Suture Package With Dynamic Lid And Base For Unconstrained Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional suture packages often constrain the removal of sutures, leading to entanglement and potential damage, particularly for sutures with barbs, stops, or loops, due to projections and flanges in the dispensing tray.
Innovation Solution
A suture package design featuring a base with openings forming geometric patterns and a lid with suture retaining posts that create a 'track' to hold the suture in place when closed, allowing for unconstrained dispensing by pulling the lid away from the base, eliminating any constraining structures that could drag or damage the suture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If projections and flanges are added to the dispensing tray to hold the suture, then the suture is secured during shipping and storage, but the suture becomes constrained during removal and may become entangled
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining structures (projections and flanges) are designed to be dynamic rather than static - they constrain the suture when the package is closed (during shipping and storage) but do not constrain the suture when the package is opened (during dispensing). The lid and base separate during opening, allowing the suture to be freely removed without dragging across surfaces.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a flexible liner is added to cover the tray, then the suture is protected during shipping, but the liner must be pulled away which may constrain suture removal
Solution Approach 1:
The protective liner is completely removed from the package before the suture is dispensed. This extraction of the protective element eliminates any potential constraint on suture removal, allowing the suture to be freely lifted from the tray without dragging across any surfaces or materials.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the suture is held in place by fixed structures in the tray, then the suture remains stable during storage, but the suture must be dragged across surfaces for removal which may damage it
Solution Approach 1:
The holding structures are designed to release the suture when the package is opened. The lid and base separate, allowing the suture to be vertically lifted without horizontal dragging. This dynamic transition from constrained to unconstrained state prevents damage to the suture during removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The suture is pre-positioned in the tray during packaging, and the package is designed to maintain this position during shipping and storage. When ready for use, the entire package is opened and the suture is lifted vertically in a single motion, eliminating the need to drag the suture across surfaces.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 2C~2D
AI summary
A suture package (20) includes a first part or base (24) having an outer surface, an inner surface, and a plurality of openings (52) extending between the outer and inner surfaces, and a second part or lid (22) having an outer surface, an inner surface, and a plurality of posts (38) projecting from the inner surface. The suture package has a closed configuration in which the inner surface of the lid opposes the inner surface of the base with distal ends of the posts engaging the inner surface of the base at locations that are offset from and adjacent the plurality of openings extending through the base. The package includes a hinge (26) interconnecting the lid and the base for opening and closing the suture package. Suture winding posts on a fixture are passable through the base openings for winding at least one suture around the suture winding posts for positioning the at least one suture on the base.