Surgical needle abstract
Atraumatic two-tipped surgical needle (11) consisting of a tubular
metal shaft, the central portion of which is equipped with a hole
(10), through which emerges a surgical thread (13) that is anchored
inside the needle (11).
Surgical needle claims
1. Surgical needle (11) which is atraumatic, having two tips (1212')
and consisting of a tubular metal shaft, the central portion of
which is equipped with a hole (10), through which emerges a surgical
thread (13) that is anchored inside the needle (11).
2. Needle (11) as claimed in claim 1 wherein its tips (1212')
are bevelled in one or more oblique planes and the hole (10) through
which the thread passes involves only one wall of the hollow shaft.
3. Needle (11) as claimed in claim 1 wherein one end of the surgical
thread (13) is inserted into the hole (10) of the needle (11) and
is anchored by means of pinching.
4. Needle (11) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the surgical thread
(13) is equipped with a knot (14).
5. Needle (11) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the end of the surgical
thread (13) is inserted into the hole (10) of the atraumatic two-tipped
needle (11), is made to emerge from one end (12), is equipped with
a knot (14) and is then drawn back inside the shaft towards the
hole (10).
6. Needle (11) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the surgical thread
(13), equipped in advance with a knot (14), is inserted into one
end of the needle (11) and is made to emerge through the hole (10).
7. Needle (11) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the end of the surgical
thread (13) is inserted into the hole (10) and is anchored inside
the atraumatic two-tipped needle (11) by means of a scotch (15),
which is pushed down inside the needle from one of the two ends
(1212').
8. Needle (11) as claimed in claim 7 wherein the scotch (15) may
consist of a solid bar or a portion of tube, made of metal or plastic,
the calibre of which is determined by the diameter of the needle
(11).
9. Needle (11) as claimed in claim 7 wherein the scotch (15),
when it has been placed in its final-position, is anchored inside
the needle (11) by pinching, or by means of glue (16) or other suitable
fixing material.
10. Needle (11) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the surgical thread
(13) is fixed to the needle (11) by means of a single- or dual-component
glue or other solidifying material suited to the purpose.
11. Needle (11) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the end of the surgical
thread (13) inserted into the hole (10) emerges from one end (1212')
of the needle (11), and is inserted and fixed into a hole in one
end of a scotch, which is subsequently inserted into the needle
(11).
12. Needle (11) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the surgical thread
(13) is fixed between the coils of a tiny spring, which is then
inserted into the atraumatic two-tipped needle (11).
13. Needle (11) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the surgical thread
(13) is fixed by means of two or more anchoring techniques.
Surgical needle description
[0001] The present invention concerns an atraumatic two-tipped
needle for use in surgery.
[0002] Atraumatic needles for surgical suturing are already in
use. These do not cause trauma as they have no eye, the thread emerging
directly from one extremity of the needle, which consists of a solid
metallic structure. However, such needles cannot be used to create
an invisible suspension of the integument, in that it is practically
impossible to re-insert the needle into the same tunnel from which
it has emerged; therefore, retraction of the skin due to the tension
of the thread will always remain visible.
[0003] To overcome this problem, a two-tipped surgical needle was
created for use in mini-invasive surgery for suturing subcutaneous
wounds. This needle is described in the patent for industrial model
No. 194882 registered in the name of the same inventor. That model
enables the surgeon to carry out internal suturing or to place a
thread in the subcutaneous tissues, according to the desired trajectory,
by means of simple external manoeuvres, without leaving any part
of the thread visible externally and without needing to make any
incisions in the skin. To achieve this, the surgeon inserts the
tip of the needle into the tissue and makes it emerge in the direction
in which the thread is to pass, but without extracting the needle
completely. The other tip of the needle, which remains in the tissue,
is then pushed in the desired direction in such a way as to position
the thread below the cutaneous layer without leaving visible signs
on the surface.
[0004] The main disadvantage of that model, however, is that the
eye of the needle is larger than the mean diameter of the needle
itself. This means not only that penetration of the skin becomes
more difficult, but also that considerable force is required to
make the needle re-emerge partially; indeed, the force exerted may
cause the needle to emerge completely, thereby nullifying any benefit
and forcing the surgeon to repeat the procedure from the beginning.
[0005] A second disadvantage is that the eye of the needle constitutes
a point of mechanical weakness. When the needle is forced to change
direction inside the subcutaneous tissue, it is subjected to considerable
stress, which might cause it to snap, leading to surgical and legal
complications.
[0006] A further drawback lies in the cost of producing such needles.
Given that this is a specialist tool which has a very small market
niche, the cost of manufacturing a two-tipped needle with a centrally-positioned
eye industrially is not justified.
[0007] All of the above disadvantages have been overcome by the
invention of an atraumatic two-tipped surgical needle without an
eye.
[0008] The atraumatic two-tipped needle in question consists of
a tubular metal element, the ends of which are bevelled in one or
more oblique planes, rather like the point of a hypodermic needle;
the central portion of the shaft is pierced by a small hole, through
which the surgical thread emerges, the thread being anchored inside
the needle itself. Only one wall of the tubular shaft needs to be
pierced, though both may be pierced if this is simpler.
[0009] The atraumatic two-tipped surgical needle described here
can be used in numerous procedures, such as suspension and tensioning
of the integument, elimination of wrinkles from the face and neck
(aesthetic lifting), correction of facial nerve paralysis, and modification
of the shape of subcutaneous tissues. Moreover, the needle may also
find application in the neurological field through the use of special
conducting threads designed to carry electrical impulses from a
generator implanted in the body to the most distant tissues.
[0010] The first of the many advantages that the present invention
offers, in comparison with the traditional two-tipped needle, is
that the absence of the eye and the uniform diameter of the tubular
metal shaft cause less damage to the tissue that is penetrated.
[0011] Secondly, the bevelled tip, like that of a hypodermic needle,
facilitates penetration and causes less damage to the tissues.
[0012] A further, and particularly important, advantage lies in
the fact that a tubular metal structure, whatever size it may be,
is more resistant to bending stress than a solid metal shaft.
[0013] All of the above advantages, and several others, will emerge
from the description of the following figures, that are enclosed
to illustrate and not limit, in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 shows a sketch of the atraumatic two-tipped needle
which is the subject of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section illustrating how the
surgical thread may be anchored inside the atraumatic two-tipped
needle.
[0016] FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal section illustrating another
method of anchoring the surgical thread inside the atraumatic two-tipped
needle.
[0017] FIG. 4 illustrates, in a longitudinal section, a variant
of the example shown in FIG. 3
[0018] FIG. 1 depicts an example of the atraumatic two-tipped needle
(11), in accordance with the present invention, in which the hole
(10) is located centrally between the two tips (12 and 12'). The
hole (10) may be created by using various techniques, such as laser
boring, milling, chemical or electrochemical processes, or a combination
of techniques. The rim of the hole (10) is ground perfectly smooth
so as to eliminate any sharp edges, burrs or imperceptible irregularities.
[0019] To anchor the surgical thread (13) inside the needle (11),
as in the present invention, various techniques may be used.
[0020] An example which is not illustrated here involves inserting
one end of the surgical thread (13) into the hole (10) of the needle
(11) and fixing it by means of manual or automatic pinching in proximity
to the hole (10).
[0021] FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section of the needle (11) to
exemplify another method of anchoring the surgical thread (13).
In this case, the thread (13) is fixed inside the atraumatic two-tipped
needle (11) by means of a knot (14), which prevents the thread (13)
from slipping out of the hole (10) of the atraumatic two-tipped
needle (11). For instance, one end of the surgical thread (13) may
be inserted into the hole (10) in the needle (11) and pushed out
through one end (12 or 12'); a knot (14) can be tied in the thread
(13), which is then pulled back towards the hole (10). Alternatively,
a knot (14) can first be tied in the surgical thread (13), which
is then inserted through one end of the needle (11) and pulled out
through the hole (10).
[0022] FIG. 3 shows another example of how the surgical thread
(13) can be anchored inside the atraumatic two-tipped needle (11).
One end of the thread (13) is inserted into the hole (10) and is
kept in place by means of a scotch (15), which is pushed down inside
the needle (11) from one end (12'). The scotch (15) may consist
of a solid bar or a portion of tube, the diameter of which will
depend on the diameter of the needle (11) and which may be made
of metal or plastic, for example. Once the scotch (15) is in position,
it can be held fast inside the needle (11) by means of slight pinching
in the vicinity of the hole (10) or by the application of a glue
(16), as in FIG. 4. The scotch (15) also reinforces the central
part of the atraumatic two-tipped needle (11), where the greatest
stress is applied as the needle changes direction inside the subcutaneous
tissue.
[0023] The surgical thread (13) can also be fixed to the needle
(11) simply by means of glue or any suitable solidifying material.
[0024] The surgical thread (13) can be fixed inside the atraumatic
two-tipped needle (11) in various other ways. For example, after
emerging from one end (12) of the needle (11), the end of the surgical
thread (13) can be inserted into a hole made in one end of a scotch
and secured by pinching; the scotch is then inserted into the needle
(11).
[0025] Alternatively, the surgical thread (13) can be fixed between
the coils of a tiny spring, which is then inserted into the atraumatic
two-tipped needle (11).
[0026] Two or more methods of anchoring the surgical thread (13)
can be used together.
[0027] The present invention includes all variations in detail
and all modifications that may prove obvious to a technician in
this field, and which do not lie outside the ambit of the present
invention, and which are understood to be included within the area
of the following claims. |