JPH0641008B2 - Bending method and bending device for suture needle - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a bending method and a bending apparatus when manufacturing a medical suture needle.

<Prior Art> As a suture needle used for medical purposes, a round needle having a circular cross-sectional shape from the needle tip to a predetermined length, or a polygonal cross-sectional shape from the needle tip to the predetermined length. There is a suture needle with a blade formed on the. Generally, these suture needles have a thickness (0.07 mm to 1.00 mm) and a length (4 mm to 60 mm) according to the sutured part of the biological tissue and have a predetermined curved shape. is there.

The suturing needle forms a sharp needle tip by a grinding process, a polishing process, or the like at the tip of a linear needle material having a thickness and a length according to a target suture needle, and a cross-sectional shape from the needle tip is formed. It is manufactured by forming it into a predetermined shape, forming a thread attaching portion for attaching a suture thread at its rear end, and then bending it.

An example of the round needle manufactured as described above is shown in FIG.

In the figure, the tip portion 1a formed between the needle tip of the needle 1 and the point A is formed in a circular cross section.
The body portion 1b formed between and is pressed flat. Further, a base end portion 1c is formed from the body portion 1b to the rear end, and a thread hole 2 for attaching a suture needle to the base end portion 1c.
Are formed. Then, a suture thread (not shown) is inserted into the thread hole 2 and the outer periphery of the base end portion 1c is caulked to connect the needle 1 and the suture thread.

The thread hole 2 is formed to have a diameter and a depth corresponding to the thickness of the suture thread used, and the length of the base end 1c is set to be the same as or slightly larger than the depth of the thread hole 2. It is used (0.5mm-2mm). Further, the base end portion 1c is adjusted to have a hardness lower than the hardness of the tip end portion 1a and the body portion 1b,
It is formed so that the caulking work can be performed easily.

Therefore, when a bending force is applied to the base end portion 1c when the needle 1 is bent, the thread hole 2 may change into a flat shape, which makes it difficult to insert the suture thread. Bending of No. 1 is performed on the tip portion 1a and the body portion 1b, and the base end portion 1c is linearly formed.

In bending a straight needle-shaped needle material having a needle tip and a thread attachment portion, a bending machine having a winding roll capable of forward and reverse rotation and a belt wound around the outer circumference of the winding roll is used. The needle material is bent by inserting the tip side of the sheet between a winding roll and a belt and winding it (Japanese Patent Publication No. 60-18256).

In the bending process, an operator grasps the needle material by hand, checks the tip side of the needle material and inserts it between the winding roll and the belt, and then rotates the winding roll in the winding direction to remove the needle material. Start winding, proceed with bending while visually confirming the wound state of the needle material, and confirm that the distance between the trailing end of the needle material and the winding roll is approximately equal to the length of the original end. Then, the rotation of the winding roll is stopped, and then the winding roll is rotated in the opposite direction to bend the needle material.

Further, in the case of automatically performing the bending process, after inserting the tip of the needle material between the winding roll and the belt, the rotation angle of the winding roll is controlled according to the length of the bending process for the needle material, A method of bending the needle material by rotating the roll for a predetermined angle and then reversing the roll is also used.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> As described above, in the suture needle, it is necessary to form the base end portion in a linear shape according to the depth of the thread hole. In addition, the practitioner requires that the entire suture needle be uniformly curved. Therefore, it is preferable that the length of the base end portion is equal to or slightly longer than the depth of the thread hole. Further, it is necessary to maintain the length dimension of the original end accurately.

However, it is difficult to match the length dimension of the original end portion with a preset dimension and maintain the accuracy.

That is, in the work of manually supplying the needle material to the winding roll and the belt and visually confirming the end point of the bending process, the work efficiency is poor, and the tip portion and the body of the needle material are not wound on the winding roll and the belt. It is difficult to operate the processing device while visually observing the straight length of the base end portion while being caught and moving. Therefore, it is difficult to maintain the straight length of the base end portion at an accurate value.

Also, in order to accurately set the straight length of the base end, a sensor that detects the trailing end of the needle material at a position separated by a distance equal to the length of the base end from the position where the belt starts contact with the winding roll. It is also conceivable that the operation of the processing device is controlled by providing a signal from this sensor. However, since the length of the base end is extremely short and the winding roll, the belt, and the rear end of the needle material are very close to each other, there is a problem that even a contact type sensor or a non-contact type sensor cannot be used. .

Further, when the bending of the needle material is automatically performed by controlling the rotation amount of the winding roll, since the reference of the control is the tip of the needle material, the insertion error of the needle material into the winding roll and the belt, or the needle material itself. It is difficult to maintain the straight length of the original end accurately due to the length error and the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide a suture needle capable of forming a linear length of a proximal end portion to a predetermined value without being affected by variations in the length of the needle material, or an insertion error of the needle material with respect to a winding roll and a belt. To provide a bending method.

<Means for Solving the Problems> In order to solve the above problems, a method of bending a suturing needle according to the present invention includes a winding roll capable of forward and reverse rotation, a contact with the winding roll, and a transfer with rotation of the winding roll. Processing method for winding a straight needle-like needle material from the tip side between the belt and the belt to bend the needle material into an arc shape and forming a linear portion of a predetermined length on the base end side of the needle material The reference point is set within a range not less than the length of the straight portion to be formed on the base end side of the needle material with the contact position between the winding roll and the belt as the base point and not more than the total length of the needle material, The tip of the needle material is inserted between the roll and the belt and the needle material is wound in the winding direction, and it is sensed that the original end of the wound needle material has passed the reference point, The length of the straight part that should be formed on the needle material from the distance from the reference point The take-up roll is rotated in the winding direction to stop in accordance with the difference obtained by pulling, and then the take-up roll is rotated in the direction opposite to the winding direction to take out the bent needle material from between the take-up roll and the belt. It is a feature.

The bending device is a bending device for forming a linear portion of a predetermined length on the base end side of a linear needle material, and includes a winding roll that can be rotated in the normal and reverse directions and one of the outer circumferences of the winding roll. A belt which is in contact with the belt portion and is conveyed with the rotation of the winding roll, and a range which is equal to or more than the length of the straight line portion to be formed on the needle material from the contact position between the winding roll and the belt and is equal to or less than the total length of the needle material. A sensor for detecting the base end of the needle material wound between the winding roll and the belt disposed inside, and the needle material inserted at the tip between the winding roll and the belt is wound in the winding direction, In addition, from the time when the sensor detects the base end of the needle material, the winding is performed corresponding to the difference between the contact position between the winding roll and the belt and the distance between the sensor and the linear portion to be formed on the needle material. Roll up direction Is stopped to rotate, in which and a control mechanism for controlling so as to rotate in the opposite direction then winding direction winding the roll.

<Operation> According to the above means, the contact position between the winding roll and the belt is set as a base point, and the base point and the length of the straight line portion to be formed on the base end side of the needle material from the base point or more and the entire length of the needle material. The straight needle-shaped needle material is bent with a length corresponding to the difference between the distance from the reference point set within the following range and the length of the straight part to be formed on the base end side of the needle material. As a result, even if the length of each straight needle-shaped needle material fluctuates, this fluctuation can be concentrated in the bending range to form a straight portion having a constant length on the base end side.

That is, with the contact point between the winding roll and the belt as the base point, the reference point is located at a position within the range not less than the length of the straight portion to be formed on the base end side of the needle material from the base point and not more than the total length of the needle material. By providing, the distance between the base point and the reference point can be set to a constant value within the range. When the tip of a straight needle-shaped needle material is inserted between the winding roll and the belt and the winding roll is rotated in the winding direction, the needle material is rolled between the winding roll and the belt and bent from the tip side. Is given. As the bending process progresses, the base end of the needle material advances toward the reference point and passes through the reference point. When it is detected that the base end of the needle material has passed the reference point, the length of the unprocessed portion of the needle material is a constant value equal to the distance between the base point and the reference point, regardless of the total length of the needle material. Becomes

Therefore, the unprocessed portion can be bent by a certain length by controlling the rotation angle of the take-up roll from the time when it is sensed that the base end of the needle material has passed the reference point.

That is, from the time when it is detected that the base end of the needle material has passed the reference point, the difference between the distance between the base point and the reference point of the winding roll minus the length of the straight portion to be formed on the base end side of the needle material is calculated. By correspondingly rotating and stopping, bending can be performed only on the length portion corresponding to the difference of the unprocessed portion, and the rest can be formed as a straight portion without bending.

By performing bending from the tip side of the straight needle-shaped needle material as described above and forming a linear portion of a predetermined length on the base end side, by rotating the winding roll in the opposite direction to the winding direction, The needle material caught between the winding roll and the belt can be taken out.

Further, according to the bending apparatus, the bending method can be optimally implemented.

<Example> An example of a bending method of a suture needle to which the above means is applied will be described below.

The bending method according to the present invention uses a winding roll capable of rotating in the normal and reverse directions and a belt in contact with the winding roll, and supplies a straight needle-shaped needle material between the winding roll and the belt from the needle tip (tip) side. Then, with the base end (rear end) of the needle material as a reference, a bending process is performed from the needle tip side to the body part of the needle material, and a portion not subjected to the bending process is left on the base end side of the needle material,
This is a processing method for forming a straight line portion set in accordance with the depth of a thread hole formed on the base end side of the needle material to have an accurate length. And by forming the straight portion accurately,
(EN) A suture needle capable of preventing deformation of a thread hole formed on the base end side of a needle material and easily inserting a suture thread into the thread hole.

Therefore, in the bending method for a suture needle, the contact position between the winding roll and the belt is used as a base point, and the length equal to or greater than the length of the straight line portion to be formed on the base end side of the needle material from the base point and the entire length of the needle material Reference points are provided at predetermined positions within the following range. Then, it is detected that the base end of the needle material wound by the winding roll has reached the reference point, and from this point, the difference between the distance between the base point and the reference point minus the length of the straight portion to be formed on the needle material. By controlling the winding roll to rotate in the winding direction, the length of the linear portion formed on the base end side of the needle material can be exactly matched with the preset length.

In order to detect that the base end of the needle material has reached the reference point, it may be visually observed or a sensor may be used. When it is visually sensed that the leading end has reached the reference point, it is possible to operate a switch at the same time as this sensing to generate a signal and control the rotation of the winding roll by this signal. If the front end is detected by a sensor, it is possible to control the rotation of the winding roll by a signal from the sensor.

It is also possible to take out the bent needle material by stopping the winding roll after rotating the winding roll according to the difference, and further reversing the rotation.

To perform the bending process on the straight needle-shaped needle material using the winding roll and the belt in contact with the winding roll,
Insert a straight needle material between the winding roll and the belt, and rotate the winding roll in accordance with the difference between the total length of the needle material and the length of the straight portion formed on the proximal end side of the needle material. It is possible to form a linear portion on the base end side of the needle material by controlling the. In this method, bending is performed with the tip of the needle material as a reference. However, the suture needle for medical use is extremely fine, and the surface is polished to be substantially mirror-finished. Therefore, slippage may occur between the winding roll and the needle material, and the length of the straight portion may not be uniform.
In addition, when inserting the needle material between the winding roll and the belt, there is a possibility that the individuality of the worker is reflected, and thus the length of the straight portion may not be uniform. Further, the entire length of the needle material is cut with a predetermined dimensional tolerance with respect to the length of the target needle, and this dimensional tolerance may be concentrated on the straight line portion, and the length of the straight line portion may not be uniform. .

In this way, when the reference point for bending the needle material is set on the tip side of the needle material, a processing error that occurs when performing the bending processing, or a processing error that occurs in the needle material, etc. It is concentrated on the side, and it is difficult to maintain the length of the straight portion at an accurate dimension.

On the other hand, in the bending method according to the present invention, since the bending process is performed with the base end of the needle material as a reference, the influence of the processing error during the bending process or the processing error of the needle material is influenced by the tip side of the needle material. Therefore, it is possible to form a straight portion having an accurate length on the base end side.

Next, an example of the bending apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view of a bending apparatus according to the present invention.

In the figure, 3 is a take-up roll, which is a forward rotation (clockwise rotation in the figure) or a reverse rotation (in the figure) by a drive motor such as a pulse motor, a servo motor, or a motor with a timer (not shown). Counterclockwise rotation) driven.

Reference numeral 4 denotes an auxiliary press roll, which is driven by a drive motor (not shown) in the same direction as the rotation direction of the winding roll 3 and at a surface speed substantially equal to the surface speed of the winding roll 3. The driving force for the auxiliary press roll 4 may be configured to be transmitted from the drive motor of the winding roll 3 via a transmission mechanism such as a gear, and is arranged between the winding roll 3 and the auxiliary press roll 4. Belt 5
It may be configured to follow the rotation of the winding roll 3 by the contact friction with the.

The auxiliary press roll 4 is configured to be urged toward the winding roll 3 by an urging unit (not shown), and can be kept at a constant distance from the winding roll 3 by a holding unit (not shown). It has a function of pressing the body portion of the needle material 6 into a flat shape when performing the bending process on the.

A belt 5 made of metal or synthetic resin is disposed between the winding roll 3 and the auxiliary press roll 4. The belt 5 includes a winding roll 3 and an auxiliary press roll 4
The needle material 6 is wound around the surface of the winding roll 3 in a predetermined angle range from the contact point with the needle material 6 in the winding direction (left side in the drawing). When the needle material 6 is bent, the roll 3 is wound by the winding roll 3.
Is transferred in the same direction as the rotation direction of.

When the belt 5 is bent, the belt 5 is deformed by the needle 6. For this reason, the belt 5 is formed in a long shape, and the new belt 5 can be gradually supplied as the needle material 6 is bent. That is, the unused belt 5 is wound around the pulley 5a, and the used belt 5 is wound around the pulley 5b driven by a driving unit (not shown).

Reference numeral 6 is a bending needle material, which is formed into a straight needle shape in which a sharp needle tip is previously formed on the tip side by grinding or polishing and a thread hole is formed on the base end 6a side. . Then, the needle material 6 is inserted between the winding roll 3 and the belt 5 from the front end side, and is bent along with the clockwise rotation of the winding roll 3.

Reference numeral 7 is a projection optical fiber, and 8 is a light receiving fiber. These fibers 7 and 8 have a contact point between the winding roll 3, the belt 5 and the auxiliary press roll 4 as a base point, and are longer than the length of a straight line portion to be formed on the base end 6a side of the needle material 6 from the base point. The needle material 6 is arranged at a predetermined position within the entire length of the needle material 6 or less, and serves as a reference point when performing bending.

The fibers 7, 8 detect the base end 6a of the needle material 6 and generate a signal, and in response to this signal, a predetermined operation sequence of the drive motor of the winding roll 3, that is, the winding roll 3 and the belt 3 According to the difference between the contact position with the fiber 5, the separation distance between the fibers 7 and 8, and the length of the straight part to be formed on the proximal end side of the needle material 6, the needle member 6 is rotated in the winding direction, and when the rotation is completed, the winding is performed. The roll 3 is stopped and the winding roll 3 is further rotated in the reverse direction.

An operation for bending the needle material 6 by using the bending apparatus configured as described above will be described.

First, the front end side of the straight needle-shaped needle material 6 is inserted between the winding roll 3 and the belt 5. At this time, the base end 6a is located on the right side of the fibers with respect to the fibers 7, 8. When the winding roll 3 is rotated clockwise, the needle material 6 is sandwiched between the winding roll 3 and the belt 5 and wound up. With the rotation of the winding roll 3, the base end 6a advances to the left side in the drawing. When the original end 6a reaches the fibers 7 and 8, the original ends 6a are sensed by the fibers 7 and 8 and a signal is generated. This signal is transmitted to a control unit (not shown) to activate a predetermined work sequence. This operation sequence controls the rotation, stop, rotation direction, and rotation angle of the winding roll 3, and the needle material 6 is separated from the contact position between the winding roll 3 and the belt 5 and the separation distance between the fibers 7 and 8. An operation of rotating and stopping the winding roll 3 in the winding direction in accordance with a difference obtained by subtracting the length of the straight portion to be formed on the end 6a side, and after stopping the winding direction 3, winding the winding roll 3 and the winding roll 3 together. The operation is to rotate in the opposite direction. Thereby, by bending the tip end side of the needle material 6 and leaving the unprocessed portion on the base end 6a side, it is possible to form a linear portion of a predetermined length on the base end 6a side. Becomes Then, when the driving is completed, the winding roll 3 is stopped, and then the winding roll 3 is driven counterclockwise to take out the needle material 6.

In FIG. 2, a lever bar 9 is provided instead of the fibers 7 and 8. The lever bar 9 is biased counterclockwise by a spring (not shown). The distance between the tip of the lever 9 and the contact position of the winding roll 3 and the belt 5 is within the range of the length of the straight portion to be formed on the base end 6a side of the needle material 6 and the total length of the needle material 6 or less. Is set to.

In this case, when the lever bar 6 is brought into contact with the needle material 6 and the needle material 6 is pushed by the needle pressing tool 11 and the needle pressing tool 11 retracts, only the needle material 6 is wound into the winding roll 3 and moves forward. To
It is possible to mechanically detect the movement of the lever 9 that is off the base end 6a of the needle member 6 and swings by a sensor such as a microswitch. Further, when the needle material 6 is supplied between the winding roll 3 and the belt 5, the needle pressing tool 11 is configured to follow the needle material 6 even after being wound.
It is also possible to indirectly sense the base end 6a of the needle material 6 by sensing the position of the. According to the detection of the needle pressing tool, it is possible to detect the passing time point of the winding roll 3 in the vicinity thereof, and it is possible to increase the accuracy.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a curved front suture needle 1d in which about half of the entire length from the tip end is bent, and the remaining portion is formed into a linear shape. The suturing needle 1d needs to stop bending at a substantially central portion of a straight needle-shaped needle material. Therefore, the bending process may be performed by the processing method according to the present invention, or the bending process may be performed with the tip as a reference.

<Effect of the Invention> As described in detail above, according to the method for bending a suturing needle according to the present invention, the base end of the needle material wound on the winding roll is based on the contact position between the winding roll and the belt. Then, it is sensed that a reference point set at a predetermined position within a range not less than the length of the straight portion to be formed on the base end side of the needle material from the base point and not more than the total length of the needle material is passed, and Since the rotation of the winding roll is controlled, it is possible to form a straight portion having an accurate length on the base end side of the needle material. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a suture needle that does not deform the thread hole formed at the proximal end of the needle material and can easily perform the operation of inserting the suture thread into the thread hole.

Further, according to the bending apparatus of the present invention, the above-described bending method can be optimally implemented, and therefore, a straight portion having an accurate dimension can be formed on the base end side of the needle material. Is to have.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view of a bending apparatus, FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory view of a bending apparatus according to another embodiment, FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a curved front suture needle, and FIG. 4 is a curved suture needle. FIG. 1, 1d are suture needles, 2 are thread holes, 3 are winding rolls, 4
Is an auxiliary press roll, 5 is a belt, 6 is a needle material, 6a is a base end, 7 and 8 are fibers, 9 is a lever, and 11 is a needle pressing tool.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A straight needle-shaped needle material is wound from the tip side between a winding roll capable of forward and reverse rotation and a belt which is in contact with the winding roll and is conveyed in accordance with the rotation of the winding roll. It is a processing method for bending into an arc shape and forming a linear portion of a predetermined length on the base end side of the needle material, which is formed on the base end side of the needle material with the contact position between the winding roll and the belt as a base point. Set the reference point within the range of the length of the straight part to be formed and less than the total length of the needle material, insert the tip of the needle material between the winding roll and the belt, and wind the needle material in the winding direction. Detecting that the base end of the entrained needle material has passed the reference point, and from this point on, it corresponds to the difference between the distance between the base point and the reference point minus the length of the straight portion to be formed on the needle material. Then, rotate the winding roll in the winding direction and stop it. Bend method of suturing needle is characterized by taking out from between the rolls rolling the the direction winding the winding roll opposite direction is rotated bent needles member and the belt. 2. A bending device for forming a straight portion of a predetermined length on the base end side of a straight needle-shaped needle material, the winding roll being capable of forward and reverse rotation, and a part of the outer circumference of the winding roll. A belt that is in contact with the belt and is transported with the rotation of the winding roll, and a range that is greater than or equal to the length of the straight portion to be formed on the needle material from the contact position between the winding roll and the belt and less than or equal to the total length of the needle material. And a sensor for detecting the leading end of the needle material wound between the winding roll and the belt,
The tip of the needle material inserted between the winding roll and the belt is wound in the winding direction, and the separation distance between the sensor and the contact position between the winding roll and the belt from the time when the sensor detects the base end of the needle material. A control mechanism that controls the winding roll to rotate and stop in the winding direction in accordance with the difference obtained by subtracting the length of the straight portion to be formed on the needle material, and then to rotate the winding roll in the opposite direction to the winding direction. And a suture needle bending apparatus.