Armed Suture Spooling Device with Detachable Lid for Thread Containment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for winding and storing needle-attached suture threads face challenges such as difficulty in adjusting the tip position of the suture thread, interference during winding, and protrusion of the thread, which can compromise sterilization safety and complicate the winding process, especially for thin and high-straightness threads.

Innovation Solution

A thread winding device with a container part and an upper member, featuring a lower surface member with a guide portion and a circumferential member with a claw portion and engagement portion, and a storage tray with ribs and groove portions on the lid member to prevent thread protrusion and facilitate smooth winding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a lid member is attached to prevent thread protrusion, then thread containment is improved, but the winding operation becomes more complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethread containmentVSAvoidwinding operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The storage tray is divided into a container part and a separate lid member that can be attached or removed. The lid member includes groove portions that engage with ribs on the container part, creating a detachable connection that provides thread containment when attached but allows easy removal for winding operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The lid member is pre-configured with groove portions that align with ribs on the container part. This preliminary arrangement allows the lid to be quickly attached or removed without complex alignment procedures, enabling rapid switching between containment mode (lid attached) and winding mode (lid removed).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If machine winding is used for high-speed thread winding, then productivity is improved, but thin suture threads become difficult to handle and wind

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewinding speedVSAvoidthread handling
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system allows dynamic adjustment between manual and machine winding modes. The detachable lid member can be removed during winding operations to provide flexibility in handling thin threads manually, then reattached for rapid machine winding when productivity is the priority, optimizing for different operational requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The operational parameters can be changed by removing or attaching the lid member, which alters the internal geometry of the storage tray. This parameter change enables different winding patterns and thread handling techniques, allowing operators to adapt to different thread types and winding speeds as needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the suture thread tip position is not adjustable, then the winding process is simpler, but thread protrusion occurs compromising sterilization safety

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesterilization safetyVSAvoidposition adjustment mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lid member is segmented with multiple groove portions positioned at different locations. By selecting which groove portions to engage, the effective winding area and thread tip position can be adjusted without requiring a complex position adjustment mechanism, maintaining simplicity while ensuring thread containment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The groove portions on the lid member act as intermediaries between the thread and the container part. These groove portions guide and constrain the thread tip position, preventing protrusion that would compromise sterilization safety, while the detachable nature of the lid maintains operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4666961A1Armed suture spooling device, armed suture housing tray, and medical instrument housing tray
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 MANI INC
  • EP4666961A1 patent drawingFigure 1(a)~1(b)
  • EP4666961A1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(b)
  • EP4666961A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Provided is an armed suture spooling device that facilitates a spooling operation with respect to a spool tray and allows for easy adjustment of the suture end position. A spool tray 10 for housing an armed suture, which is a suture with a suture needle attached thereto, comprises: a container part 20 having a bottom surface 21 and a side wall 25; and a sheet-shaped lid 30 that fits inside the side wall. A spooling device comprises an upper surface element 50, a lower surface element 60, a circling element 70, and connecting posts 80. The upper surface element and the lower surface element have a planar shape identical to that of the spool tray. The upper surface element includes an upper surface rotational portion 51 rotatable around an axis perpendicular to the lid portion. The lower surface element includes a lower surface rotational portion 61 rotatable around the same axis as that of the upper surface rotational portion. The circling element includes a claw portion 76 which is inserted through a gap between the lid portion and the side wall of the container portion into the container portion. The claw portion includes a thread-passing portion 77 at the tip-end thereof through which the suture is passed. The spool tray is sandwiched between the upper surface element from the upper surface side of the lid portion, and the lower surface element from the lower surface side of the bottom surface of the container portion. The connecting posts extend through the lid portion and the bottom surface of the container portion, with the ends of the connecting posts being connectable to post-insertion portions 55, 65 respectively provided in the upper surface element and the lower surface element. In a state in which the upper surface rotational portion and the lower surface rotational portion are pressed, the spool tray, the upper surface element, and the lower surface element can be integrally rotated, whereby the suture that has passed through the thread-passing portion can be wound inside the spool tray.