Surgical needle, production method thereof, and needle holder

• US 5,902,320 A
• Filed: 09/05/1997
• Issued: 05/11/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MANI Incorporated
• Original Assignee: MANI Incorporated
• Inventors: Saito, Akira, Sato, Katsutoshi, Fukuda, Masatoshi, Matsutani, Kanji
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Application Number:
  US08/924,659
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 606/222-224, 606/147, 163/5
• US Class Current: 606/222
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06004 Means for attaching suture to needle tipping A61B17/06195; connecting wire to other metallic objects B21F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06066 Needles, e.g. needle tip configurations making needles B21G1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/062 Needle manipulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0625 the needle being specially adapted to interact with the manipulator, e.g. being ridged to snap fit in a hole of the manipulator A61B17/06109 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06019 by means of a suture-receiving lateral eyelet machined in the needle lateral opening for attaching suture to suture anchor A61B2017/0414
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06028 by means of a cylindrical longitudinal blind bore machined at the suture-receiving end of the needle, e.g. opposite to needle tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06047 located at the middle of the needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06085 having a blunt tip blunt dissectors A61B2017/320044

Abstract

The present invention provides a surgical needle having a needle tip end and a clamping portion to be clamped by a needle holder for applying a current, wherein

the needle tip end is made from a conductive material which is electrically connected to a conductive material of the clamping portion,

an insulating layer is provided over the clamping portion and a tip surrounding portion of the surgical needle, whereas at least the needle tip end is electrically exposed, and

when the insulating material over the clamping portion is clamped by the needle holder, the conductive material of the clamping portion is electrically connected to the needle holder.

Claims

1. A surgical needle comprising a needle tip end and a clamping portion to be clamped by a needle holder for applying a current, said surgical needle having

a conductive material provided at said needle tip end and a conductive material provided in said clamping portion which is electrically connected to the conductive material of said needle tip end, wherein

an insulating material is provided over said clamping portion and a tip surrounding portion of said surgical needle, and said conductive material of said clamping portion is electrically connected to said needle holder when said insulating material over said clamping portion is clamped by said needle holder.

2. A surgical needle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said needle tip end has a blunt shape so as not to pierce into a tissue of an organ.

3. A surgical needle as claimed in claim 2, wherein said needle tip end has a surface of a cross section which orthogonally intersects the longitudinal direction of said surgical needle.

4. A surgical needle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conductive material of said needle tip end and the conductive material of said clamping portion are constructed as a unitary metal wire in one body.

5. A surgical needle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said insulating material is formed from a synthetic resin.

6. A surgical needle as claimed in claim 5, wherein said insulating material is formed from an elastic resin which has a restoration force to close a hole made in the said insulating material.

7. A surgical needle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said insulating material is formed from an inorganic material such as ceramics.

8. A surgical needle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said insulating material is colored in a different color according to a type of surgical needle.

9. A method for producing a surgical needle having a needle tip end which is electrically exposed and a clamping portion a conductive material of which is electrically connected to a needle holder, when said clamping portion is clamped by said needle holder for applying a current, said method comprising:

a first step of covering a surface of said surgical needle at least including the needle tip end with an insulating material; and

a second step of removing said insulating material at least from said needle tip end so as to be electrically exposed.

10. A method for producing a surgical needle as claimed in claim 9, wherein said second step is realized by cutting off a predetermined portion of said needle tip end with a plane which orthogonally intersects in the longitudinal direction of said surgical needle.

11. A method for producing a surgical needle as claimed in claim 10, wherein said needle tip end is formed into a tapered shape so that an electrically exposed area can be adjusted by changing a cutting position.

12. A needle holder for manipulating a surgical needle having a needle tip end which is electrically connected to a clamping portion to be clamped by said needle holder and covered by an insulating material excluding at least said needle tip end, wherein

electrically conductive protrusions are formed in a portion of said needle holder which has a surface formed by an insulating material excluding said protrusions, and said protrusions are electrically connected to a power source for applying a current, so that when said surgical needle is clamped by said needle holder, said protrusions pierce through an insulating material of said clamping portion reaching a conductive material of said clamping portion so as to establish an electrical connection.