Abstract:
A suture organizer to maintain a plurality of sutures attached to a patient during a surgical procedure or operation in position relative to each other during the surgical procedure or operation comprising a hemostat retainer including a hemostat retainer member having a plurality of grooves formed in the surface thereof to receive and retain the finger hole or thumb hole of a corresponding hemostat connected to a corresponding suture and a clasp including a pair of clasp members to cooperatively clamp a surgical drape or the like therebetween to hold the suture organizer in position during the surgical procedure or operation.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    A suture organizer to maintain a plurality of sutures attached to a patient during a surgical procedure or operation in position relative to each other during the surgical procedure of operation. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Many types of surgery require the use of multiple sutures to pull severed muscles, nerves and tendons away from the surgery site. For example, during heart surgery multiple sutures are used to repair the mitral and aortic valves. If the sutures are not properly organized, the sutures can become entangled and complicate the surgeon&#39;s job. To aid the surgeon, many suture organizers have been developed, the most common of which is known as the Gabbay-Frater organizer. These heart surgery suture organizers are specific to heart surgery where the patient is supine and motionless. 
         [0005]    In particular, during surgery, a surgeon needs ready and efficient access to sutures. Often the suture handling practice has been considered inefficient, clumsy and wasteful. Often sutures were laid out on towels and passed individually to the surgeon when needed. The sutures became entangled and difficult to separate; the suture supply was sometimes spilled or upset. 
         [0006]    In addition to the Gabbey-Frater organizer, devices that lay out and retain sutures in a neat and organized fashion before the sutures are needed have been developed. These devices enable the surgical scrub nurse to deftly grasp an individual suture and pass it to the surgeon. However, the surgeon typically attaches numerous sutures to the patient before tying or knotting and cutting the individual sutures. The sutures are typically extended away from the surgical field and laid out on the surgical drape, the sutures being somewhat immobilized by a surgical clamp which is secured to the free end of each suture. Some operations such as vascular surgery require numerous fine sutures which can easily soon crowd the surgical field and become entangled before the surgeon can tie them. Untangling the sutures delays completion of the surgery and increases the trauma of the patient. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,692,599 teaches a ligature holder for surgical operations comprising an elongated relatively stiff base strip, an elongated helical spring, anchor elements carried by the base strip at locations on one side thereof spaced apart along the length of the base strip. Opposite ends of the spring are connected to the respective anchor elements and adjustable means associated with the spring for varying the tension thereof and thereby varying the gripping pressure of adjacent coils of the spring on surgical ligatures between the coils. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,515,129 shows a surgical appliance comprising of an elongated channel shaped strip of flexible plastic having overlapping ends provided with registering apertures to receive a connector for positioning the strip into a generally circular form for emplacement as a retractor in an incision. The strip includes coplanar lateral wings on its side edges and lateral fingers disposed between the wings to define suture holding slits with outer rounded ends of the wings serving as guides for the introduction of sutures from the incised area into the slits. The winged sections are severable from the strip and attachable by connectors to wings on the strip to provide mounting feet in the external incision encompassing placement of the suture holding appliance. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,185,636 disclosures a plurality of organizers each formed with an arcuate support member upon which a plurality of suture holding devices are positioned in spaced relationship one to the other. The organizers are disposed proximate an area of a body upon which surgery is to be performed to facilitate speedy and orderly control of interrupted sutures and needles utilized during the surgical procedure. Each holding device includes a pair of spaced wall members and a resilient holding member disposed in compression therebetween in such a manner that sutures can be releasably held between the resilient member and the adjacent wall member surface. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,274,398 relates to a surgical retractor comprising a frame to fit the surface contour of the portion of the body to be operated on and at least one stay including an elastic member and tissue holding means. The frame has a plurality of notches spaced about its periphery and the elastic member of the stay is adapted to be inserted into one of the notches and held in place by friction to retract the tissue. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,492,229 describes a suture guide holder for releasably securing a “Gabbay-Frater” type suture guide in place adjacent a surgical incision held open by a retractor. The holder includes a rigid frame with a central opening for access to the incision area. The frame is adapted to rest directly on the arms of the retractor. It may also be secured to the surgical drapes at the incision site by spring clips extending downwardly from a bottom side of the frame. Upwardly protruding studs receive towel clip holes of the suture guides, securing the guides in position on the frame adjacent the incision. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,703 shows a suture organizer comprises a flat, plate-like member having fingerlike projections extending from an upper surface thereof. A layer of adhesive is provided on a lower surface of the plate-like member in order to adhere to a surgical drape or sheet near the vicinity of a surgical incision. Sutures are received in valleys defined by the projections thereby minimizing entanglement of the sutures after surgical attachment but prior to tying and cutting. 
         [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,303,568 teaches a suture clamp and/or suture retainer and organizer device for use during a surgical procedure including an elongated body formed of resilient material having a plurality of spaced lateral slits through one surface. The slits are individually identified and sized to receive and grip a surgical suture. A tapered pocket is located adjacent to and opens into each slit for receiving and retaining the nose of a hemostat attached to a suture. The device may be attached by adhesive backing or by clamps to a surgical drape or other support surface. 
         [0014]    U.S. 2003/0055439 relates to an apparatus for holding and arranging threads in surgical operations with a flexible structure including a ring form connecting straight linear forms or divided linear forms. V shape ditches are cut on the upper portion. The threads are accurately held and arranged without any tangling with other threads. 
         [0015]    Thus there is a need for a device that will neatly and efficiently organize and retain sutures during surgery. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    The present invention relates to a suture organizer for use during a surgical procedure or operation on a patient protected by surgical drape. 
         [0017]    The suture organizer comprises a hemostat retainer to retain a plurality of hemostats and a clasp to clamp the suture organizer to the surgical drape. 
         [0018]    The hemostat retainer comprises a hemostat retainer member having a plurality of grooves to receive a finger hole or a thumb hole of a hemostat gripping a suture attached to the patient. An enlarged arcuate member is formed on one end portion of the hemostat retainer member, while, a reduced arcuate member is formed on the opposite end portion of the hemostat retainer member. A retainer closure member is pivotally coupled to the reduced arcuate member and biased in a normally closed position to engage and interlock with the enlarged member as described more fully hereinafter. 
         [0019]    The clasp comprises a first clasp member having a first grasping element formed thereon and a second clasp member having a second grasping element pivotally coupled to the reduced arcuate member and biased in a normally closed position such that the first grasping element and the second grasping element grasp or clamp the surgical drape therebetween to attach the suture organizer to the surgical drape. 
         [0020]    Once the surgeon has attached sutures to the patient, each suture with the corresponding surgical clamp or hemostat secured thereto is extended away from the surgical field. With the retainer closure member held open against the force of the bias or spring, the surgical clamps or hemostats are positioned on the hemostat retainer member with the finger hole or thumb hole placed into a corresponding groove. Once so positioned, the retainer closure member is released allowing the force of the bias or spring to close the retainer closure member. 
         [0021]    The suture organizer is attached or secured to the surgical drape by separating the first grasping element and the second clasping element against the force of the bias. When the clasp is open, a portion of the surgical drape is placed in the opening between the first grasping element and the second clasping element. The gias then closes the second clasp member such that the first grasping element and the second clasping element engage each other grasping the surgical drape. 
         [0022]    The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    For a fuller understanding of the nature and object of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a patient on an operating table protected by a surgical drape with the surgical retainer device of the present invention in use. 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of the patient on an operating table protected by a surgical drape with the surgical retainer device of the present invention in use shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the surgical retainer device of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the surgical retainer device of the present invention with the retainer closure arm or retainer in the open position. 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the surgical retainer device of the present invention with the retainer clasp in the open position. 
       
    
    
       [0029]    Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0030]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the present invention relates to a suture organizer generally indicated as  10  for use during a surgical procedure or operation on a patient generally indicated as  12  on an operating table  14  protected by a surgical drape  16  with the surgical field generally indicated as  18  exposed. 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the suture organizer  12  comprises a hemostat retainer generally indicated as  20  to retain a plurality of surgical clamps or hemostats each generally indicated as  22  and a clasp generally indicated as  24  to clamp the suture organizer  10  to the surgical drape  16 . 
         [0032]    As best shown in  FIGS. 3 through 5 , the hemostat retainer  20  comprises hemostat retainer member  26  having a plurality of grooves each indicated as  28  each terminating in an inner concave terminus  30  to receive a finger hole  32  or a thumb hole  34  of a surgical clamp or hemostat  22  gripping a suture  36  attached to the patient as described more fully hereinafter. Each groove  28  is inclined on a diagonal line relative to the longitudinal center-line CL of the hemostat retainer member  26 . An enlarged arcuate substantially U-shaped member  38  having a substantially concave inner surface  40  is formed on one end portion of the hemostat retainer member  26 ; while, a reduced arcuate substantially C-shaped member  42  having a substantially concave inner surface  44  is formed on the opposite end portion of the hemostat retainer member  26 . A retainer closure member  46  including knurled or rough surface  47  formed on the outer or free end portion thereof is pivotally coupled to the reduced arcuate substantially C-shaped member  42  by a pivot pin  48  and biased in a normally closed position ( FIGS. 3 and 5 ) by a bias or spring  50  to engage and interlock with the enlarged substantially U-shaped member  38  as described more fully hereinafter. 
         [0033]    As best shown in  FIGS. 3 through 5 , the clasp  24  comprises a first clasp member generally indicated as  52  formed on the hemostat retainer member  26  adjacent the reduced arcuate substantially C-shaped member  42  having a first grasping element generally indicated as  54  formed thereon and a second clasp member generally indicated as  56  having a second grasping element generally indicated as  58  pivotally coupled to the reduced arcuate substantially C-shaped member  42  by a pivot pin  60  and biased in a normally closed position ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ) by a bias or spring  62  such that the first grasping element  54  and the second grasping element  58  grasp or clamp the surgical drape  16  therebetween to attach the suture organizer  10  to the surgical drape  16 . The first grasping element  54  and the second grasping element  58  include a knurled or rough surface indicated as  64  and  66  respectively to increase or enhance the grasping or clamping effect therebetween on the surgical drape  16 . An actuator or opening member generally indicated as  68  including a knurled or rough surface  70  is formed on an extension  72  formed on the second clasp member  56  to facilitate movement or opening of the second clasp member  52  to separate the first grasping element  54  and the second grasping element  58  relative to each other to create a space  74  therebetween to receive the surgical drape  16  therebetween ( FIG. 5 ). 
         [0034]    As best shown in  FIG. 4 , the hemostat retainer  20  may further comprise an interlocking mechanism including a first interlocking element generally indicated as  75  formed on the outer end portion of the enlarged arcuate substantially U-shaped member  38  and a second interlocking element generally indicated as  76  formed on the outer end portion of the retainer closure member  46 . 
         [0035]    The first interlocking element  75  and the second interlocking element  76  include a first indentation  78  having a recess  80  formed in the mid-portion of the inner surface  82  thereof and a second indentation  84  having a protrusion  86  formed on the mid portion of the inner surface  88  thereof respectively such that the inner surfaces  82  and  88  engage each other and the protrusion  86  is disposed within the recess  80  to align the retainer closure member  46  with the outer end portion of the enlarged substantially U-shaped member  38  when the retainer closure member  46  is in the closed position under the force of the bias or spring  50  ( FIGS. 3 and 5 ). 
         [0036]    As best shown in  FIG. 5 , the clasp  24  may further comprise an interlocking mechanism including a first interlocking element or recess  90  formed in the first grasping element  54  and a second interlocking or alignment element or protrusion  92  formed on the second grasping element  58  such that the first grasping element  54  and the second grasping element  58  engage each other and the protrusion  92  is disposed within the recess  90  to align the first grasping element  54  and the second grasping element  58  relative to each other when the second clasp member  56  is in the closed position under the force of the bias or spring  62  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ). 
         [0037]    Once the surgeon has attached the sutures  36  to the patient  12 , each suture  36  with the corresponding surgical clamp or hemostat  22  secured thereto is extended away from the surgical field  18 . With the retainer closure member  46  held open against the force of the bias or spring  50  ( FIG. 4 ), the surgical clamps or hemostats  22  are positioned on the hemostat retainer member  26  with the finger hole  32  or thumb hole  34  placed into a corresponding groove  30 . Once so positioned, the retainer closure member  46  is released allowing the force of the bias or spring  50  to close the retainer closure member  46  such that the first interlocking element  75  and the second interlocking element  76  operatively engage each other. The free end of each suture  36  having the surgical clamp or hemostat  24  attached thereto is allowed to rest more or less freely, the weight provided by the surgical clamp or hemostat  24  in cooperation with the suture organizer  10  being sufficient to tension the sutures  36  and prevent adjacent sutures  36  from becoming entangled ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). 
         [0038]    The suture organizer  10  is attached or secured to the surgical drape  16  by depressing the actuator or opening member  68  to separate the first grasping element  54  from the second clasping element  58  against the force of the bias or spring  62  ( FIG. 5 ). When the clasp  24  is open, a portion of the surgical drape  16  is placed into the opening  74  between the first grasping element  54  and the second clasping element  58  ( FIG. 5 ). The actuator or opening member  68  is then released allowing the bias or spring  62  to close the second clasp member  56  such that the first grasping element  54  and the second clasping element  58  engage each other and the second interlocking element or protrusion  92  is disposed with the first interlocking element or recess  90  grasping the surgical drape  16  therebetween. 
         [0039]    To aid the surgeon in identifying individual sutures  36 , identifying indicia such as numerals or numbers may be placed on the surface of the hemostat retainer  26  adjacent each of the grooves  28  ( FIG. 5 ). In addition, the indicia can be color coded such as coloring dots or letters or numbers may be color-coded, or combinations of each. 
         [0040]    The surgical clamps or hemostats  22  are removed in order from the hemostat retainer  20  of the suture organizer  10  by opening the retainer closure member  46  and reversing the process. 
         [0041]    It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description are efficiently attained and since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
         [0042]    It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween. 
         [0043]    Now that the invention has been described,