Surgical needle abstract
The present invention relates to a holder for a surgical needle
provided with a safety release mechanism. The safety release mechanism
is designed so that when the device is not in use either by way
of a deliberate action on the part of the operator, or where for
example the device is accidentally dropped, the needle automatically
retracts within the holder to prevent injury to the operator or
other persons.
Surgical needle claims
1 A surgical needle holder comprising an electrically-insulated
housing, an insulated electrically-conducting support body within
the housing for mounting a surgical needle, and an actuating mechanism
for the support body including an operating knob on the housing
moveable by an operator from a first position to cause the mechanism
to move the support body and withdraw the surgical needle within
the housing, and a second position to move the needle to an operating
position external to the housing, and means biasing the actuating
mechanism to said first position so that when the operator releases
the operating knob the needle is automatically withdrawn within
the housing of the needle holder.
2 A surgical needle holder as claimed in claim 1 wherein the actuating
mechanism is in the form of a moveable plunger carrying the surgical
needle and mounted within the holder, and spring means acting to
bias the plunger when under tension as the plunger is moved to the
forward position thereby constraining the plunger to return the
needle to the withdrawn position when the tensioning force is removed
upon release of the operating knob.
3 A surgical needle holder as claimed in claim 2 wherein the plunger
has an actuating arm extending through a slot in the housing to
engage the operating knob, said slot having a longitudinal-extent
delimiting the forward and reverse movements of the plunger.
4 A surgical needle as claimed in claim 3 wherein the spring means
is in the form of a coiled spring around an electrically-conducting
shaft attached to the plunger, the coiled spring being held between
two abutments one of which is fixed on the shaft, the other stationary,
such that the coiled spring is compressed upon movement of the plunger
to the forward position between the fixed abutments so providing
the constraining force tending to return the plunger to its withdrawn
position.
5 A surgical needle holder as claimed in claim 4 wherein the electrically-conducting
shaft is slidable within a hollow tube, the hollow tube being sleeved
with an electrically-conductive material connected to an electrical
connector within the tail end of the housing.
6 A surgical needle holder as claimed in claim 5 wherein the plunger
is provided with an axially-extending ejector pin bearing on the
shank of the needle holder and a spring held under tension between
the ejector pin and the electrically-conducting shaft such that
when the surgical needle is released the ejector pin propels the
needle from the holder ready for installation of a new surgical
needle.
Surgical needle description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a holder for a surgical
needle and particularly to a holder for a surgical needle provided
with a safety release mechanism for the surgical needle so that
when the device is not in use either by way of a deliberate action
on the part of the operator or where for example the device is accidentally
dropped, the needle automatically retracts within the holder to
prevent injury to the operator or other persons.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Surgical needles mounted in specially designed holders are
used in medical practice in the areas of, for example, hair removal
by electrolysis such as ophthalmic treatment, and certain aspects
of cosmetic surgery.
[0003] Handling and disposal is important in the use of surgical
needles both from the point of view of the health of the patient
and the user.
[0004] There are various types of surgical needle holders in use
at the present time. An example of one such needle is to be found
in the applicant's existing patent GB 2350064 which is provided
with a novel releasable locking means for locking the shank of the
needle within the body of the device with the needle protruding
from the operating end of the device ready for use.
[0005] New surgical needles are provided with protective sheaths
which are removed once installed in the needle holder and it is
therefore paramountly important that thereafter the needle does
cause injury either to the operator, the patient or other persons
by being for example improperly used or accidentally dropped. Since
the needle is unprotected such injury can occur when for example
the device is temporarily put to one side during a surgical procedure
or disposed of in a reckless manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is an object of the present invention to overcome the
disadvantages of prior surgical needle holders as briefly explained
above.
[0007] According to invention there is provided a surgical needle
holder comprising an electrically insulated housing, an insulated
electrically-conducting support body within the housing for mounting
a surgical needle, and an actuating mechanism for the support body
including an operating knob on the housing moveable by an operator
from a first position to cause the mechanism to move the support
body and withdraw the surgical needle within the housing and a second
position to move the needle to an operating position external to
the housing, and means biasing the actuating mechanism to said first
position so that when the operator releases the operating knob the
needle is automatically withdrawn within the housing of the needle
holder.
[0008] Preferably the actuating mechanism is in the form a moveable
plunger carrying the surgical needle and mounted within the holder,
and spring means acting to bias the plunger when under tension as
the plunger is moved to the forward position thereby constraining
the plunger to return the needle to the withdrawn position when
the tensioning force is removed upon release of the operating knob
by the operator.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment
thereof taken with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a cross-section of the surgical needle holder
showing the position of the surgical needle in a retracted position;
and
[0011] FIG. 2 is a cross-section of the surgical needle holder
as shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the position of the surgical needle
in an operating position.
BEST MODES OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0012] The surgical needle holder (1) shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises
an outer generally cylindrical hollow plastic body portion (2) having
a tapered tail end (3) and a tapered forward end (4) provided with
a disposable sterile, cone-shaped nozzle (5).
[0013] The generally cylindrical body portion (2) of the needle
holder (1) is provided with an inner cylindrical bore (6) extending
to the cone-shaped nozzle (5).
[0014] An inner bore (7) of smaller diameter than the bore (6)
is formed in the tapered tail end (3) of the surgical needle holder
(1). The bores (6) and (7) share the same axis which lies along
the longitudinal axis of the holder (1).
[0015] A hollow plastic insulation tube (8) is fitted into the
bore (7) and extends from the bore (7) into the bore (6) of the
generally cylindrical body portion (2) of the surgical needle holder
(1). The interior of the tube (8) is fitted with a sleeve (9) of
electrically conducting material.
[0016] The insulation tube (8) houses an electrical connector (10)
for connecting the needle holder to an R F generator (not shown)
through lead wires (11).
[0017] A collar (12) is mounted in a fixed position in the cylindrical
bore (6), the collar (12) having a first bore portion (13) and a
second bore portion (14) of smaller diameter than the first bore
portion (13).
[0018] A cylindrical shaft (15) made of brass is mounted in the
tube (8) for sliding contact with the inner sleeve (9) of the tube
(8).
[0019] The cylindrical shaft (15) extends through the bore portions
(13 14) of the fixed collar (12) to connect with a cylindrical
plunger shaft (16) moveable in the bore (6), one end of which is
provided with a connecting arm (17) slidable in a longitudinally
extending slot (18) formed in the body (2) of the holder (1).
[0020] The other end of the plunger shaft (16) is conically-formed
for mating engagement with the inner surface of the conical nozzle
(5).
[0021] The connecting arm (17) on the plunger shaft (16) is secured
to an operating button (19) which is slidable along the outer surface
of the body (2) of the holder (1) by finger pressure applied by
an operator to the upper curved indent (20) of the button (19) to
move the plunger shaft (16) from a maximum rearward retracted position
as shown in FIG. 1 to a maximum forward position shown in FIG. 2
whereat the conical end of the plunger shaft (16) comes to rest
against the inner conical surface of the conical nozzle (5).
[0022] A coiled spring (21) is mounted around a portion of the
cylindrical shaft (15) and is held in position between a fixed abutment
(22) on the shaft (15) and the base ledge wall of the first bore
portion (13) in the collar (12) as shown more clearly in FIG. 1
in the relaxed position of the spring (21).
[0023] In this relaxed state of the spring (21), the abutment (22)
rests against the forward end of the tube (8) with the plunger shaft
(16) against the fixed collar (12) and the connecting arm (17) together
with the button (19), at its maximum rearward position in the slot
(18).
[0024] The central core of the plunger shaft (16) is provided with
an axially-extending ejection spring (23) which engages a pin (24)
bearing on the shank (25) of a surgical needle (26) mounted in a
bore (27) extending axially of the plunger shaft (16) from its conical
top as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0025] When the button (19) is pushed to its forward operating
position as shown in FIG. 2 the coiled spring (21) is compressed
between the abutment (22) and the collar (12) so providing a force
tending to return the needle (26) to a withdrawn position within
the body of the holder (1). Resistance to this movement is provided
by finger pressure of the operator on the button (19) in addition
to the added resistance provided by the engagement of a projection
(28) on the button (19) with a corresponding notch (29) formed in
the outer surface of the body portion (2) of the needle holder (1)
as shown.
[0026] The force exerted by the coiled spring (21) under compression
when the surgical needle (25) is in its projected position as shown
in FIG. 2 is greater than those forces acting between the projection
(28) when in engagement with the notch (29) without the application
of finger pressure, so that when finger pressure is released the
projection (28) and notch (29) disengage automatically and the needle
(26) is brought safely behind the sterile front cone nozzle (5).
[0027] This safety feature has added importance should the needle
holder (1) accidentally be dropped since the safety actuating mechanism
in accordance with the invention will instantly retract the needle
(26) so that it is behind the sterile front cone (5) and can not
cause injury. In addition any time the needle holder (1) is not
held correctly the needle (26) will be constrained to stay safely
retracted.
[0028] The needle holder (1) as shown in the drawings is provided
with a releasable locking means for locking the needle shank (25)
in the bore (27) of the plunger shaft (16).
[0029] To this end the plunger shaft (17) is provided with a cylindrical
cavity (30) having a vertical face (31) and opposing face (32) inclined
thereto.
[0030] An electrically conducting cylindrical plate (33) having
an insulated tab portion (34) occupies the cavity (30) with the
tab portion (34) extending through a longitudinally extending slot
(35) in the outer body (2) of the surgical needle holder (1).
[0031] The longitudinal extent of the slot (35) corresponds to
that of the slot (18) so that the plate (33) with tab portion (34)
moves in the slot (35) in the same manner and at the same time as
the connecting arm (17) moves in the slot (18) during movements
of the plunger shaft (16).
[0032] By reason of the opposing vertical and inclined faces (31
32) of the cavity (30) the plate (33) is pivotally moveable from
an upright position to a maximum forward inclined position as shown
in the drawings and intermediate positions therebetween.
[0033] The plate (33) is urged to its maximum forward position
as shown in the drawings by means of a coiled spring (36) housed
in a groove (37) formed in the surface of the plunger shaft (16).
The plate (33) has a central aperture (38) which when in its upright
pivotable position its axis may be brought into alignment with the
axis of the bore (27) to allow the shank of the needle (25) to be
inserted into the bore (27) to its operating position.
[0034] The plate (33) is then released to its forward pivotal position
by the urging of the spring (36) as shown in the drawings so that
the shank of the needle (25) is gripped in the aperture (37) of
the plate (33) and any effort to release the needle (26) by pulling
it only serves to increase the gripping force.
[0035] Apart from the incorporation of the longitudinally extending
slot (35) for the reason as explained above, the releasable locking
means for the surgical needle as described forms no part of the
present invention such being protected by and more fully disclosed
in my patent GB 2350064 referred to above, and has only been included
in this description for the purposes of a better understanding and
comprehension of the invention. |