Spinal Needle Bending Assembly for Precise Adjustable Angles
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Manual bending of spinal needles is inexact, non-reproducible, and risky, with potential for needlestick injury and damage, and requires additional surgical tools and sterilization cycles, while pre-bent needles are expensive and lack flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A needle bending assembly with a housing and bending member that applies pressure to the needle using a fulcrum and barrier wall to achieve a precise bend, allowing for adjustable angles and reducing the risk of injury and tool costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual bending of spinal needles is performed using a needle driver or gloved hands, then the procedure can be performed without purchasing expensive pre-bent needles, but the bending is inexact, non-reproducible, and carries risks of needlestick injury and damage to the needle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a needle bending assembly as an intermediary device between the physician and the needle. This assembly includes a fulcrum, barrier wall, and housing that work together to provide controlled bending. The intermediary device translates manual pressure into precise, reproducible bends while containing the needle throughout the process, eliminating the risks of direct manual manipulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent describes a disposable needle bending assembly that can be sterilized and reused or discarded after a single use. This disposable approach eliminates the need for expensive pre-bent needles while ensuring sterile conditions and consistent bending performance. The assembly is designed to be cost-effective compared to purchasing pre-bent needles for each procedure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual bending of spinal needles is performed, then additional surgical tools and sterilization cycles are required, but this increases cost and lost time for physicians and support staff
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the needle, bending mechanism, and housing into a single integrated assembly. The needle is contained within the housing from the start, and the bending action is performed in-place without requiring separate tools or multiple sterilization cycles. This merging of functions eliminates time losses associated with separate sterilization steps and tool transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle is pre-positioned within the housing with the fulcrum and barrier wall already in place before the bending action. This preliminary arrangement allows the physician to perform the bending action immediately without requiring additional setup, tool changes, or sterilization cycles, thereby reducing procedural time.
3Manufacturing precision
If pre-bent needles are purchased, then the option for a straight needle tip is lost and costs increase substantially, but the bending precision is ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamic system where the needle can be bent to different angles by adjusting the position of the barrier wall or the amount of pressure applied. The assembly allows the physician to choose between creating a bent needle or leaving it straight, providing adaptability that pre-bent needles cannot offer. The fulcrum and barrier wall can be repositioned to achieve different bend angles as needed.
4Device complexity
If forces required to bend a needle containing a stylet are applied using finger pressure alone, then no additional mechanical assistance is needed, but the forces may exceed those achievable by finger pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a curved barrier wall that contacts the needle at a specific point. The curved geometry of the barrier wall and fulcrum creates a mechanical advantage that amplifies the physician's finger pressure into sufficient bending force. The curved surfaces distribute the force evenly across the needle, enabling bending of stylet-containing needles without requiring excessive manual force.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The assembly enables precise, reproducible bending of spinal needles with reduced risk of injury and cost, allowing for flexible angle adjustments and easy sterilization, while the bent needles relax to the desired angle for medical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a bending member configured to fit in the bottom opening and to support the proximal end of the needle, said bending member having a shape of an angle containing a fulcrum configured for applying pressure onto a designated spot of the needle between the proximal end and distal end of the needle, said pressure resulting in bending the needle
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of assemblies used for bending spinal needles and method for producing bent spinal needles used in medical procedures are disclosed. In one embodiment, a straight needle is placed in position for a fulcrum to apply pressure onto a designated spot on the needle and apply a bending pressure to bend the needle while the needle is supported at both ends. A barrier wall is configured to limit the movement of the needle resulting from the bending force to prevent overbending of the needle. In two other embodiments, a dual angle bending member enables selecting the bending angle desired by the user to be applied onto the needle. The angle of the bent needle is considerably reduced due to metal relaxation; however, the angle reduction is predictable and is taken into account in calculating the target bending angle.