AU691080B2 - A diathermy suture needle system and method - Google Patents

Description

S F Ref: 332975

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

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r i Name and Address of Applicant: Dennis Deane Arnold 21 Greenfield Avenue Middle Cove New South

AUSTRALIA

Wales 2068 Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL [31] Application No(s) PN1577 Dennis Deane Arnold Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia A Diathermy Suture Needle System Method APPLICATION DETAILS [33] Country

AU

[32] Application Date 8 March 1995 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5815 II-I A Diathermy Suture Needle System Method Field of the Invention The present invention relates to diathermic surgery and, in particular, to a diathermy suture needle system for reducing the incidence of needle puncture injuries.

Background of the Invention Existing ordinary suture needles usually have very sharp points, while cutting needles have sharp edges as well to facilitate penetration of tissues and precise placement of sutures particularly in tough tissues. Blunt needles are available and are of use in soft tissues such as liver.

A disadvantage of sharp suture needles and cutting needles is the possibility of accidental needle puncture injuries by doctors or other medical staff who handle such needles. These accidental needle puncture injuries may result in cross-infection by micro-organisms causing life threatening infections such as those caused by the acquired immuno deficiency virus and the viruses causing hepatitis B and C.

15 A further disadvantage of conventional suture needles is that when inserted into the tissue of a patient, the suture needle creates a wound which is subject to bleeding :and possible infections.

Object of the Invention *9 It is an object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate 20 the above disadvantages.

Summary of the Invention There is disclosed herein a diathermy suture needle including: a needle body of electrically conductive material; and an insulating material surrounding said body but exposing a needle tip of said body and in cooperation with said body providing a diathermy contact portion adapted to electrically connect the body to a source of electric power.

There is further disclosed herein, in combination, the above diathermy suture needle, and a holding device for releasably holding and manipulating the needle, said

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4 holding device having: (N:tLIBTTJOO863:trw:TCW ~sd A~ ill I I -2a pair of pivotally attached arms providing a pair of first extremities which grip the suture needle, with adjacent second extremities being adapted to be engaged by a users hand.

Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a cross section of a preferred suture needle; Fig. 2 is a cross section of a needle tip of the needle of Fig. 1; Fig. 2A is a cross-section of another preferred needle tip; Fig. 3 is a cross section of a suture attachment portion of the suture needle of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a needle holder; Fig. 5 is a cross section of the hollow arm of the needle holder of Fig. 4; L: Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a second insert of the needle holder of Fig. 4; 15 Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a jaw of a needle holder arm;

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[N:\LIBTT00863:hrw:TCW g pal Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a switch; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a first insert of the needle holder of Fig. 4; Fig. 10 is another perspective view of the insert of Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is another perspective view of the insert of Fig. 9; and Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a pair of forceps and end caps.

Description of Preferred Embodiments Referring to Fig. 1, the diathermy suture needle comprises a needle body a needle tip a suture attachment portion and a first diathermy contact portion The needle body is preferably arc shaped, and should be made of an lo electrically conductive material. Preferably, the needle body is made from stainless steel, which is both electrically conductive and suitable for sterilisation.

The needle body is insulated by a layer of insulating material As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, the needle tip and first diathermy contact portion are 0 k" exposed so as to allow an electrical current to flow through the needle body The 15 insulating layer should be of low electrical conductivity, and is preferably made from a biologically inert material which is non-flammable, abrasion resistant and has a low coefficient of friction, preferably a plastics material.

*00.0, Referring to Fig. 2, the insulating layer is preferably held in place on the needle body by engaging a plurality of circumferential grooves formed in the S 20 surface of the needle body Referring to Figs. 2 and 2A, the neecle Ip; is preferably blunt, so as to reduce the risk of needle prick injuries. The needle tip is exposed, to allow an electrical current to flow through the needle body generating an electric arc between the needle tip and the tissue of the patient, as will be described later.

Referring to Fig. 3, the suture attachment portion of the needle is preferably located at the opposite end of the needle to the needle tip The suture is inserted into the end of the needle body for insertion into the patient's tissue.

[N:\LIBTT]00863:BFD Fig. 4 shows a needle holder (11) which is used to grip and activate the diathermy suture needle The needle holder (11) comprises a solid arm (12) which is pivotally attached to a "hollow" arm The arms (12 and 15) are preferably made from stainless steel, but could also be made from aluminium alloy or carbon fibre. The hollow arm (15) comprises a gripping jaw (14) to which a removable insulating insert having a second diathermy contact area (27) is affixed. The solid arm (12) also comprises a gripping jaw to which a removable insulating insert (18) is affixed.

The insulating insert (18) does not comprise a diathermy contact area. Preferably, both inserts (6 and 18) are made from a plastics material which is softer than the insulating lo layer of the needle The inserts (6 and 18) also preferably comprise electrically isolated metal markers (not shown) which are radiologically identifiable.

As can be seen in Fig. 5, the hollow arm (15) of the needle holder (11) is provided with a channel through which electrical leads (25 and 29) are passed.

The hollow arm (15) also comprises a switch opening (24) and an outlet (22) for the electrical leads (25 and 29).

Referring to Figs. 5 and 8, the needle holder (11) is preferably provided with a removable, snap-in, waterproof, electrically insulating switch The switch (23) is V preferably a pressure activated switch and can be removably inserted into the opening (24) by a "snap-in" mechanism (not shown). The switch (23) is attached to an insulated 20 lead Alternatively, a foot operated switch (not shown) can be used to activate the power source.

Fig. 6 shows the removable insulating insert (18) which is not provided with a diathermy contact area. The insert (18) comprises a "snap-in" face (20) and lug (26) which releasably engage a corresponding slot and surface (16) on the jaw (31) of the solid arm (12).

The removable insulating insert having the second diathermy contact area (27) is shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11. The second diathermy contact area (27) is [N:\LIBrT00863:BFD attached to an electrically insulated diathermy lead The insert comprises a "snap-in" face (20) and lug (30) which releasably engage a corresponding face and slot (not shown) in the hollow arm The face (19) of the insert is comprised of the diathermy contact area (27) and a surrounding insulating border (28).

Referring to Fig. 12, there is shown a pair of dissecting forceps (32) which are used for drawing the diathermy suture needle and suture (10) through the tissue of the patient. The forceps (32) are preferably made from stainless steel or an aluminium alloy, and comprise a pair of arms (33,34) having free ends (35,36). The forceps (32) are also provided with removable insulating caps or jackets (39,40) which can be removably placed onto the forceps (32) by means of retaining ridges (37 and 38). The caps (39,40) are preferably made of a plastics material which is softer than the insulating layer of the diathermy suture needle and comprise electrically isolated metal radiologically identifiable markers (not shown).

Alternatively, the forceps (32) could be made of a material such as carbon fibre.

The suture needle holder (11) and forceps (32) can be used in any open surgical operation. To use the invention, a diathermy plate (not shown) is attached to the skin of the patient to constitute an indifferent electrode. The plate (not shown) is 20 then connected to an appropriate diathermy machine.

To prepare the invention for use, the various separated components are first sterilised. The insulated diathermy lead (29) is then fed into the channel (21) via the slot (17) in the jaw (14) of the hollow arm (15) of the needle holder The end of the lead (29) is drawn from the opening (22) of the channel (21) on the handle (13) of the hollow arm The electrically insulated diathermy lead (29) is connected to the removable plastic insert having the diathermy contact area which is then fixed via the snap lug (30) into the slot (17) of the jaw (14) of the hollow arm IN:\LIBT100863BFD J 5 The electrically insulated switch lead (25) is then also fed into the channel (21) in the hollow arm (15) of the needle holder via a switch opening (24) in the hollow arm (15) such that an end of the switch lead (25) emerges from the opening (22) of the channel (21) on the handle (13) of the hollow arm The removable, 6nap-in waterproof electrically insulated pressure switch (23) is connected to the electrically insulated switch lead (25) and then affixed by its snap-in mechanism to the switch opening (24) in the hollow arm (15) of the needle holder The electrically insulated diathermy lead (29) and the electrically insulated switch lead (25) are then connected to appropriate leads of an appropriate diathermy machine (not shown). The 1o plain, removable plastic insert (18) is tien affixed by its snap lug (26) to the slot in the grip surface (16) of the jaw (31) of the solid arm (12) of the needle holder (11).

4. 4 o1" ~The needle is then grasped in the jaws (14,31) of the needle holder (11) so that the diathermy contact portion of the needle is in contact with the diathermy *4 contact portion (27) of the removable plastic insert The relative dimensions of the length of the diathermy contact portion of the needle and the width of the border of plastic (28) surrounding the diathermy contact portion (27) on the grip face (19) of the removable plastic insert are preferably such that the diathermy contact portion S of the needle cannot protrude beyond the edge of the grip face (19) if any part of the 4 4 diathermy contact portion of the needle is in contact with the diathermy contact 20 portion This reduces the risk of short-circuiting and accidental burns. The blunt needle tip is then brought into contact with tissue (not shown) to be sutured, and the switch (23) activated. An electrical current flows down the lead causing an electrical spark to be generated at the blunt needle tip This allows the needle to be thrust through the tissue of the patient. The tip of the needle (3)'which then protrudes out through the tissue is grasped by the dissecting forceps the free ends of which are covered by the snap-on plastic jackets (39,40) so that there is minimal risk of diathermy short circuit or mechanical deformation of the thin coating of a particular [N:\LIBT]OO863:BFD

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7 plastic on the needle body The suture (10) follows the needle through the tissue, and a stitch can then be formed.

It will be appreciated that as surgical operating-room staff wear intact surgical rubber gloves their hands are electrically insulated from diathermy current and their hands are physically isolated from micro-organisms in or on a patient's tissues.

The invention described herein minimises the risk of cross-infection from micro-organisms between patient and operating-room staff during the process of placing sutures by reducing the risk of needle-puncture injuries which occur when sharp needles are used, while allowing sutures to be placed with precision and with minimal risk of accidental diathermy burns.

A further advantage of diathermic suturing is that the wound caused by the suture needle is cauterized by the electric arc formed as the needle enters the patient's tissue. This assists in preventing the fresh stitch wound from bleeding excessively, or becoming infected.

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Claims (13)

1. A diathermy suture needle including: a needle body of electrically conductive material; and an insulating material surrounding said body but exposing a needle tip of said body and in cooperation with said body providing a diathermy contact portion adapted to electrically connect the body to a source of electric power.

2. The diathermy suture needle of claim 1, further including: a suture attachment portion for attaching a suture to said suture needle.

3. The diathermy suture needle of claim 2, wherein said tip is blunt.

4. The diathermy suture needle of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said needle body comprises one or more circumferential groove(s) adapted to engage and prevent movement of said insulating material.

The diathermy suture needle of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said ""insulating material is of low electrical conductivity, low coefficient of friction, abrasion resistant, non-flammable and biologically inert.

6. The diathermy suture needle of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said ol !.insulating material comprises a layer of plastics material.

7. The diathermy suture needle of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said needle body is made from stainless steel. a OV,

8. In combination, the diathermy suture needle of any one of claims 1 to 7, and a holding device for releasably holding and manipulating the needle, said holding device having: a pair of pivotally attached arms providing a pair of first extremities which grip the suture needle, with adjacent second extremities being adapted to be engaged by a users hand.

9. The combination of claim 8, wherein one of said arms is provided with a diathermy contact portion adapted to electrically engage the contact portion of the needle so as to deliver electric power thereto.

IN:\LIBTTIO0863:hrwTCW I The combination of claim 9, wherein one of said first extremities is provided with a removably attached insert to provide for electrical contact with the contact portion of said suture needle.

11. The combination of claim 8, 9 or 10, wherein said device is configured as a pair of forceps.

12. A diathermy suture needle, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. In combination, a diathermy suture needle and a needle holder, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated 4 March, 1998 Dennis Deane Arnold Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person too SPRUSON FERGUSON S. C ue* *r 4 IN \LIBlTT00863:hrw:TCW E A Diathermy Suture Needle System Method ABSTRACT A diathermy surture needle is disclosed. The needle comprises an electrically conductive needle body The needle body comprises a first diathermy contact portion which is adapted to be electrically connected to a source of electricity. A needle holding device (11) having a second diathermy contact portion (27) is also disclosed. A method for diathermically suturing tissue is also disclosed. we 8 e tel es a r *t *o w w was. 5523T/maa