JPH02251329A - Working method of suture needle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the number of process and the cost by forming flat parts and thread relief grooves at the needle root part by a plastic working method and forming continuously an approximately triangular slit, etc., with a laser beam, etc. CONSTITUTION:When, for example, a suture needle A is a needle which is used to suture intestines, the needle material 1 of phi0.6 is used. At the 1st stage, the needle root part 1a of the needle material 1 is deformed plastically in flat with a press or a forging process and simultaneously the thread relief grooves 3 are formed at the approximate middle in the axial direction of the needle root part 1a and on both sides of the direction of depth. Next, at the 2nd stage, a notch 4, a thread inlet of about 0.1mm wide, preferably <=0.1mm and a triangular slit 2 with a base length of 0.4mm are formed by cutting out. Then, at the 2nd stage, the notch 4, the thread inlet 5 and the slit 2 are cut out by moving relatively while irradiating the needle root part 1a which is provided with the thread inlet 3 and is formed flatly with the laser beam or an electron beam or while discharging between the needle material 1 and an electrical discharging wire. Thus, slit columns 6 can be formed.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a method of processing a surgical suture needle, and more particularly to a method of processing a suture needle for forming a hole through which a suture thread is inserted. It is.

<Prior Art> Conventionally, when using a surgical suture needle, it has been necessary to be able to easily insert a suture thread into the suture needle and to prevent the inserted suture thread from coming off.

The suture needle includes an eyeless needle in which a blind hole is formed for attaching a suture thread from the end of the needle material in alignment with the axis of the needle material, and an eyeless needle with a blind hole formed at the end of the needle material in alignment with the axis of the needle material; There are eyed needles and the like that have a hole through which a suture thread is inserted perpendicular to the heart. In addition, there are two types of eyed needles: those that simply have a through hole, and those that have a style with a spring effect on both sides of the through hole.

The eyed needle, which has a style having a spring effect on both sides of the through hole, has a substantially triangular hole at a predetermined position at the needle base, a triangular notch at the end of the needle base, and a triangular notch at the end of the needle base. By forming a continuous thread entrance from the apex of the notch to the bottom of the proximal end of the hole, a style having a spring effect is formed on both sides of the hole and the thread entrance. Therefore, when the suture is urged toward the hole along the notch, the style is elastically deformed, the thread entrance expands, and the suture can be inserted into the hole.
In addition, after the suture thread is inserted into the hole, the style returns to its original position, thereby preventing the suture thread from separating from the style.

The diameter of the needle material of the above-mentioned eyed needle is approximately φ0.3 to φ1.
Since it is very thin (2), it is difficult to process due to the following points.

That is, fine processing techniques are required to form the through holes in the needle material. It is difficult to fix the cough needle when the needle is covered. An eye needle with a spring effect has a complicated structure at the needle base.

Furthermore, in recent years, it has become common to use austenitic stainless steel as a material for suture needles. Such materials cannot be expected to be hardened by heat treatment. Therefore,
The hardness of the material must be maintained during processing, but this processing is difficult.

The applicant has proposed a method for manufacturing a suture needle that solves the above problems (Japanese Patent Publications No. 55-39337, No. 59-38854).
Publications, etc.) are being developed.

As shown in FIGS. 8(A) to 8(F), the technique is as follows:
The hole 2 is formed by press-forming from one side of the needle base portion 1a at the position where the hole 2 is to be formed ((A) in the same figure), then press-forming from the opposite side ((B) in the same figure), and then punching the hole 2. ((C) in the same figure). Next, the space between the end of the needle material 1 and the bottom of the hole 2 is press-molded to form a leading groove 3 in the axial direction of the cough needle material 1 (FIG. 1(D)).

Next, the end portion of the needle material 1 is punched to form a substantially triangular notch 4 (FIG. 4(E)). Then, a thread entrance 5 is formed by cutting between the apex of the notch 4 and the bottom of the hole 2 (see Fig.
F)) By this, a style 6 having a spring effect is formed on both sides of the hole 2.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> When manufacturing a suture needle using the above technique, the hole 2 and the triangular notch 4 are formed by press working.

For this reason, as shown in FIG. 9, when forming the hole 2 in the needle base portion 1a of the needle material 1, the obtained suture needle is damaged by concentrated stress during processing, which causes the top portion 2a and bottom corner of the hole 2 to Cracks 2c and 2d may occur in the needle material 2b, or when forming the notch 4 from the end of the needle material l, concentrated stress acts on the punch portion corresponding to the apex of the triangle, resulting in chipping at the apex portion of the punch. ,
If the above-mentioned cracks 2c and 2d occur, there is a possibility that a stepped portion 4a will be formed at the intersection of the notch 4 and the thread entrance 5. When inserting the suture thread into the hole 2, the style 6 should be formed using the cracks 2c or 2d as a base point. There is a risk of chipping. Further, when a rounded chamfer 2b' is formed at the corner of the bottom to prevent cracking 2d, there is a problem that the threaded suture thread easily falls off at the bottom.

Furthermore, if a step 4a is formed at the intersection of the notch 4 and the thread entrance 5, there is a risk that the suture will be cut by the step 4a when the suture is inserted into the hole 2 along the notch 4. be.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for processing a suture needle that is a further development of the above-mentioned technology, which reduces manufacturing steps and costs, and allows a suture thread to be smoothly inserted into a hole. Moreover, the present invention provides a suture needle in which the suture thread inserted through the hole does not come off, and the style does not break off.

Means for Solving the Problems> A method for processing a suture needle of the present invention that solves the above problems is a processing method for forming a hole through which a suture thread is inserted in the needle base of a suture needle, the method comprising: The needle base portion is formed into a flat shape by a plastic working method, and a thread speed groove portion for running the suture thread along the approximate center of the needle base portion in the axial direction is formed by a plastic working method, and then the needle base portion is formed into a flat shape by a plastic working method. It is characterized in that a triangular notch, a yarn entrance, and the hole communicating with the yarn entrance are formed at the end by laser beam, electron beam, or electrical discharge machining.

<Function> In the method for processing the suture needle, first, the needle base portion of the suture needle is formed into a flat shape using a plastic working method such as pressing, and a leading groove is formed. Although this processing may be divided into two steps, it is preferable to carry out simultaneous processing using a punch and a die having protrusions formed at positions corresponding to the yarn speed grooves. The needle material obtained as described above is held horizontally, and a triangular notch, a thread entrance, and a substantially triangular shape are formed from the end of the needle base of the needle material by laser beam, electron beam, or electrical discharge machining. By forming the holes continuously, a suture needle can be obtained by forming a style having a spring effect on both sides of the thread entrance and the hole.

<Example> A method of processing a suture needle using the above-mentioned means will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1(A) to (D) are explanatory diagrams of the processing steps of the suture needle according to the present invention, FIGS. 2(A) and (B) are explanatory diagrams of the suture needle, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the first step. 4 are explanatory diagrams of the second step.

In the figure, the suture needle A is shown in the first step of forming the needle base portion 1a of the needle material l shown in FIG. B), (C)
), and a notch 4. in the needle base portion 1a. Thread entrance 5, JL2
The second step of forming the style 6 as well as forming the style 6 (see figure (D)
)).

For example, when the suture needle A is used to suture an intestine, a needle material l having a diameter of 0.6 is used as shown in FIG. 2(A). In the first step, the needle base portion 1ajc of the needle material 1 is plastically deformed into a flat shape with a thickness of 0.4 mm, and the needle base portion 1a is deformed approximately at the center in the axial direction and on both sides in the thickness direction. A yarn speed groove 3 is formed. At this time, the needle base portion 1a bulges on both sides (in the vertical direction in the figure), and this dimension is approximately 0.
．． It will be 8mm.

Next, in the second step, as shown in FIG.
A substantially triangular hole 2 having a thread inlet 5 with a diameter of 0.1 mm or less and a base length of 0.4 mm is cut out. The notch 4. is formed in the needle base portion 1a. By continuously cutting out and forming the thread entrance 5° hole 2, the top 2a of the hole 2
From this, two flower styles 6 having a spring effect are formed, thereby completing the suture needle A.

In the suture needle A constructed as described above, the hole 2 is for inserting the suture thread and for holding the suture thread. Further, the thread speed groove 3 allows the suture thread inserted through the hole 2 to be inserted into the groove 3.
This is to reduce the overall diameter by aligning the diameter. Moreover, the notch 4 serves as a guide when the suture thread is inserted through the hole 2. Further, the thread inlet 5 is a passageway through which a suture thread is passed through the hole 2. The cantilever-shaped style 6 has a spring effect and prevents the suture thread inserted through the hole 2 from falling out of the hole 2.

The first step is a step of forming the needle base portion 1a of the needle material 1 into a flat shape, and a step of forming the needle base portion 1a of the needle material 1 into a flat shape, and applying a needle tip/JI3 to the needle base portion 1a formed into a flat shape.
Although the molding may be performed in two steps, as shown in FIG. 3, it is preferable to perform the molding in one step by using a press constituted by a die a and a punch 7b.

That is, the needle material l is placed in the center of the diamond a and the bunch 7b.
A protrusion 7c for forming the yarn speed groove 3 is provided on the holder. Then, insert the needle base part 1a of the needle material 1 between the diaphragm a and the bunch 7b, and press the punch 7b in the direction of the arrow to crush the needle material l as shown in FIG. It is possible to process 1a into a flat shape and simultaneously process the yarn speed groove 3.

This first step can be replaced by, for example, rolling in addition to pressing.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the second step, the needle base portion 1a, which has a thread speed groove 3 and is formed in a flat shape, is irradiated with a laser beam or an electron beam, or the needle material l and the discharge wire are connected. By moving each of the beams or wires and the needle material 1 relative to each other in a single stroke along the path of the arrow while discharging between the notches 4 and 4. Thread entrance5. The hole 2 is cut out to form a style 6.

In the second step, it is preferable that the yarn speed groove 3 is not formed in the needle base portion 1a because the thickness becomes uniform. However, the notch 4. After forming the thread entrance 5 hole 2, when trying to press-form the thread groove 3 on the style 6, the style 6 escapes to the outside, making it difficult to form the thread groove 3 with a good shape. Not only that, but irregular cracks occur near the bottom of the yarn speed groove 3, resulting in many inconveniences such as the need for local softening in a separate process to prevent the occurrence of cracks. Therefore, the yarn speed groove 3 is
It must be formed during the process.

Next, the cutout and cutting in the second step will be explained in detail.

First, a case will be described in which the second step is performed using a laser beam or an electron beam.

A notch 4. is formed in the needle base portion 1a of the needle material 1 by each of the beams. Thread entrance5. When forming the hole 2 by cutting, each beam is narrowly focused and irradiated onto the needle base portion 1a. At this time, the width of the needle base portion 1a of the needle material 1 is very narrow, approximately 0.8 mm, and the thickness Q is 4 mm, which is relatively thick compared to the width dimension, so the beam is focused narrowly and long. It is necessary.

That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the thickness of the needle base portion 1a is t,
If the focal length of the beam is f, it is necessary that f≧30t.

For example, if the focal length #f becomes less than the value of the old model, a specific position in the thickness direction of the needle material 1 becomes the focal point, and the needle material 1 of the beam
The upper and lower edges of the cut surface with respect to the entrance and exit, that is, the needle base portion la, are disturbed, making it impossible to obtain a smooth cut surface.

In addition, it is necessary to focus the beam narrowly and to clearly define the cutting and cutting points. That is, when the beam necessary for cutting is narrowly focused, if there is a weak, blurred beam around the beam, the style 6 is heated by the beam and its hardness decreases, thereby causing the style 6 to lose its spring effect. There is a possibility.

An example of a processing device using the laser beam or electron beam is shown in FIG.

In the figure, a large number of needle materials 1 are arranged on a mounting table 8. This mounting table 8 is placed in parallel at a predetermined position on the table 9. The table 9 is driven by motors 10 to 12 and is configured to be movable in each of the x, y, and z axis directions.

An irradiation gun 13 such as a laser beam gun or an electron beam gun is arranged above the table 9 and at a position facing the needle material 1. As the irradiation gun 13, it is possible to use a known gun capable of emitting a pulsed beam. The irradiation gun 13 is connected to a control section 14, which controls the timing of beam emission, the end time of beam emission, and the like.

At a predetermined position above the table 9, an imaging device 15, such as a CCD camera, is arranged. This imaging device 15 is configured to be able to photograph the beam irradiation position or the entire table 9. Then, by the imaging device 15, 1
The most shadowed video signal is transferred to the image processing device 16, where it undergoes predetermined image processing, and the image signal is transferred to the control unit 14. The image signal includes position information of each needle material 1 on the table 9.

The control unit 14 has a ROM that stores an operation program for the irradiation gun 13, a needle program, information on the shape to be formed on the needle material, etc., and a needle material l that is manually operated from a human-powered device 17, which will be described later.
It consists of a RAM that temporarily stores information such as the diameter of the needle material l, instruction information about the shape to be formed on the needle material l, and a CPU.

Further, 18 to 20 are drivers provided corresponding to the motors 10 to 12, respectively.

In order to process the needle materials 1 using the processing apparatus configured as described above, first, the mounting bases 8 on which a large number of needle materials 1 are placed are arranged in parallel on the table 9. Next, the input device 17 is used to instruct the shape to be formed on the needle material 1 and input information such as the diameter of the needle material 1 manually. Then, when the processing equipment is started, R
The cannibal program and shape information stored in the OM are read out, the imaging device 15 photographs the needle material l on the table 9, the image is image-processed in the image processing device 16, and then transferred to the control unit 14. be done. As a result, the position of the needle material 1 on the table 9 is temporarily stored in the RAM. Next, the motor 10.11 is driven according to the cutting program, and the needle material l to be processed first is moved to a position corresponding to the irradiation gun 13. When it is confirmed that the needle material 1 has reached the position of the irradiation gun 13, a beam is emitted from the irradiation gun 13 according to the cannibal program and the operation program of the irradiation gun 13, and the needle material 1 is processed into a predetermined shape. When the machining is completed, a signal indicating that the machining of the needle material l has been completed is output and stored in the control section 14.

The above processing is sequentially performed on the needle materials 1, and when the processing on all needle materials 1 is completed, the operation of the processing device is completed.

In addition, in the above processing device, the table 9 is
Although the table 9 is configured to be movable in the direction, it is also possible to configure the table 9 to be fixed and the irradiation gun 13 to be movable.

Next, a case will be described in which the second step is performed by wire electrical discharge machining.

In this case, the thickness of the wire used becomes a problem.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2(B), the width dimension of the yarn entrance 5 is 0.
．． 11Im, the thickness of the wire needs to be φ0.1 or less. Conventionally, electrical discharge machining using wires of such thickness was difficult, but recent developments in electrical discharge machining technology have made it fully possible.

An example of a machining apparatus using the electric discharge machining method is shown in FIG.

In the figure, the processing apparatus for the needle material 1 is constructed substantially the same as the processing apparatus shown in FIG. In particular, the mounting table 8 on which a large number of needle materials l is placed. Tables 9 having the same structure can be used. That is, a large number of needle materials 1 are placed on the mounting table 8. This mounting table 8 is configured to be movable in the x+y directions, and is housed in a container 21 containing working oil. The wire 22 is fed from an upper reel 23 to a lower reel 24.

In the processing apparatus configured as described above, the needle material 1 is processed by electrical discharge between the wire 22 and the needle material 1. This processing process is known. Then, the needle material 1 is moved in the x and y directions while discharging between the wire 22 and the needle material 1, and a notch 4. is formed in the needle base portion 1a. The thread inlet 5 and hole 2 can be cut out.

In each of the above-mentioned processing devices, the control section 14 controls the notch 4 to be formed in the needle material 1. When a plurality of pieces of shape information are stored for the thread entrance 5 and the hole 2, the needle material 1 can be easily processed by specifying a predetermined shape from the shape information using the input device 17.

Therefore, high-mix, low-volume production can be easily carried out. Therefore, there is no need for mold replacement on the manufacturing line, which was conventionally done, and manufacturing costs can be reduced.

<Effects of the Invention> As described above in detail, according to the method for manufacturing a suture needle of the present invention, the manufacturing process of the suture needle includes forming the needle base portion of the needle material into a flat shape and forming a leading groove. The first step is to form a notch, a thread entrance, and a hole in the needle base.

Therefore, the number of steps can be reduced compared to conventional methods, and therefore production costs can be reduced.

In addition, since the notch, thread entrance, and hole can be formed in a single stroke from the end of the needle material, a beautiful cut surface can be obtained, and the stepped portion can be formed at the joining position of the notch to the thread entrance. Since no mechanical force is applied to the needle material, cracks do not occur, and the suture thread does not break when inserted through the hole.
Moreover, there is no lack of flower stalks.

Furthermore, when forming a notch or the like in the needle base, a laser beam, an electron beam, or electrical discharge machining is used as a processing tool, so it is possible to eliminate the load on the needle material.

Therefore, the needle material can be easily fixed, and the needle material can be processed with high precision.

In addition, when processing the thread entrance, by adjusting the thickness of the laser beam or electron beam, or selecting the thickness of the wire, it is easy to set the width of the thread entrance to 0.1 mm or less. It has characteristics.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIGS. 1(A) to (D) are explanatory diagrams of the processing steps of the suture needle according to the present invention, FIGS. 2(A) and (B) are explanatory diagrams of the suture needle, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the first step. Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram of the second step, Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram of the focal length of the beam, and Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram of a processing device using a laser beam or an electron beam.
Figure 7 is an explanatory diagram of a machining device using the wire electrical discharge machining method;
FIGS. 8 and 9 are explanatory diagrams of the prior art. A is the suture needle, l is the needle material, la is the needle base, 2 is the hole, 3 is the tip, 4 is the notch, 5 is the thread entrance, 6 is the style, 7a is the die,
7b is a punch, 7c is a protrusion, 9 is a table, lO~12
13 is a motor, 13 is an irradiation gun, 14 is a control unit, 15 is an imaging device, 16 is an image processing device, 17 is a human power device, 18-2
0 is a driver, 21 is a container, 22 is a wire, 23.24
is a reel. Patent applicant Matsutani Seisakusho Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A processing method for forming a hole through which a suture thread is inserted in a needle base of a suture needle, the needle base being formed into a flat shape by a plastic working method, and a A thread escape groove for running the suture thread is formed by a plastic working method, and then a triangular notch, a thread entrance, and the thread opening communicating with the thread entrance are formed from the end of the needle base by laser beam, electron beam, or electric discharge machining. A method for processing a suture needle characterized by forming a hole.