Suture needle and suture thread with suture needle

Abstract

To provide a suture needle and a suture thread with a suture needle excellent in piercing property.SOLUTION: A suture needle (10) includes at least a curved part, the shape of the curved part including a clothoid curve. The clothoid curve of the suture needle may increase the curvature from the base end to the tip at a constant rate. The clothoid curve of the suture needle may decrease the curvature from the base end to the tip at a constant rate. The clothoid curve of the suture needle may include a clothoid curve in which the curvature is increased from the base end to the tip at a constant rate and a clothoid curve in which the curvature is decreased from the base end to the tip at a constant rate.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a suture needle and a suture thread with a suture needle that have excellent penetration properties. [Background technology]

[0002] Suture needles used to suture blood vessels, organs, etc. have a curved shape determined by the curvature of a circle. When suturing blood vessels, organs, etc., the suture needle held by a needle holder is inserted into a living body (blood vessel, organ, etc.), and the suture needle is advanced following the curved shape of the suture needle, and after the suture needle is exposed outside the living body, it is grasped by the needle holder and pulled out.

[0003] At this time, in order to advance the suture needle following the curved shape of the suture needle, it is necessary to continuously maintain and adjust the angle at which the suture needle advances constant in accordance with the curvature of the circle from the time the suture needle is inserted until it is pulled out.

[0004] In addition, in a typical surgical procedure, the doctor (operator) holds a needle holder in his right hand and forceps in his left hand, grasps the suture needle with the needle holder and manipulates (rotates) it, holds the suture needle with the forceps, re-grasps the suture needle with the needle holder, and manipulates (rotates) it again, repeating this action.

[0005] In such a suturing operation, it is required that the suture needle reduces the resistance when passing through a living body and improves the piercing property. It is also required to reduce the burden on the doctor (operator). Patent Document 1 discloses a structure of the tip (needle tip) of the suture needle to improve the piercing property. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2004-305397 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, with a suture needle, not only the structure of the needle tip but also the shape of the entire suture needle affects the suturing action, so the shape of the entire suture needle is also an important issue in improving the penetration performance.

[0008] Specifically, to achieve a suturing action with excellent penetration performance, the doctor had to keep rotating the needle holder so that the trajectory was a circular arc, and had to continuously manipulate the suturing needle by following the curvature of the circle from the time the needle was inserted until it was removed.

[0009] To do this, doctors had to frequently change needle holders and rotate their wrists, which placed a great strain on them and required advanced techniques.

[0010] Furthermore, if the suture needle cannot be advanced following the curved shape of the suture needle, excessive force may be applied to the needle, causing damage to the needle or causing injury to the living body, which is a problem. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the suture needle of the present invention is characterized in that it has a straight portion and a curved portion, the length of the straight portion being between 1 / 4 and 3 / 4 of the length from the tip to the base end, and the intersection angle being between 90° and 180°.

[0012] The suture needle according to the present invention is characterized in that it has at least a curved portion, and the shape of the curved portion includes a clothoid curve.

[0013] The suture needle according to the present invention is characterized in that the curvature of the clothoid curve increases at a constant rate from the base end to the tip end.

[0014] The suture needle according to the present invention is characterized in that the curvature of the clothoid curve decreases at a constant rate from the base end to the tip end.

[0015] In addition, the suture needle according to the present invention is characterized in that the clothoid curve includes a clothoid curve whose curvature increases at a constant rate from the base end to the tip end, and a clothoid curve whose curvature decreases at a constant rate from the base end to the tip end.

[0016] The suture thread with a suture needle according to the present invention is characterized in that the suture needle is attached to a suture thread. Effect of the Invention

[0017] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a suture needle and a suture thread with a suture needle that have excellent penetration properties. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an external view of a suture needle according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a side view of the suture needle according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a side view of the central shaft of the suture needle according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a view for explaining a suturing operation by the suture needle according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a suturing operation using a conventional suture needle. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an external view of a suture needle according to a modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a side view of a suture needle according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a side view of a central shaft of a suture needle according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a view for explaining a suturing operation by a suture needle according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a side view of a suture needle according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11]FIG. 11 is a side view of a central shaft of a suture needle according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a view for explaining a suturing operation by a suture needle according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a side view of a suture needle according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a side view of a central shaft of a suture needle according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a view for explaining a suturing operation by a suture needle according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a side view of a central shaft of a suture needle according to a modified example of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a side view of a suture needle according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is an external view of a suture with a suture needle according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] <First embodiment> A suture needle 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 6.

[0020] <Suture needle configuration> 1 and 2 are respectively a perspective view and a side view of a suture needle 10 according to the present embodiment. In the side view, the longitudinal direction of the suture needle 10 is the X direction, and the direction in which the tip of the suture needle 10 is curved up is the upward direction (Z positive direction).

[0021] Suture needle 10 according to this embodiment has curved body 11, sharp tip (needle tip) 12, and base end 13 to which a suture (not shown) is attached.

[0022] There is no limitation on the cross-sectional shape of the main body 11, and a circular shape or a polygonal shape such as a triangle can be applied. Furthermore, the cross-sectional shape may be a shape that changes in the longitudinal direction of the suture needle 10.

[0023] The suture needle 10 is made of stainless steel, but may be made of other materials, such as polymers, alloys, or any other material having suitable rigidity.

[0024] The main body 11 has a tapered shape with a diameter decreasing toward the tip 12, and has a tapered shape within a range of about 1 mm from the tip.

[0025] The base end 13 is a portion for attaching a suture (not shown) and is provided with a resilient hole (spring hole). The resilient hole is a long, thin hole with a forked tip, and the suture is attached to the suture needle 10 by pressing the side of the suture against the fork and passing it through the hole. The base end 13 is not limited to a resilient hole (spring hole), and may be provided with a fluted hole (normal hole). Alternatively, a blind hole of a predetermined depth may be formed in the end face of the base end 13, and the suture may be inserted into the blind hole and the periphery of the base end 13 may be crimped to attach the suture to the suture needle 10.

[0026] 3 shows an overview of the central axis when the main body 11 is viewed from the side. The main body 11 has a straight-line portion (hereinafter referred to as the "straight-line portion") from the base end 13 to a predetermined length (P1-P2 in the figure) and from the tip end 12 to a predetermined length (P3-P4 in the figure), and the curved portion (P2-P3 in the figure, hereinafter referred to as the "curved portion") has a curved shape with a certain circular curvature.

[0027] The total length L0 of the suture needle 10 is 5 mm, the length L1 of the straight portion is about 2.5 mm, and L2 is about 1 mm. The length L1 of the straight portion is not limited to this, and is desirably 1 / 4 or more and 3 / 4 or less of the length from the tip end to the base end.

[0028] Moreover, the intersection angle IA of the curved portion is 90°. However, the intersection angle IA of the curved portion is not limited to this, and is preferably equal to or greater than 90° and equal to or less than 180°.

[0029] <Effects of suture needles> A suturing operation using the suture needle 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 4. For comparison, Fig. 5 shows a case where a conventional suture needle 101 having a curved shape determined by the curvature of a circle (hereinafter referred to as a "conventional needle") is used.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 5, when using a conventional needle 101, first, the conventional needle 101 held by a needle holder is inserted into a living body, and the needle holder is rotated widely (FIG. 5A).

[0031] After insertion, the needle is advanced by rotating the needle holder so that the trajectory follows an arc following the curvature of the circle, and even after the conventional needle 101 is exposed outside the body, the needle holder continues to be rotated so that the trajectory follows an arc following the curvature of the circle, and the conventional needle 101 is advanced and then pulled out (Figures 5B-D).

[0032] At this time, the needle holder is held in one hand and forceps in the other, the suture needle is grasped with the needle holder and manipulated (rotated), the suture needle is then held with the forceps and the needle holder is re-gripped and manipulated (rotated) again, and the action is repeated.

[0033] In this way, it is necessary to keep rotating the needle holder so that the trajectory forms a circular arc, and it is necessary to operate the conventional needle 101 by continuously following the curvature of the circle from when the conventional needle 101 is inserted until when it is pulled out. In other words, it is necessary to advance the conventional needle 101 while adjusting the angle to a constant value so as to follow the curvature of the circle.

[0034] To do this, the doctor must frequently change needle holders and rotate their wrists, which places a great burden on the doctor and requires advanced techniques.

[0035] In addition, if the suture needle is only curved (does not include a straight line), it is difficult to transmit force to the tip of the suture needle during suturing, especially when inserting and removing the suture needle. As a result, the frequency of attempts to insert and remove the suture needle increases, making it difficult to immediately determine the insertion and removal positions. In addition, if the suture needle is only curved (does not include a straight line), it is difficult for the doctor to intuitively grasp the insertion and removal positions of the suture needle.

[0036] On the other hand, when using the suture needle 10 according to the present embodiment, after inserting the suture needle 10 into the living body, the needle is advanced following the curvature of a circle (FIGS. 4A-C), as shown in Fig. 4. When withdrawing the needle, it is sufficient to withdraw it in a straight line (FIGS. 4D-E).

[0037] Therefore, there is no need to continuously manipulate the suture needle 10 following the curvature of a circle from the time the suture needle 10 is inserted until the time it is pulled out. After the suture needle 10 is inserted and then advanced into the living body following the curvature of a circle, the suture needle 10 can be pulled out simply by manipulating it in a straight line.

[0038] In addition, when advancing the suture needle by following the curvature of a circle (Fig. 4A-C), it is necessary to hold the suture needle with forceps, re-grasp the suture needle with the needle holder, and manipulate (rotate) it again; however, when pulling out the suture needle in a straight line (Fig. 4D-E), it is sufficient to hold the suture needle with the forceps and pull it out; there is no need to re-grasp it in the needle holder and manipulate (rotate) it.

[0039] In this way, the burden on the doctor is reduced as there is no need to frequently change needle holders, and high-precision suturing can be performed without the need for advanced techniques.

[0040] In addition, because the suture needle 10 includes a straight shape, force can be easily transmitted to the tip of the suture needle when inserting or removing the suture needle. As a result, the suture needle can be inserted or removed quickly, and the insertion or removal positions can be easily determined. Furthermore, by using the suture needle 10 including a straight shape, the doctor can intuitively grasp the insertion or removal positions of the suture needle.

[0041] Furthermore, the suture needle according to this embodiment has a straight portion on the base end side, but as shown in FIG. 6, it may have a straight portion on the tip end side (suture needle 14).

[0042] In this case, after inserting the suture needle 14 and operating it linearly, the suture needle 14 is advanced into the living body following the curvature of a circle and then pulled out. As a result, it is not necessary to continuously operate the suture needle 14 following the curvature of a circle from the time the suture needle 14 is inserted until the time it is pulled out.

[0043] Furthermore, when manipulating the suture needle 14 linearly, it is sufficient to hold and manipulate the suture needle 14 with forceps, and there is no need to hold it back in the needle holder and manipulate (rotate) it. In this way, the doctor does not need to frequently change needle holders, reducing the burden on the doctor and enabling highly accurate suturing without requiring advanced techniques.

[0044] Furthermore, since the suture needle 14 includes a linear shape, similarly to the suture needle 10, the doctor can easily determine and intuitively grasp the positions for inserting and removing the suture needle.

[0045] Furthermore, the suture needle 14 according to this embodiment is effective for suturing in a deep surgical field, such as end-to-side anastomosis of the internal jugular vein. When it is necessary to insert the suture needle linearly in suturing in a deep surgical field, such as end-to-side anastomosis of the internal jugular vein, the suture needle 14 can be easily inserted into a deep surgical field because it has a straight portion from the tip. As a result, since suturing in a deep surgical field can be easily performed, the suturing time can be shortened compared to when a conventional needle is used, and the burden on the doctor can be reduced.

[0046] In this embodiment, a circular shape is used as the curved shape, but other curved shapes such as a quadratic function curve may also be used.

[0047] <Second embodiment> A suture needle 20 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0048] <Suture needle configuration> 7 is a side view of suture needle 20 according to the present embodiment. Suture needle 20 according to the present embodiment has substantially the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, and includes a main body 21, a tip end 22, and a base end 23, but the curved shape of main body 21 is different.

[0049] 8 shows a schematic diagram of the central axis when the main body 21 is viewed from the side. A portion of a predetermined length from the base end 23 (P1-P2 in the figure) is a straight section, and the curved section (P2-P3 in the figure) has a clothoid curved shape in which the curvature increases at a constant rate from the base end 23 side to the tip 22 side. Here, the straight section is provided only on the base end side, but the tip side may also have a straight section.

[0050] The total length L0 of the suture needle 20 is 4.5 mm, and the length L1 of the straight portion is about 1 mm (about 22% of the total length L0). The length L1 of the straight portion is not limited to this, and is desirably 1 / 2 or less of the total length L0.

[0051] The diameter of the suture needle 20 is 100 μm. The needle diameter becomes smaller from the tip 22 to a point within a range of about 1 mm, and the tip 22 is sharp.

[0052] <Effects of suture needles> First, let us explain about the clothoid curve. A clothoid curve is a path that is drawn when the curvature is changed at a constant rate. If the radius of curvature and the length of the curve from the starting point are R and L, respectively, the product of the two is constant, as shown in the following formula.

[0053] R L = A2

[0054] A is a constant having the dimension of length, called the clothoid parameter.

[0055] For example, in the case of a car traveling at a constant speed, the path of travel that is created when the car moves forward while turning the steering wheel at a constant angular velocity is a clothoid curve.

[0056] When a car traveling at a constant speed turns a curve with a constant curvature (composed of a part of a circle), the steering becomes abrupt, generating large centrifugal forces and making stable driving difficult. On the other hand, when turning a curve that uses a clothoid curve, the car can turn the steering wheel at a constant angular velocity while driving, suppressing centrifugal forces and enabling stable driving.

[0057] In the suture needle 20 according to the present embodiment, the radius of curvature R is 1.6, the curve length L is 5, and the clothoid parameter A is 2.83. Also, the intersection angle IA is 114°.

[0058] A suturing operation using the suturing needle 20 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0059] First, the suture needle 20 held by a needle holder is inserted into a living body (FIG. 9A).

[0060] After insertion, the needle is advanced by gradually decreasing the rotation of the needle holder following the clothoid curve (FIGS. 9B-C). After the suture needle 20 is exposed outside the living body, the needle is advanced linearly and then withdrawn (FIGS. 9D-E).

[0061] In this way, after the suture needle 20 is inserted into the living body, the needle is advanced by gradually decreasing the rotation of the needle holder following the clothoid curve, but when withdrawing it, it is sufficient to withdraw it in a straight line.

[0062] Therefore, unlike conventional suture needles, it is not necessary to operate the suture needle 20 by continuously following the curvature of a circle from the time the suture needle 20 is inserted until it is pulled out. After the suture needle 20 is inserted and the rotation of the needle holder is gradually decreased following a clothoid curve, the suture needle 20 can be pulled out simply by operating it linearly.

[0063] When suturing with a conventional needle, if the conventional needle has a constant circular curvature and a semicircular curved shape (1 / 2·R), one rotation is 180°, so the rotation rate is 0.5 relative to the rotation required for one suturing (360°).

[0064] On the other hand, when the suture needle 20 of this embodiment is used, one rotation is 114°, so the rotation rate is 0.316. The lower the rotation rate, the less wrist turning (movement) of the doctor during the suturing action and the smaller the burden, so it can be seen that the suture needle 20 of this embodiment stabilizes the suturing action and reduces the burden on the doctor compared to the conventional needle.

[0065] Furthermore, since a clothoid curve is used for the bending portion, when switching from an operation of bending in the advancing direction to an operation of bending in a straight line, the angle of the suture needle 20 with respect to the advancing direction can be changed at a constant angular velocity.

[0066] In a suturing operation using the suture needle 10 of the first embodiment, when moving from a curved section to a straight section, a situation similar to the above-mentioned sudden steering when a car turns a curve with a certain curvature is generated, which generates a large centrifugal force and makes it difficult to perform a stable suturing operation.

[0067] Furthermore, as the centrifugal force increases, the frictional resistance between the suture needle 10 and the living tissue increases, which may cause breakage of the suture needle or damage to the living body.

[0068] On the other hand, in a suturing operation using the suture needle 20 according to this embodiment, when transitioning from a curved section to a straight section, the suture needle 20 is rotated at a constant angular velocity while suturing, similar to when a car turns a clothoid curve as described above, so that centrifugal force can be suppressed and a stable suturing operation can be performed.

[0069] In addition, because centrifugal force can be suppressed, the frictional resistance between the suture needle and the biological tissue, i.e., the resistance (penetration resistance) when penetrating the tissue of the human body, etc., can be reduced, improving the penetrability, thereby preventing breakage of the suture needle or damage to the living body.

[0070] In this way, in the suturing operation using the suturing needle 20 according to this embodiment, there is no need to suddenly bend the direction of travel, so centrifugal force can be suppressed, the piercing ability is improved, and suturing can be performed easily and stably. As a result, the doctor does not need to frequently change needle holders, reducing the burden and fatigue, and enabling highly accurate suturing without requiring advanced techniques.

[0071] The suture needle 20 according to the present embodiment has a shape including a straight portion and a curved portion, similar to the suture needle 10 according to the first embodiment, and so naturally also achieves the same effects as the suture needle 10 according to the first embodiment.

[0072] <Third embodiment> A suture needle 30 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs.

[0073] <Suture needle configuration> 10 is a side view of a suture needle 30 according to this embodiment. The suture needle 30 according to this embodiment has a configuration substantially similar to that of the first and second embodiments, and includes a main body 31, a tip end 32, and a base end 33, but the curved shape of the main body 31 is different.

[0074] 11 shows a schematic diagram of the central axis when the main body 31 is viewed from the side. The main body 31 has a straight section of a predetermined length from the tip 32 (P2-P3 in the figure), and the curved section (P1-P2 in the figure) has a clothoid curved shape in which the curvature decreases at a constant rate from the base end 33 side to the tip 32 side. Here, the straight section is provided only on the tip side, but the base end side may also have a straight section.

[0075] The total length L0 of the suture needle 30 is 4.5 mm, and the length L1 of the straight portion is about 1 mm (about 22% of the total length L0). The length L1 of the straight portion is not limited to this, and is desirably 1 / 2 or less of the total length L0.

[0076] In the suture needle 30 according to the present embodiment, the radius of curvature R is 1.6, the curve length L is 5, and the clothoid parameter A is 2.83. Also, the intersection angle IA is 117°.

[0077] The diameter of the suture needle 30 is 100 μm. The needle diameter becomes smaller from the tip 32 to a point within a range of about 1 mm, and the tip 32 is sharp.

[0078] <Effects of suture needles> The suturing operation using this suturing needle 30 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0079] First, the suture needle 30 held by the needle holder is inserted linearly into the living body (FIGS. 12A-B). At this time, there is no rotational movement of the needle holder, as in the case of using a straight needle.

[0080] After insertion, the needle is advanced and removed by gradually increasing the rotation of the needle holder following the clothoid curve (Fig. 12C-E).

[0081] In this way, there is no need to rotate the needle holder when inserting the needle, and thereafter, the needle holder is pulled out by gradually increasing the rotation.

[0082] Therefore, it is not necessary to operate the suture needle 30 by continuously following the curvature of a circle from when the suture needle 30 is inserted until when it is pulled out, as with the conventional suture needle 30. The suture needle 30 can be inserted linearly, and then the rotation of the needle holder can be gradually increased to follow a clothoid curve, allowing the suture needle 30 to be advanced into the living body and pulled out.

[0083] When using the suture needle 30 of this embodiment, one rotation is 117°, so the rotation rate is 0.325. The lower the rotation rate, the less wrist turning (movement) of the doctor during the suturing operation and the smaller the burden, so it can be seen that the suture needle 20 of this embodiment stabilizes the suturing operation and reduces the burden on the doctor compared to the conventional needle (rotation rate: 0.5).

[0084] Furthermore, since a clothoid curve is used for the bending portion, when switching from a linear operation to an operation in which the advancing direction is bent, the angle of the suture needle 30 with respect to the advancing direction can be changed at a constant angular velocity.

[0085] Thus, in the suturing operation using the suturing needle 30 of this embodiment, as in the second embodiment, when transitioning from a curved section to a straight section, suturing is performed while rotating the suturing needle 30 at a constant angular velocity, similar to when a car turns a clothoid curve as described above, so that centrifugal force can be suppressed and a stable suturing operation can be performed.

[0086] In addition, because centrifugal force can be suppressed, the frictional resistance between the suture needle and the biological tissue, i.e., the resistance (penetration resistance) when penetrating the tissue of the human body, etc., can be reduced, improving the penetrability, thereby preventing breakage of the suture needle or damage to the living body.

[0087] In this way, in the suturing operation using the suturing needle 30 according to this embodiment, there is no need to suddenly bend the direction of travel, so centrifugal force can be suppressed, the piercing ability is improved, and suturing can be performed easily and stably. As a result, the doctor does not need to frequently change needle holders, reducing the burden and fatigue, and enabling highly accurate suturing without requiring advanced techniques.

[0088] Furthermore, the suture needle 30 according to this embodiment is effective for suturing in a deep surgical field, such as end-to-side anastomosis of the internal jugular vein. When it is necessary to insert the suture needle linearly in suturing in a deep surgical field, such as end-to-side anastomosis of the internal jugular vein, the suture needle 30 can be easily inserted into a deep surgical field because it has a straight portion from the tip. As a result, since suturing in a deep surgical field can be easily performed, the suturing time can be shortened compared to when a conventional needle is used, and the burden on the doctor can be reduced.

[0089] The suture needle 30 according to the present embodiment has a shape including a straight portion and a curved portion, similar to the suture needle 14 according to the first embodiment, and therefore naturally provides the same effects as the suture needle 14 according to the first embodiment.

[0090] <Fourth embodiment> A suture needle 40 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0091] <Suture needle configuration> 13 is a side view of a suture needle 40 according to the present embodiment. Suture needle 40 according to the present embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the first to third embodiments, and includes a main body 41, a tip end 42, and a base end 43, but the curved shape of main body 41 is different.

[0092] 14 shows an overview of the central axis when viewed from the side of main body 41. Main body 41 has straight sections from base end 43 to a predetermined length (P1-P2 in the figure) and from tip 42 to a predetermined length (P3-P4 in the figure), and the curved section (P2-P3 in the figure) is used in combination with a clothoid curve whose curvature increases at a constant rate toward tip 42 and a clothoid curve whose curvature decreases at a constant rate toward tip 42.

[0093] The total length L0 of the suture needle 30 is 4.5 mm, the lengths L1 and L2 of the straight portions are about 1.0 mm and 1.0 mm, respectively. The lengths L1 and L2 of the straight portions are not limited to these values, and it is desirable that the total length of the straight portions be 1 / 2 or less of the total length L0.

[0094] <Effects of suture needles> The suturing operation using this suturing needle 40 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0095] First, the suture needle 40 held by the needle holder is inserted linearly into the living body (FIG. 15A). At this time, there is no rotational movement of the needle holder, as in the case of using a straight needle.

[0096] After insertion, the needle is advanced by gradually increasing the rotation of the needle holder following a clothoid curve (Figure 15B-C).

[0097] Next, gradually reduce the rotation of the needle holder following the clothoid curve, advance the needle, and pull it out in a straight line (Fig. 15D-E).

[0098] In this way, there is no need to rotate the needle holder when inserting the needle, and thereafter, the needle holder is gradually increased or decreased in rotation before being pulled out linearly.

[0099] Therefore, it is not necessary to operate the suture needle 40 by continuously following the curvature of a circle from the time the suture needle 40 is inserted until it is pulled out, as with the conventional suture needle 40. The suture needle 40 can be inserted linearly, and then the rotation of the needle holder can be gradually increased and decreased by following a clothoid curve, allowing the suture needle 40 to be advanced into the living body and pulled out linearly.

[0100] Furthermore, since a clothoid curve is used for the bending portion, when switching from a linear operation to an operation in which the direction of travel is bent and then back to a linear operation, the angle of the suture needle 40 relative to the direction of travel can be increased or decreased at a constant angular velocity.

[0101] Thus, in the suturing operation using the suturing needle 40 according to this embodiment, as in the second and third embodiments, when transitioning from the curved portion to the straight portion, suturing is performed while rotating the suturing needle 40 at a constant angular velocity, so that centrifugal force can be suppressed and a stable suturing operation can be performed.

[0102] In addition, because centrifugal force can be suppressed, frictional resistance between the suture needle 40 and biological tissue, i.e., resistance when piercing tissue of the human body or the like (piercing resistance), can be reduced, improving piercing performance. As a result, breakage of the suture needle 40 or damage to the living body can be avoided.

[0103] In this way, in the suturing operation using the suturing needle 40 according to this embodiment, there is no need to suddenly bend the direction of travel, so centrifugal force can be suppressed, the piercing ability is improved, and suturing can be performed easily and stably. As a result, the doctor does not need to frequently change needle holders, reducing the burden and fatigue, and enabling highly accurate suturing without requiring advanced techniques.

[0104] The suture needle 40 according to the present embodiment has a shape including a straight portion and a curved portion, similar to the suture needles 10 and 14 according to the first embodiment, and therefore naturally achieves the same effects as the suture needles 10 and 14 according to the first embodiment.

[0105] In this embodiment, the bending section is configured by combining a clothoid curve on the base end side whose curvature increases at a constant rate toward the tip, and a clothoid curve on the tip side whose curvature decreases at a constant rate toward the tip, but as shown in Figure 16, a curve (circular arc) of constant curvature may be arranged between the two clothoid curves.

[0106] <Fifth embodiment> A suture needle 50 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

[0107] <Suture needle configuration> 17 is a side view of a suture needle 50 according to the present embodiment. Suture needle 40 according to the present embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the first to fourth embodiments, and includes a main body 51, a tip end 52, and a base end 53, but does not have a straight portion, and main body 51 consists only of a curved portion.

[0108] The curved portion of the main body 51 has a clothoid curved shape, similar to the second and third embodiments. The clothoid curve may have a shape in which the curvature increases at a constant rate from the base end 53 side to the tip end 52 side, or may have a shape in which the curvature decreases at a constant rate from the base end 53 side to the tip end 52 side.

[0109] Here, an example in which main body 51 has a curved shape has been shown, but a range of about 1 mm from tip 52 may be linear.

[0110] The suture needle 50 according to this embodiment has a curved clothoid shape similar to the second and third embodiments. Therefore, in a suturing operation using the suture needle 50, similar to the second and third embodiments, the suture needle 30 can be rotated at a constant angular velocity while suturing, thereby suppressing centrifugal force and enabling a stable suturing operation.

[0111] In this way, the doctor does not need to frequently change needle holders, reducing burden and fatigue, and can perform highly accurate suturing without requiring advanced techniques.

[0112] In addition, because centrifugal force can be suppressed, the frictional resistance between the suture needle and the biological tissue, i.e., the resistance (penetration resistance) when penetrating the tissue of the human body, etc., can be reduced, improving the penetrability, thereby preventing breakage of the suture needle or damage to the living body.

[0113] Sixth embodiment A suture thread 60 with a suture needle according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

[0114] <Suture needle configuration> 18 shows a perspective view of a suture thread 60 with a suture needle according to this embodiment. The suture thread 60 with a suture needle according to this embodiment includes the suture needle 20 and a suture thread 61 according to the second embodiment.

[0115] The suture needle 20 has a body 21, a tip 22, and a base end 23. The suture thread 61 is inserted into a blind hole provided in the base end 23 and attached to the suture needle 20 by crimping the periphery of the base end 23. The suture thread 61 may be attached to the suture needle 20 by heat treatment, adhesive, or the like.

[0116] The material of the suture 61 is nylon monofilament (single thread), and the diameter is 0.05 mm. The material of the suture 51 is not limited to this, and it may be polyester, silk, or braid (knitted thread). The diameter may be 0.001 mm to 0.8 mm.

[0117] The suture thread 60 with suture needle according to this embodiment has the same effect as that described in the second embodiment, and since there is no need to suddenly turn the direction of travel during suturing, centrifugal force can be suppressed, piercing ability is improved, and suturing can be performed easily and stably. As a result, the doctor does not need to frequently change needle holders, reducing burden and fatigue, and enabling highly accurate suturing without requiring advanced techniques.

[0118] In this embodiment, the suture needles 30, 40, 50 according to the third to fifth embodiments can be used as the suture needle with similar effects. Also, the suture needle 10 according to the first embodiment may be used, and the doctor does not need to frequently change needle holders, reducing the burden on the doctor and enabling highly accurate suturing.

[0119] The suture needle in the embodiment of the present invention may be a round needle with a conical tip, a square needle with a triangular pyramid tip (the inside of the curve is sharp), an inverted triangular needle with a triangular pyramid tip (the outside of the curve is sharp), a taper cut needle in which the entire needle is cylindrical with only the tip being triangular pyramid, or a blunt needle that is a round needle with a slightly rounded and blunt tip, etc. The tip may also be an inverted angle needle with an inverted triangular cross section, or a spatula-shaped inverted angle needle with the tip (apex) removed.

[0120] In the embodiment of the present invention, the length of the suture needle is 4.5 mm or 5 mm, and the needle diameter is 100 μm, but this is not limited to these. The length of the suture needle can be in the range of 1 mm to 100 mm, and the needle diameter can be in the range of 50 μm to 1.5 mm. In particular, for microsurgery such as brain surgery, a length of 3 mm to 7 mm and a needle diameter of 50 μm to 250 μm are preferable. The length of the suture needle is preferably 9 mm to 24 mm for vascular suturing, 10 mm to 70 mm for surgical procedures, and 9 mm to 25 mm for plastic surgery.

[0121] In the embodiment of the present invention, the intersection angle of the clothoid curve of the suture needle is 114° to 117°, but is not limited thereto, and is preferably 110° to 134°. Also, the intersection angle of the curved portion is preferably 90° to 180°.

[0122] The suture needle according to the embodiment of the present invention is manufactured by a normal manufacturing method. For example, after cutting the stainless steel material to a predetermined length, a hole for the suture thread is formed. Next, the tip and main body (body) are processed, including the formation of a curved portion, polished, and then sterilized.

[0123] In the embodiment of the present invention, examples of the structure, dimensions, materials, etc. of each component part in the configuration and manufacturing method of the suture needle and the suture thread with suture needle are shown, but the present invention is not limited to these. Any material may be used as long as it exhibits the functions and effects of the suture needle and the suture thread with suture needle. [Industrial Applicability]

[0124] INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention has industrial applicability as a medical device for use in surgical procedures such as brain surgery and digestive surgery, and plastic surgery. [Explanation of symbols]

[0125] 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 suture needles 11, 21, 31, 41, 51 Main unit 12, 22, 32, 42, 52 Tip 13, 23, 33, 43, 53 proximal end 60 Suture with Needle 61 Sutures 101 Conventional needle (conventional suture needle)

Claims

1. having at least a curved portion; A suture needle, wherein the shape of the curved portion includes a clothoid curve.

2. 2. The suture needle according to claim 1, wherein the clothoid curve increases in curvature at a constant rate from the base end to the tip end.

3. 2. The suture needle according to claim 1, wherein the clothoid curve has a curvature that decreases at a constant rate from the base end to the tip end.

4. The suture needle according to claim 1, wherein the clothoid curve includes a clothoid curve whose curvature increases at a constant rate from the base end to the tip end, and a clothoid curve whose curvature decreases at a constant rate from the base end to the tip end.

5. A suture having a suture needle attached thereto, the suture needle being attached to the suture needle according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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