Surgical Needle Capture Carrier Tape System
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Solution Overview
Problem
In surgical settings, there is a challenge in efficiently counting and capturing needles used during procedures to prevent delays and ensure patient safety, as lost needles can lead to extended operating room downtime and potential patient risks.
Innovation Solution
A surgical-implement count and capture system featuring a carrier tape with spaced-apart receiving areas, a deposit station, and a counting station equipped with sensors to detect and classify needles, along with a removable cassette system for efficient needle collection and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual counting methods are used to account for surgical needles, then the process is simple to operate, but it results in significant loss of time and reduced productivity when locating lost needles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical counting methods with an automated sensor-based detection system. Sensors scan the surgical field and automatically detect, count, and track needles, eliminating the need for manual visual inspection and physical counting by surgical staff.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service needle accounting by automatically detecting and tracking needles without requiring surgical staff to manually count or search for them. The automated system performs the counting function independently, freeing up surgical personnel to focus on the procedure.
2Measurement precision
If automated sensor-based needle detection systems are implemented, then needle counting accuracy and productivity improve, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical implement counter is integrated into existing surgical imaging systems, allowing the same system to serve multiple functions: providing surgical visualization and simultaneously detecting, counting, and tracking needles. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated needle detection devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines needle detection sensors with existing surgical imaging infrastructure and integrates the counting functionality into the surgical workflow system. By merging these functions into a unified system, the patent reduces overall device complexity compared to having separate independent systems.
3Reliability
If comprehensive needle tracking and classification features are added to the system, then measurement precision and reliability improve, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection and classification of surgical implements during the procedure itself, rather than requiring post-procedure counting. By detecting and categorizing needles in real-time as they are used, the system ensures accurate accounting without requiring complex post-operative search and counting processes.
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 system enables accurate and efficient counting and capture of surgical needles, reducing operating room downtime and ensuring patient safety by streamlining the process of accounting for all needles used during procedures.
Implementation Method 1
The counting station includes a sensor adapted to detect the plurality of the surgical-implements in the respective receiving areas
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical-implement count and capture system including a carrier tape having a plurality of spaced-apart receiving areas disposed longitudinally along the carrier tape. Each of the plurality of spaced-apart receiving areas being configured to receive a surgical-implement. The carrier tape is configured to follow a first pathway. A deposit station is located along the first pathway and is adapted to accommodate deposition of a plurality of the surgical-implements respectively into successive ones of the spaced-apart receiving areas when resident at the deposit station. A counting station is located along the first pathway downstream of the deposit station. The counting station includes a sensor adapted to detect the plurality of the surgical-implements in the respective receiving areas.