US 12,138,679 B2Granted

Bending tools and methods of use thereof

AssigneesSmith & Nephew, Inc., Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics AG, Smith & Nephew Asia Pacific Pte. Limited

InventorsRick Fu, Matthew D. Cunningham, Allison Marie Stauffer, Geoffrey Ian Karasic, Belin Mirabile, Han Teik Yeoh, Fabiano Paiva-Filho

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A single-patient-use disposable tool comprises a molded, single-piece body with a curved upper surface having a predetermined bend radius for bending a needle slidably disposed in a sheath. A distal end of the curved surface has a slot for insertion of a tip of a needle, while the proximal end of the curved surface has a guide member for slidably receiving the sheath. Two finger loops or similar ergonomic features allow the user to rotate the bending tool relative to the sheath to bend the needle about the predetermined bend radius. After completing the bend, the tool is removed from the needle and disposed of.

Claims7

Dependent claims

A bending tool for a needle having a shaft and a tip, the bending tool comprising:

a substantially flat body having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween;
a first slot extending along a length of the body, a proximal end of the first slot having a first curved surface extending at an angle from the longitudinal axis, a distal end of the first slot configured to receive a tip of a needle to bend the tip of the needle along the first curved surface;
a second slot separate and apart from the first slot, the second slot extending across a width of the body, the second slot including a second curved surface extending at an angle from the longitudinal axis, the second slot configured to receive a shaft of the needle to bend the shaft along the second curved surface.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/552,547Filed 16 Dec 2021 · continuation in part
Priority: 18 Jun 2019
Published: US 2022/0161306 A126 May 2022
Granted: 12 Nov 2024
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

A61B 17/3478
Trocars; Puncturing needles: endoscopic needles, e.g. for infusion
B21D 9/125
By pushing over a curved mandrel; by pushing through a curved die: by pushing through a curved die
A61B 17/06066
Needles ; Sutures; Needle-suture combinations; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials: needles, e.g. needle tip configurations
A61B 17/06109
Needles, e.g. needle tip configurations: big needles, either gripped by hand or connectable to a handle