Needle holder and packaging for surgical suturing material

Abstract

The invention relates to a needle holder (4) for a package (1) of surgical suture material and to a package (1) of surgical suture material having a needle holder (4). The needle holder (4) has a nose (40) which protrudes from a base plane and two arms (42) which are elastically deformable and / or displaceable in a plane parallel to the base plane, wherein the arms (42) are each provided with a stop (424) for contacting a needle, wherein the stops (424) are arranged at opposite sides of the nose (40), wherein a front end of the nose (40) serves as a counter bearing for a needle between the two stops (424), and wherein the arms (42) are adapted to press a needle contacted by the stops (424) against the front end of the nose (40).

Description

[0001] TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND

[0002] The present invention relates to a needle holder for a package of surgical suture material and to a package for surgical suture material having a needle holder.

[0003] It is known to hold surgical suture material having needles fixed at one or both ends in a package, also referred to as a suture package. These packages are usually provided with a winding channel extending along an oval, in particular a stadium shape (rectangular with semicircular end portions), path into which the suture material is inserted. Furthermore, these packages comprise at least one needle holder or needle rack for holding the needle(s).

[0004] EP 2153780 A1 discloses a package for surgical suture material having at least one needle fixed thereto, comprising a base member having at least one needle holder. The needle holder comprises a resilient tensioning element in the form of an arm fixedly connected to the base member and a bearing serving as a counter bearing. The arm has two end portions, wherein the first end portion is fixedly connected to the base member and the second end portion is free such that the arm can be pivoted in a pivot plane parallel to the base member. At the second end portion, a stop is provided. The second end portion of the arm is arranged close to the bearing in a neutral, undeformed state of the arm, wherein a back side of the stop faces the bearing. For clamping the needle, the arm is elastically deformed and the second end portion is moved across the bearing such that a front side of the stop faces the bearing, wherein the needle can be clamped between the bearing and the stop. SUMMARY

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a needle holder for a package of surgical suture material ensuring a secure holding of the needle. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a package for surgical suture material having a needle holder.

[0006] According to a first aspect, a needle holder for fixing a needle in a package for surgical suture material is provided, the needle holder having a nose protruding from a base plane, and two arms elastically deformable and / or displaceable in a plane parallel to the base plane, wherein the arms each are provided with a stop for contacting the needle, wherein the stops are arranged at opposite sides of the nose, wherein a front end of the nose serves as a counter bearing for the needle between the two stops, and wherein the arms are adapted to press the needle contacted by the stops against the front end of the nose. The two stops and the nose contact the needle in three contact areas, ideally in three contact points, allowing a secure clamping of the needle in the needle holder.

[0007] In one embodiment, the arm and nose are integrally formed with a base member of the package, wherein the top surface of the base member forms a base plane. In other embodiments, the needle holder is separately formed and mounted to the base member. In one embodiment, the arm is linearly movable toward and away from the nose. In other embodiments, the arm is pivotally mounted, wherein the arm is pivotable in a pivot plane parallel to the base plane.

[0008] In one embodiment, the arm is L-shaped and includes a pivotally mounted rod having a first end and a second end serving as a pivot mount, wherein a stop protrudes from the second end toward the nose in a plane parallel to the base plane. In the context of this application, the expressions “first” and “second” should not be construed as limiting a series or number of options, but are used only to distinguish or identify members within a group. In one embodiment, the pivot mount is achieved by a flexural support between the base plane and the arm integrally formed with the base plane.

[0009] Among other things, those skilled in the art, taking into account the form of the needle to be clamped, can choose the optimal arrangement of the arm relative to the nose. For example, different positions can be selected for straight needles and curved needles.

[0010] In one embodiment, the arm is arranged such that, in the neutral initial position, the arm's bar extends perpendicular to the nose, and the stop extends parallel to the nose. This arrangement allows for secure clamping of the bent needle by pivoting the bar away from the neutral initial position against restoring forces.

[0011] In this embodiment, the arms are arranged in a mirror-symmetric manner with respect to the nose, and in particular, the arms are identical in design. This mirror-symmetric arrangement ensures that equal forces are applied by both arms when designing the arms of the needle holder, without requiring complex calculations or testing.

[0012] In one embodiment, the nose is positioned on a rib having a groove for receiving the needle. This design facilitates insertion of the needle into the needle holder during manufacturing.

[0013] According to a second aspect, a package for surgical suture material is provided, the package comprising a base member having at least one needle retainer as described above. The needle retainer can advantageously be combined with different types of packages, such as those described in EP2153780A1. In embodiments of the invention, the base member is integrally formed with the needle retainer, for example by injection molding, wherein, in particular, the nose and arm are integrally formed with the base member. In this case, for example, a flexural support is provided for pivotally connecting the arm at a second end to the top surface of the base member.

[0014] In one embodiment, the package further includes a base member and a cover member, wherein the base member has a plurality of pins projecting from a top surface, and the cover member has pin receiving holes adapted to receive pins of the base member for mounting the cover member to the base member. Those skilled in the art, among other things, consider the materials of the base member and the cover member when selecting the connection between them. In one embodiment, both the base member and the cover member are made of plastic material, wherein the cover member is welded to the base member, for example, using ultrasonic welding. In other embodiments, a snap-fit ​​fastening device is used to secure the cover member to the base member. For this purpose, in one embodiment, the pin is provided with a head whose diameter is larger than the diameter of the pin receiving hole. In yet another embodiment, a riveting fastening device is provided, wherein a pin, which does not necessarily have a large diameter head, is provided that deforms after the cover member is placed on the base member to secure the cover member to the base member. Snap-fit ​​fastening devices or riveting fastening devices are advantageous because such fastening devices impose fewer restrictions on the selection of raw materials used to manufacture the base member or the cover member. The pin height is chosen such that, after the cover and base components are joined, the pin does not protrude from or only slightly protrudes from the top surface of the packaging. Specifically, when the cover component is secured to the base component using a riveting device, the distal end of the pin deforms, forming a head with a larger diameter, and the pin height is shorter than before the deformation. In this case, after the cover and base components are joined, only the larger diameter head of the pin protrudes from the top surface of the packaging.

[0015] In one embodiment, the cover member is provided with a plurality of guide holes arranged between pin receiving holes and the outer periphery of the cover member and adapted to receive winding pins of a winding device, wherein at least one of the pin receiving holes forms a common opening together with an adjacent guide hole. The guide holes are adapted to receive winding pins of the winding head of a winding device, such as those described in EP 3438029A1, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Providing a common opening for the guide holes and pin receiving holes allows for optimization of the area of ​​the cover member occupied by the guide holes and / or pin receiving holes. In one embodiment, during manufacturing, particularly during the winding of the stitching material, the winding pin is received in the common opening, wherein after winding is completed, the winding pin is withdrawn from the guide hole, and the pin of the base member is inserted only after the winding pin has been withdrawn. In other embodiments, the guide holes and pin receiving holes are combined to form a common opening that is dimensionally larger than either of the individually used guide holes and pin receiving holes. A cover member having at least one common opening for receiving a winding pin and / or a pin of the base member is also advantageous for other packages of surgical suture materials besides those described above, such as packages without a needle retainer or packages with different needle retainers, including, for example, but not limited to, the needle retainers described in EP2153780A1. When a larger common opening is provided, the cover member can be installed onto the base member before the suture material is wound, wherein the cover member is slightly lifted and deflected to introduce the suture material into the channel.

[0016] In one embodiment, the pin receiving hole and the guide hole are arranged along an elliptical path with semi-circular ends in each case, wherein the pin receiving hole arranged in the region at the semi-circular ends, together with the correspondingly associated adjacent guide hole, at least partially forms a common opening. The shape of the elliptical path in embodiments of the invention is particularly geometrically similar to the basic shape of the package.

[0017] In one embodiment, the pin receiving hole in the region at the semi-circular end is at least partially arranged radially inside the corresponding associated adjacent guide hole of the common opening. Therefore, the distance between the pin receiving hole and the guide hole in the common opening is minimized, which allows for maximizing the unperforated or perforated surface of the cover member and improving the stability of the cover member.

[0018] In one embodiment, the radius of the first semicircular end of the elliptical path of the pin receiving hole is greater than the radius of the second semicircular end of the elliptical path of the pin receiving hole, wherein, in particular, the pin receiving hole disposed at the first semicircular end partially overlaps with an associated adjacent guide hole to form the common opening, and the pin receiving hole disposed at the second semicircular end is connected to the associated adjacent guide hole via a bridging portion to form the common opening. In one embodiment, in each case, the pin receiving hole and the guide hole have a basic circular shape. In other embodiments, at least one of the pin receiving hole and the guide hole has a non-circular basic shape.

[0019] In one embodiment, when the stitching material is wound onto the packaging, a winding pin is inserted from above through a guide hole in the cover member, wherein the distal end of the winding pin contacts the top surface of the base member, thereby pushing the base member away from the cover member to form or increase a gap between the cover member and the base member. In another embodiment, the base member is provided with a plurality of guide holes arranged to align with the guide holes in the cover member. Therefore, the winding pin of the winding device can be inserted from above or below the packaging through the guide holes in the cover member and / or the base member.

[0020] In one embodiment, pins projecting from the top surface of the base member are arranged along a partition wall projecting from the top surface of the base member, the partition wall separating the winding channel of the package from the central region. In one embodiment, the height of the partition wall defines the distance between the cover member and the base member, wherein the partition wall defines the winding channel of the package from the central region.

[0021] In one embodiment, a needle retainer is disposed in a central region, wherein the partition wall has an opening that allows suture material to pass through. Specifically, in one embodiment, a user can access the needle retainer from a cut in the cover member for accessing and removing a needle clamped within the needle retainer, wherein, upon needle removal, suture material attached to the needle is pulled out from the winding channel through the opening in the partition wall.

[0022] In one embodiment, the base member and the cover member are in contact with each other at their outer peripheries. In another embodiment, the base member and the cover member are provided with interlocking teeth and notches at their outer peripheries. The teeth and notches provide a barrier to prevent stitching material held in the winding channel between the base member and the cover member from escaping from the winding channel.

[0023] Technicians may consider health regulations, environmental compatibility, and / or other limitations when selecting materials for the cover and base components. In one embodiment, the cover component is made of paper material. Paper material is environmentally compatible and has advantageous absorbent properties. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Throughout the drawings, the same elements will be represented by the same reference numerals. The drawings schematically illustrate:

[0025] Figure 1 An embodiment of a package for surgical suture materials, including a cover member and a base member, is shown in top view.

[0026] Figure 2 Shown in top view Figure 1 The lid component of the packaging,

[0027] Figure 3 Shown in top view Figure 1 The base components of the packaging.

[0028] Figure 4 Shown in side view Figure 3 The base components, and

[0029] Figure 5 It shows Figure 3 Details V.

[0030] Specific embodiments of the present invention

[0031] Figure 1 A top view shows a package 1 for surgical suture material (not shown), which includes a cover member 2 and a base member 3. The cover member 2 is shown separately. Figure 2 The base components are shown separately in the middle. Figure 3 and Figure 4 middle.

[0032] In the illustrated embodiment, both the cover member 2 and the base member 3 have an elliptical shape. More specifically, in the illustrated embodiment, both the cover member 2 and the base member 3 are stadium-shaped, that is, rectangular in shape with two opposing semi-circular ends.

[0033] The cover member 2 is attached to the base member 3, wherein a winding channel 30 is formed between the cover member 2 and the base member 3 (see...). Figure 3 The cover member 2 and the base member 3 are at least substantially identical. More specifically, in the illustrated embodiment, the base member 3 has an edge 31 at its outer periphery, and the cover member 2 is inserted into the space defined by the edge 31. The edge 31 has inwardly projecting teeth 310 that engage or interlock with recesses 210 provided at the outer periphery 21 of the cover member 2. Thus, the edge 31 defines a winding channel 30 for retaining the stitching material within the winding channel 30.

[0034] The base component 3 is provided with a needle holder 4, which is in Figure 5 It is shown in more detail below.

[0035] The needle holder 4 shown in the figure includes a nose 40 and two L-shaped arms 42, which are arranged on opposite sides of the nose 40. In the illustrated embodiment, the arms 42 are arranged mirror-symmetrically with respect to the nose 40. The arms 42 can be positioned in a plane parallel to the plane of the figure, i.e., in a plane parallel to the top surface of the base member 3, from... Figure 5 Elastic deformation at the neutral initial position is shown.

[0036] Each arm 42 includes a rod 420 and a stop 424. Figure 5 In the neutral initial position shown, the rods 420 are arranged to extend perpendicularly to the nose 40. A first end 421 of each rod 420 is connected to the top surface of the base member 3, the first end facing away from the nose 40. In one embodiment, this connection is achieved by integrally forming an arm 42 with the base member 3, wherein a flexural support is provided between each arm 42 and the base member 3, and the first end 421 serves as a pivot mount for the rod 420, which is pivotable about an axis perpendicular to the top surface of the base member 3 about the pivot mount.

[0037] A stop 424 is provided at the second end 422 of each rod 420. In the illustrated embodiment, the stop 424 protrudes from the rod 420 in a direction parallel to the top surface of the base member 3 and extends parallel to the nose 40 toward the nose 40. The stops 424 of the two arms 42 are arranged on opposite sides of the nose 40. When the arms 42 deform away from... Figure 5 In the neutral initial position shown, the restoring force presses the needle, which is in contact with the stop, against the front end of the nose 40, which acts as a reverse support for the needle. This allows the needle to be securely clamped between the stop 424 and the nose 40.

[0038] In the illustrated embodiment, the nose 40 is disposed on a rib 44 having a groove 46 for receiving a needle. In other words, the needle can be inserted into the groove 46 and pressed against the nose 40 by means of the arm 42.

[0039] exist Figure 1 In the diagram, the needle 5 held in the needle holder 4 is schematically shown in dashed lines. To remove the needle 5 from the needle holder 4, the needle 5 can be accessed via a cutout 20 in the cover member 2. Adjacent to the needle holder 4, the base member 3 is provided with a slit 48 to facilitate deformation of the area of ​​the base member 3 when the needle 5 is grasped.

[0040] The needle retainer 4 can be combined with different types of suture packaging. In the illustrated embodiment, the cover member 2 is secured to the base member 3 using a pin connector, which is described in more detail below. The pin connector described below is also advantageous for other types of packaging for surgical suture materials, with or without the needle retainer 4.

[0041] Base component 3 (in) Figure 3 and Figure 4 (As shown in detail) a plurality of pins 32 protruding from the top surface of the base member 3 are provided. Figure 4 As best shown, in the illustrated embodiment, pin 32 extends beyond the upper end of edge 31. Pin 32 is arranged along partition wall 33, which also protrudes from the top surface of base member 3. Partition wall 33 separates winding channel 30 from central region 34 of base member 3. In the illustrated embodiment, two additional pins 35 are provided, arranged inside partition wall 33. Additionally, in the illustrated embodiment, a transverse wall 36 is provided, extending across central region 34 between the two long sides of partition wall 33. Needle holder 4 is arranged in central region 34, wherein partition wall 33 has an opening that allows suture material to pass between winding channel 30 and needle holder 4 outside partition wall 33.

[0042] like Figure 3 As best shown, the base member 3 is also provided with a plurality of guide holes 37, which are adapted to receive a winding pin (not shown) of a winding head of a winding device such as that described in EP3438029A1. The guide holes 37 are arranged on the outer side of the partition wall 33. In addition, two central guide holes 38 are arranged on the inner side of the partition wall 33 along the centerline of the base member 3. In the illustrated embodiment, [the following is a description of the embodiment] is provided with Figure 3 The central guide hole 38 on the right side, which is arranged closer to the needle holder 4, is formed as an elongated hole. All other guide holes 37, 38 have a basic circular shape.

[0043] The cover member 2 is provided with a plurality of pin receiving holes 22a, 22b, 23, 25, which are adapted to receive pins 32, 35 protruding from the top surface of the base member 3 when the cover member 2 is inserted into the edge 31 of the base member 3. In the illustrated embodiment, a riveting fixing device is provided, wherein the pins 33, 35 are inserted into the pin receiving holes 22a, 22b, 23, 25, and the distal ends of the pins 33, 35 deform after insertion for shape locking, particularly using heat generated by ultrasonic energy. This achieves a reliable connection. In an alternative embodiment, the pins 33, 35 are glued or welded to the cover member 2.

[0044] The cover member 2 is also provided with a plurality of guide holes 27, which are arranged between the pin receiving holes 22a, 22b and the outer periphery 21 of the cover member 2. The guide holes 27 are adapted to receive the winding pin (not shown) of the winding head of the winding device described, for example, in EP 3438029A1.

[0045] The first set of pin receiving holes 22a, 22b, and 23 are arranged along an elliptical path with semi-circular ends. The elliptical path conforms to the curvature of the partition wall 33 of the base member 3. Two additional pin receiving holes 25 are arranged inside the elliptical path, which receive additional pins 35 arranged inside the partition wall 33 when the cover member 2 is installed onto the base member 3.

[0046] The guide holes 27 of the cover member 2 are also arranged along an elliptical path with semi-circular ends. In the illustrated embodiment, the pin receiving holes 22a, 22b arranged in the semi-circular end region are at least substantially arranged radially inside the correspondingly associated adjacent guide holes 27. Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, all the pin receiving holes 22a, 22b arranged in the semi-circular end region of the elliptical path together with the correspondingly associated adjacent guide holes 27 form a common opening, wherein the first set of pin receiving holes 22a, 22b, 23 is arranged in the elliptical path. Providing a common opening for the pin receiving holes 22a, 22b and the guide holes 27 is beneficial for optimizing the perforation area of ​​the cover member 2. This allows, for example, increased stability of the cover member 2, particularly when the cover member is made of paper material, and / or maximized area for printing.

[0047] In the illustrated embodiment, the semicircular ends of the elliptical path along which the guide hole 27 is arranged have the same radius.

[0048] However, the first semi-circular end of the elliptical path of the pin receiving holes 22a, 22b, 23 (which is in Figure 1 and Figure 2 The second semicircular end (which is shown on the right and along which the pin receiving hole 22b is arranged) has a radius greater than the elliptical path of the pin receiving holes 22a, 22b, 23 shown (and its... Figure 1 and Figure 2 The left side is shown, and the radius of the pin receiving hole 22a) is arranged therein. Therefore, the pin receiving hole 22b located at the first semicircular end is positioned closer to the corresponding adjacent guide hole 27 than the pin receiving hole 22a located at the second semicircular end. More specifically, in the illustrated embodiment, the pin receiving hole 22b located at the first semicircular end partially overlaps with the associated adjacent guide hole 27 to form a common opening, and the pin receiving hole 22a located at the second semicircular end is connected to the associated adjacent guide hole 27 via a bridging portion 28 to form a common opening.

[0049] In the illustrated embodiment, the pin receiving holes 22a, 22b and the guide hole 27 each have a basic circular shape. Therefore, the common opening formed by the receiving hole 22a arranged along the end of the second semicircle and the associated adjacent guide hole 27 is dumbbell-shaped. The common opening formed by the receiving hole 22b arranged along the end of the first semicircle and the associated adjacent guide hole 27 is shaped like the number 8. Alternative shapes will be conceived by those skilled in the art.

[0050] The cover member 2 has a notch 20 that allows access to the pin retainer 4 after the cover member 2 is mounted onto the base member 3. In the illustrated embodiment, the pin receiving hole 22b arranged along the first semicircular end and the pin receiving hole 22a arranged along the second semicircular end are equidistant in each case, except for the pin receiving hole 22b on the first semicircular end near the boundary of the notch 20 (which is displaced to avoid interference with the notch).

Claims

1. A needle holder (4) for securing a needle in a package for surgical suturing material, the needle holder (4) having a nose portion (40) which protrudes from a base plane, and the needle holder (4) having two arms (42) which are elastically deformable and / or displaceable in a plane parallel to the base plane, wherein, The arms (42) are each provided with a stop (424) for contacting the needle, wherein the stops (424) are arranged at opposite sides of the nose (40), wherein a front end of the nose (40) serves as a counter bearing for the needle between the two stops (424), and wherein the arms (42) are adapted to press a needle contacted by the stops (424) against the front end of the nose (40), characterized in that the arms (42) are L-shaped, each arm (42) comprising the stop (424) and a pivotally mounted lever (420) having a first end (421) and a second end (422), wherein for each arm (42) the first end serves as a pivot mounting, wherein the lever (420) is each pivotable about the pivot mounting about an axis perpendicular to a top surface of the base member (3), and wherein in a neutral initial position the lever (420) of the arm extends perpendicular to the nose (40) and the stop (424) extends parallel to the nose (40).

2. The needle retainer of claim 1, wherein, The arms (42) are arranged mirror-symmetrically relative to the nose (40).

3. The needle retainer of claim 1 or 2, wherein, The nose (40) is provided on a rib (44) having a slot (46) for accommodating the needle.

4. A package for surgical suturing material, the package (1) comprising a base member (3) having at least one needle holder (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The package of claim 4, wherein, The nose (40) and the arms (42) are integrally formed with the base member (3).

6. The package of claim 4 or 5, wherein, The package (1) further comprises a cover member (2), wherein the base member (3) has a plurality of pins (32, 35) protruding from a top surface, and the cover member (2) has pin accommodating holes (22a, 22b, 23, 25), the pin accommodating holes (22a, 22b, 23) being adapted to accommodate the pins (32) of the base member (3) for mounting the cover member (2) to the base member (3).

7. The package of claim 6, wherein, The cover member (2) is provided with a plurality of guide holes (27) arranged between the pin accommodating holes (22a, 22b, 23) and an outer periphery (21) of the cover member (2) and adapted to accommodate winding pins of a winding device, wherein at least one of the pin accommodating holes (22a, 22b) forms a common opening together with an adjacent guide hole (27).

8. The package of claim 7, wherein, The pin accommodating holes (22a, 22b, 23) and the guide holes (27) are in each case arranged along an elliptical path having a semicircular end, wherein the pin accommodating holes (22a, 22b) arranged in the region of the semicircular end at least partially form a common opening together with the respectively associated adjacent guide hole (27).

9. The package of claim 8, wherein, The pin receiving holes (22a, 22b) arranged in the region of the semicircular end portions are at least partially arranged radially inside the respective associated adjacent guide holes (27) of the shared opening.

10. The package of claim 8, wherein, The radius of the first semicircular end portion of the elliptical path of the pin receiving holes (22a, 22b, 23) is greater than the radius of the second semicircular end portion of the elliptical path of the pin receiving holes (22a, 22b, 23), wherein in particular the pin receiving hole (22b) arranged at the first semicircular end portion partially overlaps the associated adjacent guide hole (27) to form the shared opening, and the pin receiving hole (22a) arranged at the second semicircular end portion is connected to the associated adjacent guide hole (27) via a bridge (28) for forming the shared opening.

11. The package of claim 7, wherein, The base member (3) is provided with a plurality of guide holes (37) arranged in alignment with the guide holes (27) of the cover member (2).

12. The package of claim 6, wherein, The pins (32, 35) protruding from the top surface of the base member (3) are arranged along a partition wall (33) protruding from the top surface of the base member (3), which separates the wrapping channel (30) of the package from a central region.

13. The package of claim 12, wherein, The needle holder (4) is provided at the central region, wherein the partition wall (33) has an opening allowing the passage of the suturing material.

14. The package of claim 6, wherein, The base member (3) and the cover member (2) are provided at their outer periphery with interlocking teeth (310) and notches (210).

15. The package of claim 6, wherein, The cover member (2) is made of a paper material. The base member (3) and the cover member (2) are provided at their outer periphery with interlocking teeth (310) and notches (210). The cover member (2) is made of a paper material.

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