 itself is
a conventional suturing needle, available in a wide array of sizes,
shapes and designs. Accordingly, casing 14 can be manufactured
to accommodate any of the known various surgical needle embodiments,
but in all cases the casing 14 exceeds the length of the needle
to allow positioning of the diametrically opposed openings 26
beyond the end of the needle tip when in a retracted state. Section
20 is tapered to form a snug seal with needle tip 18 at aperture
16, to insure a smooth interface therewith and eliminate discontinuities
along the distal part of suturing needle assembly 10. Section
22 engages surgical needle 12 relatively loosely, to better facilitate
the sliding displacement of surgical needle 12 therein. The edges
of sections 20, 22 and the edges of flanges 24 which define openings
26 are beveled, to insure a smooth interface with surgical needle
12 and eliminate discontinuities along the surface of suturing
needle assembly 10.
FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 illustrate the use of suturing needle assembly
10 during surgery. In FIG. 4, a surgeon employs a driver 38, of
well known design (such as a hemostat clamp), to manipulate suturing
needle assembly 10. Specifically, the opposing jaws of driver
38 grasp flanges 24 and the exposed section of surgical needle
12 proximate thereto. The surgeon can then direct suturing needle
assembly 10, With needle tip 18 exposed, to puncture the two sections
of patient biological tissue 40, 42 to be sutured together.
Upon extending section 20 through the apertures in tissue sections
40, 42, the surgeon disengages the opposing jaws of driver 38
from flanges 24 and the exposed section of surgical needle 12
proximate thereto. The surgeon then grasps section 20 with the
opposing jaws of driver 38, and pulls the remaining portion of
suturing needle assembly 10, including section 22, suture guide
34 and suturing medium 32, through the apertures in tissue sections
40, 42. By engaging only section 20 of casing 14, the surgeon
frees surgical needle 12 therefrom, so that it slidably recesses
proximately into section 22 when suturing needle assembly 10 is
pulled completely through the apertures in tissue sections 40,
42. The "drag" of suturing medium 32 facilitates the
displacement of surgical needle 12 within casing 14. In this orientation,
needle tip 18 is safely sheathed within section 22, to prevent
accidental self-puncture, as shown in FIG. 5. When preparing to
make a second suture, the surgeon inverts suturing needle assembly
10 to allow surgical needle 12 to return to its position at distal
section 20, whereby needle tip 18 is exposed for further penetration
of patient biological tissue.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited
to the sole embodiment described above, but encompasses any and
all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
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