Suture Package With Sloped Teeth For Friction Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing suture packaging technologies do not facilitate rapid and efficient withdrawal or removal of sutures, especially when using high-speed packaging machines, as they often result in frictional issues and structural limitations that hinder smooth winding and retrieval processes.
Innovation Solution
A suture package design featuring a tray-shaped base member with a peripheral wall and a cover member having an inner track wall and an upper wall with sloped teeth to support suture winding, along with resiliently deformable materials and interlocking ridges, allows for easy access and minimal friction during winding and removal, enabling high-speed packaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If conventional suture packaging structures are used, then the package structure is simple, but the suture withdrawal speed is slow and frictional forces are high
Solution Approach 1:
The package structure is segmented into distinct functional components: the base member with peripheral wall, the cover member with inner track wall, and the suture channel. The teeth on the peripheral wall are segmented to provide individual contact points that guide suture movement, reducing friction and enabling faster withdrawal.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a vertical dimension to suture guidance by adding teeth that protrude into the suture channel from the peripheral wall. This three-dimensional feature creates a more effective guiding surface that reduces friction compared to conventional two-dimensional channel walls, thereby improving withdrawal speed.
2Productivity
If conventional suture packaging structures are used, then the manufacturing process is simple, but high-speed packaging is not achievable due to frictional issues
Solution Approach 1:
The teeth are pre-formed on the peripheral wall during the molding process, creating the friction-reducing surface features before assembly. This preliminary action ensures that the optimal geometry for high-speed packaging is achieved without adding complex post-processing steps, thereby maintaining ease of manufacture while improving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention optimizes geometric parameters such as tooth height, spacing, and angle to minimize frictional forces during suture winding and withdrawal. By carefully selecting these parameters, the package achieves high-speed packaging capability while remaining manufacturable using standard molding techniques.
3Ease of operation
If the peripheral wall rim is smooth, then manufacturing is easier, but suture winding movement is not supported effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The peripheral wall rim incorporates teeth only in the specific region where suture contact occurs, while other portions of the rim remain smooth. This local application of structural complexity provides the necessary winding support exactly where needed, improving ease of operation without excessively increasing overall device complexity.
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 solution ensures rapid and accessible suture withdrawal while minimizing frictional forces, allowing for efficient high-speed packaging and secure retention within the package.
Implementation Method 1
a rim of the peripheral wall portion is provided with a plurality of teeth each having a sloped edge at a rear side in a direction of winding for supporting a movement of a suture or a thread winding finger in a direction of winding
Implementation Method 2
resiliently deformable materials and interlocking ridges
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a suture package (1) comprising a tray-shaped base member (2) with a central portion (20) and with a peripheral wall portion (21) and a cover member (3) configured to attach to the base member (2) with an inner track wall (30) and with an upper wall (31) extending radially out from the inner track wall (30) at an upper end thereof, wherein a suture channel (10) is formed between the upper wall (31) and the peripheral wall portion (21), and wherein a rim of the peripheral wall portion (21) is provided with a plurality of teeth (28) each having a sloped edge (28a) at a rear side in a direction of winding. The invention further relates to a method for winding a suture in a suture package.