# US 10,478,177 B2 · Systems and methods for increased operating room efficiency

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- Number: US 10,478,177 B2
- Document ID: US10478177B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/167,369
- Filed: 2018-10-22
- Published: 2019-02-21
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2015-10-29
- Assignees: Sharp Fluidics, LLC
- Applicants: Sharp Fluidics LLC
- Inventors: Josef E. Gorek; Kenneth B. Trauner; Douglas G. Rimer
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10478177B2

## CPC

- A61B 17/06061: {Holders for needles or sutures, e.g. racks, stands (hand-held holding instruments A61B17/0483; holders for articles A61B50/20; racks for syringes or for hypodermic or infusion needles A61M5/008)}
- A44C 5/00: Bracelets; Wrist-watch straps; Fastenings for bracelets or wrist-watch straps {(settings for holding gems or the like A44C17/02; devices for putting-on or pulling-off bracelets A47G25/901)}
- A45C 11/00: Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00 (specially adapted for toiletry or cosmetic equipment A45D29/20, A45D44/18; travelling sewing kits A45F3/48)
- A45F 5/00: Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping
- A61B 17/0467: {Instruments for cutting sutures (surgical cutting instruments A61B17/32)}
- A61B 17/0491: {Sewing machines for surgery}
- A61B 17/06004: {Means for attaching suture to needle (tipping A61B17/06195)}
- A61B 17/06066: {Needles, e.g. needle tip configurations}
- A61B 17/06114: {Packages or dispensers for needles or sutures (packages for sharps A61B50/3001; for dental floss A61C15/043; packages for needles in general B65D85/24)}
- A61B 17/06133: {of parallelepipedal shape, e.g. made of rectangular or slightly oval panels}
- A61B 17/06161: {Devices for removing or collecting used needles or sutures (A61B17/0467 takes precedence; for sharps A61B50/362)}
- A61B 17/32: Surgical cutting instruments ({A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467;} implements for ligaturing and cutting {A61B17/122, A61B17/12; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133})
- A61B 42/10: Surgical gloves
- A61B 46/00: Surgical drapes
- A61B 50/20: Holders specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments (drapes with means to hold surgical instruments A61B46/23; for catheters A61M25/02)
- A61B 50/362: {for sharps}
- A45C 2011/007: {Receptacles for personal medical or care products, e.g. drugs, condoms or patches; Small first-aid kits}
- A45F 2005/008: {Hand articles fastened to the wrist or to the arm or to the leg}
- A61B 17/0469: {Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery}
- A61B 17/3201: Scissors (for biopsy A61B10/02)
- A61B 34/20: Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
- A61B 90/98: using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
- A61B 2017/00442: {connectable to wrist or forearm}
- A61B 2017/00862: {elastic or resilient}
- A61B 2017/00889: {antimicrobial, disinfectant}
- A61B 2017/00907: {for light}
- A61B 2017/06142: {having needle- or suture- retaining members, e.g. holding tabs or needle parks}
- A61B 2017/305: {Tweezer like handles with tubular extensions, inner slidable actuating members and distal tools, e.g. microsurgical instruments}
- A61B 2034/2055: {Optical tracking systems}
- A61B 2050/21: {Magnetic holders}
- A61B 2090/0807: {Indication means}
- A61B 2090/0808: {for indicating correct assembly of components, e.g. of the surgical apparatus}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A44C: PERSONAL ADORNMENTS, e.g. JEWELLERY; COINS
- A45C: PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
- A45F: TRAVELLING OR CAMP EQUIPMENT: SACKS OR PACKS CARRIED ON THE BODY

## Abstract

Systems, devices and methods to improve safety and efficiency in an operating room comprise providing a suture package that holds new suture needles and needle receptacles for storing used needles. The devices can be safely worn for the surgeon to self-dispense new suture needles in the near surgical field and to secure the used needles into a needle trap or a needle retainer located on his extremity, on his operative instruments or on the surgical drapes. The device may provide automated and/or simplified needle counting both during use and after removal from the surgical field. The device may be configured for ergonomic and efficient use so as to minimize the actions and motions of the surgeon to dispense and secure the needle.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A needle receptacle comprising:
a housing comprising a lower structure and an upper structure,
wherein the upper structure comprises an optically transmissive material and the lower structure comprises an optically transmissive material in order to view needles within a secure zone of the receptacle with backlight illumination,
wherein the upper structure has a longitudinal slot to receive a needle driver, and
wherein the secure zone comprises an elongate needle slot to receive a plurality of needles, the elongate needle slot extending between the upper structure and the lower structure, and wherein needles in the needle slot can be viewed through the upper structure with the backlight illumination through the lower structure.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The needle receptacle of claim 1, wherein the upper structure comprises a transparent material to view the needles and the lower structure comprises a translucent material to pass backlight illumination light to the needles.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The needle receptacle of claim 1, further comprising a slot through the upper structure in order to view needles within a secure zone of the receptacle.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The needle receptacle as in claim 1, wherein the longitudinal needle driver slot comprises a through and through slot, in which the slot extends though both sides of the receptacle.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The needle receptacle as in claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a light guide, and wherein the needle receptacle is coupled to a light source configured to transmit light to the light guide to provide backlighting.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The needle receptacle as claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a light scattering material or surface to provide for non-uniform light transmission therethrough.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The needle receptacle as in claim 6, wherein the light scattering surface comprises a surface of the lower or upper structure.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The needle receptacle as in claim 6, wherein the light scattering surface comprises a roughened surface.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The needle receptacle as in claim 6, wherein the light scattering surface comprises a sandblasted surface.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The needle receptacle as in claim 1, wherein a portion of a needle body is visible through the needle driver slot.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The needle receptacle as in claim 1, wherein the lower structure provides nonuniform light transmission therethrough.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The needle receptacle as in claim 1, wherein the lower structure comprises a light scattering material selected from the group consisting of a translucent material, a diffuse material, a rough material, and light scattering particles.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The needle receptacle as in claim 1, wherein the lower structure is semi opaque.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The needle receptacle as in claim 1, wherein the lower structure is opaque.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The needle receptacle as in claim 1, configured to non-uniformly transmit light.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The needle receptacle as in claim 1, configured to non-uniformly transmit backlight illumination.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The needle receptacle as in claim 1, configured to diffuse light from backlight illumination in order to provide more uniform backlight illumination of suture needles.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The needle receptacle as in claim 1, wherein the lower structure is dyed.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The needle receptacle as in claim 1, wherein the lower structure is colored.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The needle receptacle as in claim 1, wherein the lower structure provides includes a roughened surface for non-uniform light transmission therethrough.