Suture needle retention device

Abstract

An improved suture needle retention device suitably adapted to be removably attached to the end of a surgical instrument for convenient placement proximate to the surgical field yet out of the way of the surgeon, said device having a needle pervious retention member to accept the sharp end of a suture needle, with said retention member encased by a needle impervious protective sheathing to prevent inadvertent pass-through of the suture needle.

1 . A suture needle retention device comprising
 a retention member,
 said retention member being needle pervious, 
 said retention member suitably adapted to be pierced by a suture needle such that a portion of the suture needle is embedded within said retention member, 
 said retention member suitably adapted to retain an embedded suture needle securely, and 
 said retention member suitably adapted to release an embedded suture needle when a sufficient extraction force is applied to the suture needle; 
   a protective sheathing,
 said protective sheathing being needle impervious, 
 said protective sheathing being substantially hollow, 
 said protective sheathing having an interior, 
 said protective sheathing having an open end providing access into the interior, 
 said protective sheathing having a closed end substantially opposite the open end, and 
 said protective sheathing suitably adapted to contain at least a portion of the retention member within its interior while exposing another portion of the retention member, whereby the retention member is at least partially contained within the protective sheathing; and 
   an attachment component,
 said attachment component being integrated with the protective sheathing, and 
 said attachment component being suitably adapted to removably attach the suture needle retention device to a surgical instrument without the use of adhesives. 
   
     
     
         2 . The suture needle retention device of  claim 1  wherein the retention member is comprised of a resilient closed-cell foam having negligible friability. 
     
     
         3 . The suture needle retention device of  claim 1  wherein
 the attachment component comprises a slot,
 said slot formed into the protective sheathing proximate to the closed end of the protective sheathing and providing access into the interior of the protective sheathing, 
 said slot having a length, said length of said bottom slot oriented substantially parallel with the closed end of the protective sheathing, and 
 said slot suitably adapted to accommodate an end of the surgical instrument such that the end of the surgical instrument is inserted through the slot into the interior of the protective sheathing; 
 
 whereby the surgical instrument protrudes through the bottom slot of the protective sheathing with the end of the surgical instrument located within the interior of the protective sheathing. 
 
     
     
         4 . A suture needle retention device comprising
 a retention member,
 said retention member being needle pervious, 
 said retention member suitably adapted to be pierced by a suture needle such that a portion of the suture needle is embedded within said retention member, 
 said retention member suitably adapted to retain an embedded suture needle securely, and 
 said retention member suitably adapted to release an embedded suture needle when a sufficient extraction force is applied to the suture needle; 
   a protective sheathing
 said protective sheathing being needle impervious, 
 said protective sheathing being substantially hollow and having an interior and an interior surface, 
 said protective sheathing having an open end providing access into the interior, 
 said protective sheathing having a closed end that is substantially planar, and located substantially opposite the open end, 
 said protective sheathing having a top side and a bottom side, and 
 said protective sheathing suitably adapted to contain at least a portion of the retention member within its interior while exposing another portion of the retention member, whereby the retention member is at least partially contained within the protective sheathing; and 
   an attachment component, said attachment component comprising
 a bottom slot,
 said bottom slot formed into the bottom side of the protective sheathing proximate to the closed end of the protective sheathing and providing access into the interior of the protective sheathing, 
 said bottom slot having a width and a length, said length of said bottom slot oriented substantially parallel with the closed end of the protective sheathing, and 
 said bottom slot being suitably adapted to accommodate an end of the surgical instrument such that the end of the surgical instrument is inserted through the bottom slot into the interior of the protective sheathing, and 
 
 a top slot,
 said top slot formed into the top side of the protective sheathing proximate to the closed end of the protective sheathing and providing access into the interior of the protective sheathing, 
 said top slot having a width and a length, said width of the top slot being less than the width of the bottom slot, 
 said top slot oriented substantially in alignment with the bottom slot, 
 said top slot being suitably adapted to accommodate the end of the surgical instrument such that the end of the surgical instrument is inserted through the top slot from the interior of the protective sheathing, 
 said attachment component being integrated with the protective sheathing, and 
 said attachment component being suitably adapted to removably attach the suture needle retention device to a surgical instrument without the use of adhesives; 
 
   whereby the surgical instrument protrudes through the bottom and top slots of the protective sheathing with the end of the surgical instrument protruding from the top slot.   
     
     
         5 . The suture needle retention device of  claim 4  wherein the retention member is comprised of a resilient closed-cell foam having negligible friability. 
     
     
         6 . The suture needle retention device of  claim 4  wherein the protective sheathing further comprises a retention lip,
 said retention lip located circumferentially about the open end of the protective sheathing, and 
 said retention lip suitably adapted to retain the retention member within the interior of the protective sheathing. 
 
     
     
         7 . The suture needle retention device of  claim 4  wherein the entire retention member is inserted into the interior of the protective sheathing through the open end of the protective sheathing. 
     
     
         8 . The suture needle retention device of  claim 7  wherein the protective sheathing further comprises a retention lip,
 said retention lip located circumferentially about the open end of the protective sheathing, and 
 said retention lip suitably adapted to retain the retention member within the interior of the protective sheathing. 
 
     
     
         9 . The suture needle retention device of  claim 7  wherein the protective sheathing further comprises a plurality of engagement barbs,
 said engagement barbs located within the interior of the protective sheathing on the interior surface of the protective sheathing, 
 with each said engagement barb protruding into the interior of the protective sheathing from the interior surface of the protective sheathing and oriented towards the closed end of the protective sheathing; 
 whereby the engagement barbs are suitably adapted to hold the retention member securely within the interior of the protective sheathing. 
 
     
     
         10 . The suture needle retention device of  claim 9  wherein the protective sheathing further comprises a retention lip,
 said retention lip located circumferentially about the open end of the protective sheathing, and 
 said retention lip suitably adapted to retain the retention member within the interior of the protective sheathing. 
 
     
     
         11 . A suture needle retention device comprising
 a retention member,
 said retention member being needle pervious, 
 said retention member suitably adapted to be pierced by a suture needle such that a portion of the suture needle is embedded within said retention member, 
 said retention member suitably adapted to retain an embedded suture needle securely, and 
 said retention member suitably adapted to release an embedded suture needle when a sufficient extraction force is applied to the suture needle; 
   a protective sheathing
 said protective sheathing being needle impervious, 
 said protective sheathing being substantially hollow and having an interior and an interior surface, 
 said protective sheathing having an open end providing access into the interior, 
 said protective sheathing having a closed end that is substantially planar, and located substantially opposite the open end, 
 said protective sheathing having a top side and a bottom side, 
 said protective sheathing suitably adapted to contain at least a portion of the retention member within its interior while exposing another portion of the retention member, whereby the retention member is at least partially contained within the protective sheathing, and 
 said protective sheathing having a plurality of engagement barbs,
 said engagement barbs located within the interior of the protective sheathing on the interior surface of the protective sheathing, with each said engagement barb protruding into the interior of the protective sheathing from the interior surface of the protective sheathing and oriented towards the closed end of the protective sheathing, 
 whereby the engagement barbs are suitably adapted to hold at least a portion of the retention member securely within the interior of the protective sheathing; and 
 
   an attachment component, said attachment component comprising
 a bottom slot,
 said bottom slot formed into the bottom side of the protective sheathing proximate to the closed end of the protective sheathing and providing access into the interior of the protective sheathing, 
 said bottom slot having a width and a length, said length of said bottom slot oriented substantially parallel with the closed end of the protective sheathing, and 
 said bottom slot being suitably adapted to accommodate an end of the surgical instrument such that the end of the surgical instrument is inserted through the bottom slot into the interior of the protective sheathing, and 
 
 a top slot,
 said top slot formed into the top side of the protective sheathing proximate to the closed end of the protective sheathing and providing access into the interior of the protective sheathing, 
 said top slot having a width and a length, said width of the top slot being less than the width of the bottom slot, 
 said top slot oriented substantially in alignment with the bottom slot, 
 said top slot being suitably adapted to accommodate the end of the surgical instrument such that the end of the surgical instrument is inserted through the top slot from the interior of the protective sheathing, 
 said attachment component being integrated with the protective sheathing, and 
 said attachment component being suitably adapted to removably attach the suture needle retention device to a surgical instrument without the use of adhesives; 
 
   whereby the surgical instrument protrudes through the bottom and top slots of the protective sheathing with the end of the surgical instrument protruding from the top slot.   
     
     
         12 . The suture needle retention device of  claim 11  wherein the retention member is comprised of a resilient closed-cell foam having negligible friability. 
     
     
         13 . The suture needle retention device of  claim 11  wherein the protective sheathing further comprises a retention lip,
 said retention lip located circumferentially about the open end of the protective sheathing, and 
 said retention lip suitably adapted to retain the retention member within the interior of the protective sheathing.