# US 9,433,408 B2 · Systems and methods for increased operating room efficiency > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,433,408 B2 - Document ID: US9433408B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/795,587 - Filed: 2015-07-09 - Published: 2015-11-12 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-04-25 - Assignees: Sharp Fluidics, LLC - Applicants: Sharp Fluidics, LLC - Inventors: Josef E. Gorek; Kenneth B. Trauner; Douglas G. Rimer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9433408B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/06161: {Devices for removing or collecting used needles or sutures (A61B17/0467 takes precedence; for sharps A61B50/362)} - 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 17/0469: {Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery} - 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)} - 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 42/00: Surgical gloves; Finger-stalls specially adapted for surgery; Devices for handling or treatment thereof - A61B 46/00: Surgical drapes - A61B 46/23: with means to retain or hold surgical implements - 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} - A61B 90/53: connected to the surgeon's body, e.g. by a belt - A61B 90/70: Cleaning devices specially adapted for surgical instruments - B65D 25/54: Inspection openings or windows - B65D 83/02: for dispensing rod-shaped articles, e.g. needles - A45F 5/1575: {Holders or carriers for portable tools} - A45F 2005/008: {Hand articles fastened to the wrist or to the arm or to the leg} - A61B 50/3001: {for sharps} - A61B 90/50: Supports for surgical instruments, e.g. articulated arms - A61B 90/92: coded with colour - A61B 90/96: using barcodes - A61B 90/98: using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders - A61B 2017/00442: {connectable to wrist or forearm} - A61B 2017/00477: {Coupling (A61B2017/0046 takes precedence)} - A61B 2017/00876: {magnetic} - A61B 2017/00902: {transparent or translucent} - A61B 2017/06142: {having needle- or suture- retaining members, e.g. holding tabs or needle parks} - A61B 2017/06147: {Foam blocks, e.g. slitted} - A61B 2050/3002: {including foam blocks for retaining sharps} - A61B 2050/3015: {transparent} - A61B 2090/0804: {Counting number of instruments used; Instrument detectors} - A61B 2090/0805: {automatically, e.g. by means of magnetic, optical or photoelectric detectors} - A61B 2090/0807: {Indication means} - A61B 2090/0811: {for the position of a particular part of an instrument with respect to the rest of the instrument, e.g. position of the anvil of a stapling instrument} - A61B 2090/571: {for clamping a support arm to a bed or other supports} - A61F 2002/3071: {Identification means; Administration of patients} - Y10T 29/49828: Progressively advancing of work assembly station or assembled portion of work - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A45F: TRAVELLING OR CAMP EQUIPMENT: SACKS OR PACKS CARRIED ON THE BODY - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## 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 An apparatus for storing a plurality of suture needles, the apparatus comprising: an upper structure and a lower structure coupled together to form a needle slot therebetween, the needle slot having an opening to receive the plurality of suture needles, the upper structure comprising a needle driver slot to advance the plurality of suture needles along the needle slot, wherein the needle slot is shaped to receive each of the plurality of suture needles through the opening and along an array within the needle slot with both ends of each suture needle of the array immobilized between the upper structure and the lower structure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is arranged to place said each of the plurality of suture needles through the opening and along the array with a tip of said each suture needle oriented away from a surgeon. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of suture needles comprise a plurality of curved suture needles and the needle slot and the needle driver slot are arranged to place said each of the plurality of suture needles through the opening and along the array with each end of said each suture needle oriented away from a surgeon. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to remain within a near surgical field. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the near surgical field is bounded by a length extending from a front side of a torso of the surgeon to an incision, a width extending between forearms of the surgeon in a neutral rotation position and a height extending vertically from a height of the incision to shoulders of the surgeon. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the needle slot and the needle driver slot are arranged for a surgeon to place the plurality of suture needles through the opening and along the array within the needle slot without an external rotation of an arm of the surgeon. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the needle slot and the needle driver slot are arranged for a surgeon to place said each of the plurality of suture needles through the opening and along an array within the needle slot with one hand. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the needle driver slot intersects the needle slot to view said each suture needle of the array through the needle driver slot. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper structure comprises a transparent material to view said each suture needle of the array within the needle slot is visible through the upper structure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A system for handling suture needles, the system comprising: the apparatus of claim 1; and a support configured to support the apparatus, wherein the apparatus is configured to couple to the support in order to stably support the apparatus on the support and to inhibit the apparatus from sliding or falling from the support when the support is inverted or inclined and wherein the support is configured to release the apparatus. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the support comprises a movable support configured to be controlled by a surgeon. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the support comprises a platform configured to be supported by a surgeon. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the platform comprises a coupling configured to couple the platform to a limb of the surgeon. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the coupling comprises one or more legs that extend from sides of the platform, the legs configured to engage the limb of the surgeon. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the coupling comprises slap bracelets. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the coupling is configured to couple the platform to a forearm of the surgeon and wherein platform is configured to be placed over a volar portion of the forearm of the surgeon. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the platform comprises a barrier configured to protect the surgeon from contact with one or more ends of a suture needle. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the barrier comprises a malleable material configured to deform to curve around the limb. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the barrier comprises a plurality of grooves extending in a parallel to a length of the limb. ### Claim 20 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, further comprising a cutter arranged with the support in order to cut a suture of the plurality of suture needles with one hand. ### Claim 21 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, further comprising one or more suture packages mounted on the support, the one or more suture packages configured to dispense the plurality of suture needles. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the apparatus, the one or more suture packages, and the support are sterile. ### Claim 23 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, further comprising a tool holder mounted on the support for holding a needle driver. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the needle slot is shaped to receive the plurality of suture needles and constrain the plurality of suture needles along a single needle depth array. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the needle slot is shaped to receive the plurality of suture needles arranged along a parallel array. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more members to apply side loading to said both ends of each of suture needle of the array to prevent unintentional removal or dislodging of the plurality of suture needles. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises one or more members located between the upper structure and the lower structure, the one or more members configured to apply a side load to said each suture needle of the array within the needle slot. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the needle slot is configured to prevent unintentional removal or dislodging of the plurality of suture needles arranged along the array within the needle slot. ### Claim 29 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the needle slot is configured to apply side loading to said each needle of the array to prevent unintentional removal or dislodging of the plurality of suture needles arranged along the array within the needle slot. ### Claim 30 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of protrusions located within the slot to resist movement of the needles.