Suture Tray Package Spiral Tracks Prevent Kinking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packaging solutions for surgical sutures and needles often result in kinking, tangling, and inefficient dispensing during surgical procedures, which can complicate high-speed automated processes and increase the risk of complications.
Innovation Solution
A novel tray package design featuring a floor with radially extending platform sections, upwardly extending needle parks, and spiral suture tracks that allow individual suture strands to be mounted, preventing kinking and facilitating smooth dispensing, along with an optional rotation mechanism for easy access and handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional folder packages are used for sutures, then the packaging structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the sutures may kink or take a set during storage and handling
Solution Approach 1:
The package divides the suture storage space into multiple separate compartments or sections within the tray, allowing each suture to be individually positioned and supported. This segmentation prevents sutures from contacting each other in ways that cause kinking, while maintaining a relatively simple molded tray structure that is easy to manufacture.
2Quantity of substance
If multiple sutures are loaded into a folder package, then the quantity of sutures available for the procedure is increased, but tangling occurs between sutures
Solution Approach 1:
The tray package incorporates multiple separate compartments or designated areas within the single tray structure, allowing multiple sutures to be stored simultaneously without contacting each other. Each compartment acts as an independent storage space that prevents tangling while maintaining compact packaging.
Solution Approach 2:
The package uses vertical spacing and depth within the tray structure to separate sutures that would otherwise lie flat and tangle in a conventional folder. By utilizing the third dimension (depth/height) of the tray, multiple sutures can be stacked or positioned at different levels, preventing tangling while keeping them all accessible.
3Reliability
If tray packages are used for sutures, then kinking is prevented and automated loading is improved, but the device complexity increases compared to folder packages
Solution Approach 1:
The package combines multiple functional elements into a single molded tray structure: the base tray, compartment walls, suture support surfaces, and needle retention features are all integrated into one piece. This merging reduces the number of separate components that would need to be assembled, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining the complex internal geometry needed to prevent kinking.
Solution Approach 2:
The tray structure performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support to prevent kinking, creates separate compartments to prevent tangling, retains needles in designated areas, and facilitates automated loading through its geometric features. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, balancing reliability with manageable complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A novel suture tray package is disclosed. The package has a floor member and a plurality of curvilinear walls extending up from the top of the floor member and forming suture tracks. The walls extend in a spiral manner from the central section of the floor member to the periphery. Extending radially outwardly about the periphery are platform sections in communication with the tracks and optionally containing needle park members and pledget park members.