Surgical needle abstract
A surgical needle package counter is particularly constructed for
receiving and snugly retaining an opened surgical needle package
sequentially in a number of slots particularly configured and sized
to receive such opened surgical needle packages. Each slot for receiving
an opened surgical needle package is identified by a number with
the numbers being in sequence so that an immediate total number
of opened surgical needle packages stored in the counter may be
observed. The surgical needle package counter may have an integral
extension in which a foam filler or slab may be seated. The foam
filler or slab is particularly formed to receive used surgical needles.
Preferably, each used surgical needle will be received in a needle
receiving zone which corresponds with the slot of the surgical needle
package counter so that the number of used surgical needles can
be automatically identified by the numerals which identify the surgical
package slots. A suitable cover is provided for retaining the used
surgical needles for disposal or possible future recount.
Surgical needle claims
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property
or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A surgical needle package counter comprising a body having an
upper surface and an adjoining side surface, at least one slot in
said body, said at least one slot extending through said upper and
side surfaces and adapted to receive a used needle package, said
body further comprising a needle counting extension having means
for receiving needles, said needle receiving means comprising a
resilient flexible material disposed on the extension and having
at least one needle receiving zone, a first visual indicium on said
upper surface adjacent to said at least one slot for counting and
identifying a used needle package received in said slot, a second
visual indicium disposed on said needle receiving zone, said zone
corresponding to said at least one slot by an identity between said
first and second visual indicia so that needles received in the
zone can be identified as coming from said used needle package in
said at least one slot adjacent to the corresponding first visual
indicium.
2. A surgical needle package counter according to claim 1 wherein
said needle receiving zone includes a third indicium disposed thereon
to identify each needle received in the zone.
3. A surgical needle package counter comprising a body having an
upper surface and an adjoining side surface, at least one slot in
said body, said at least one slot extending through said upper and
side surfaces and adapted to receive a used needle package, said
body having a needle counting extension with means for receiving
used needles, said needle counting extension comprising a magnetized
surface on the extension and having at least one needle receiving
zone, a first visual indicium on said upper surface adjacent to
said at least one slot for counting and identifying a used needle
package received in said slot, a second visual indicium disposed
on said needle receiving zone, said zone corresponding to said slot
by an identity between said first and second visual indicia so that
needles received in the zone can be identified as coming from said
used needle package received in said at least one slot adjacent
to the corresponding first visual indicium.
4. A surgical needle package counter according to claim 3 wherein
said needle receiving zone includes a third indicium disposed thereon
to identify each needle received in the zone.
5. A surgical needle package counter comprising a body having a
comblike portion, said comblike portion having a plurality of teeth
with interstices between the teeth for receiving and retaining used
needle packages opened during surgery, said body further comprising
a recessed portion having a surface, a plurality of needle receiving
zones on the surface adapted to receive an retain needles, a unique
visual indicium disposed on the body adjacent to each interstice
for counting and identifying a used needle package received therein,
the combination of needle counting indicia forming a first set of
indicia, a visual indicium disposed on each needle receiving zone
forming a second set of indicia, each zone corresponding to an interstice
by an identity a particular one of between the first and a particular
one of the second set of visual indicia so that needles received
in a zone can be identified as coming from a needle package received
in the interstice adjacent to a corresponding first visual indicium.
6. A surgical needle package counter according to claim 5 wherein
said needle receiving zone includes a third indicium disposed thereon
to identify each needle received in the zone.
7. A surgical needle package counter according to claim 6 further
comprising a cover whereby needle packages and needles received
by the body can be enclosed by the cover.
Surgical needle description
This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements
in apparatus for counting surgical needles to make certain that
all needles have been removed before closure, and more particularly
to a surgical needle counter which includes a device for receiving
used needle packages and thereby counting the number of needles
utilized.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
During surgery, it is important to keep track of how many needles
have been used to ensure that all of them have been removed from
a patient when the operation is completed. Counting devices are
frequently used in surgery to keep track of the number of used needles.
It is also useful to keep track of the number of packages from which
the needles have been dispensed so that a quick check of how many
needles should be accounted for will provide a simple verification
of the needle count, thereby facilitating needle control. Typically,
the scrub nurse will simply stack the used needle packages on a
tray for later counting. However, the needle packages are prone
to become dislodged and lost on the floor of the operating room
so that occasionally miscounts occur.
In the past, there have been developed suitable devices for counting
used surgical needles. These are the subjects of U.S. Pat. No. 3727658
granted on Apr. 17 1973 to John D. Eldridge, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No.
3944069 granted to John D. Eldridge, Jr. on May 16 1976; U.S.
Pat. No. 4008802 granted to Samuel L. Freitag on Feb. 22 1977
and U.S. Pat. No. 4243140 granted to Robert H. Thrun on Jan. 6
1981. There remains a need for an effective verification of the
needle count.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with this invention, there has been developed a holder
for used surgical needle packages, which holders are provided with
means for receiving and retaining opened needle packages as an evidence
of how many needles have been utilized. Such a holder is generally
of a molded construction having a plurality of slots of a size and
shape for tightly receiving an opened needle package. Each of the
slots is numbered with the numbers being sequential so as to immediately
identify the total number of needle packages utilized in a surgical
procedure.
Also, in accordance with this invention, it is envisioned to either
utilize prior needle counters of the type described above, or form
as an integral part of the needle package counter a needle counter.
Most particularly, it is proposed to provide the needle counter
with means for receiving individual used needles in needle receiving
zones which include indicia corresponding to the slots of the needle
package counter so that any discrepancy in the number of needle
packages utilized and the number of needles reclaimed is immediately
visible.
With the above and other objects in view as will hereinafter appear,
the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference
to the following detailed description, the appended claims, and
the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a combined needle package counter and
needle counter for surgical needles formed in accordance with this
invention with a cover applied and portions of the cover being broken
away so as to more specifically illustrate the use of the needle
package counter;
FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the surgical needle package
counter and surgical needle counter of FIG. 1 with parts broken
away.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings in detail, reference is made to the
drawings wherein there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a combination surgical
needle package counter and used surgical needle counter, generally
identified by the numeral 10. The combined counter 10 includes a
surgical needle package counter 12 and a surgical needle counter
14.
It is to be understood that the surgical needle package counter
12 may be utilized independently of the used surgical needle counter
14 and that any suitable surgical needle counter may be utilized
including those specifically identified above.
The surgical needle package counter 12 is in the form of a molded
body forming a base 16 which is provided with a plurality of transversely
extending slots 18 of a size to have snugly received therein an
opened surgical needle package 20 as is best shown in FIG. 2. The
slots 18 are defined by vertically disposed parallel panels 19.
The panels 19 are in a rank extended across a substantial portion
of an upper surface 21 of the base 16. In other words, this structure
is comblike in appearance, with the panels 19 forming the teeth
of the comb, and the slots 18 being defined by the interstices between
the teeth. In order to facilitate the entry of an opened surgical
needle package into an associated one of the slots 18 it is preferred
that one end 22 of each slot open through an edge 23 of the base
16. At the opposite end of each of the slots 18 from the open end
there is applied to the top of the base 16 numerals 24 which are
arranged in sequence so as to immediately identify the total number
of opened surgical needle packages and thus the total number of
surgical needles utilized in a surgical procedure.
The base 16 is provided at one end thereof with a molded extension
28 formed integrally with the base 16. The extension 28 defines
a cavity 30 in which there is seated a foam insert 32. The foam
insert 32 will be provided with suitable means for receiving used
needles. If desired, the foam insert 32 may be of a construction
similar to the above-identified U.S. Pat. No. 4008802 and include
a longitudinally extending, upstanding rib and a plurality of transversely
extending slits or slots. The slits or slots will be of a size to
snugly receive a used surgical needle, and each slit or slot may
be aligned with one of the slots 18. Alternatively, the foam insert
32 can provide a simple flat surface, the foam being adapted to
receive needles. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 1 the foam 32 is
divided into needle receiving zones wherein primary indicia 38 are
provided which correspond numerically to the numerals 24 on the
base 16. In this manner, an immediate count of surgical needles
used or otherwise accounted for can be readily verified by comparison
with the number of used packages. For those frequent situations
where a single package contains multiple needles, secondary indicia
40 may correspond to each individual needle. It can be seen that
if the number of used surgical needles accounted for does not correspond
with the correct number of opened surgical needle packages, the
difference in number will be immediately observable and appropriate
steps taken to ensure patient care.
A magnetic strip 42 is provided within the cavity 30 to receive
and hold blades and sharps. The base 16 is provided with a suitable
cover 26 so as to completely enclose the base 16 and thus prevent
the loss of used surgical needles and blades. The cover can also
facilitate easy disposal of the entire assembly and used needles
and blades at the conclusion of surgery.
It is proposed that the surgical needle package counter 12 and
the surgical needle counter be readily removably mounted adjacent
the operating table. Accordingly, the underside of the base 16 is
provided with a layer of adhesive 27 which will preferably be of
the pressure-sensitive type with a removable cover.
Although only a preferred embodiment of the surgical needle package
counter and the used surgical needle counter has been specifically
illustrated and described herein, minor variations may be made in
the construction thereof without departing from the spirit and scope
of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For example,
a magnetic insert may be substituted for the foam insert 32. |