SURGICAL NEEDLE

Abstract: An improved surgical needle (10) having hooks (25) distributed along the periphery of its body and these hooks (25) extend rearwardly. The hooks are designed to provide a momentary detent as the needle (10) is inserted through the tissues being sutured so that the surgeon may release the needle from the rear where the force is being applied and reach the pointed end of the needle (10) to pull it through.

Description: SURGICAL NEEDLE TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to improved surgical needles. BACKGROUND ART Applicant believes that the closest reference corresponds to U.S. patent No. 3,570,497, issued to Lemole. However, it differs from the present invention because it provides the latch notches 16 on cord 12 and not on the needle itself. Another reference using raised projections or teeth on the surgical suture is U.S. patent No. 3,123,077 issued to J. H. Alcamo. Again, no teachings of introducing these teeth on the needle itself are found in this patent. Other patents describing the closest subject matter provide for a number of more or less complicated features that fail to solve the problem in an efficient and economical way. None of these patents suggest the novel features of the present invention. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION It is the main object of the present invention to provide a surgical needle that allows the surgeon to pass it from one tissue member to another without requiring the use of both hands to prevent the needle from slipping back. Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS With the above and other related objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 represents a straight surgical needle of round cross-section having triangular hooks. Figure 2 shows a straight surgical needle of round cross-section having hooks with the shape of fish scales. Figure 3 illustrates a curved surgical needle of round cross-section having triangular hooks. Figure 4 shows a curved surgical needle of round cross-section having hooks shaped like fish scales. Figure 5 represents a straight surgical needle of triangular cross-section having triangular hooks on its edges. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of figure 5 along line 6 - 6. Figure 7 shows a curved surgical needle of triangular cross-section having triangular hooks. Figure 8 shows a straight surgical needle of round cross-section. Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the needle shown in figure 8 along line 9 - 9. Figure 10 illustrates a straight surgical needle of round cross-section having hooks with the shape of fish scales. Figure 11 is a cross-section of the needle represented in figure 10 along line 11 - 11. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, it can be observed that the improved surgical needles are generally referred to with numerals 10; 20; 30; 40; 50; 60; 70; and 80 corresponding to needles used for different purposes. Needle 10 is a straight atraumatic or non-cutting needle. Needle 10 has two rows of scale hooks 25 projecting outwardly and rearwardly on the outer surface and disposed 180 degrees apart. In the preferred embodiment these scale hooks 25 have a substantially fish scale shape but a multitude of other shapes would also be suitable provided that the hook effect is achieved in a manner similar to the way that a fish is hooked. Scale hooks 25 in Fig. 2 on staight atraumatic needle 20 has an atraumatic (or non-cutting) shape so that the minimized and they are disposed along four rows on the surface, 90 degrees apart. The surgeon, usually, uses one hand to hold the tissues being sutured together and with the other hand he inserts the needle through the tissues. Sometimes, specially when the suture is done to bulky tissues, the surgeon needs a third hand to pull the needle out through since it would slip back through its penetrating path if the force being applied by the surgeon is released, even momentarily, to reach and grab the pointed end of the needle on the other side of the tissues being sutured. The present invention provides a momentary detent for the tissues. In Figs. 3 and 4, the concepts illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, and described above, for the straight atraumatic needles is utilized with curved atraumatic needles 30 and 40. Figures 5 and 7 show cutting needles, straight and curved, with triangular hooks 55 and 65. It is possible to have scale hooks similar to the ones shown in Figs. 1 and 3, however, since they are cutting needles (triangular cross-sections with cutting edges as shown in Fig. 6) they do not need atraumatic or non-cutting hooks because they would not be used in those delicate tissues. In Figs. 8 and 10, straight needles similar to the ones shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are illustrated with the exception of v the pointed end which is conical in the former and triangular in the latter. It is believed the foregoing description conveys the best understanding of the objects and advantages of the present invention. Different embodiments may be made of the inventive concept of this invention. It is to be understood that all matter disclosed herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense, except as set forth in the following appended claims. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY It is apparent from the previous paragraphs that an improvement of this type for such a surgical needle is quite desirable for expediting surgical operations as well as freeing up one hand of the user.

Claims: CLAIMS What is claimed is: 1. An improved surgical needle comprising a plurality of hook means distributed over the outer surface of said needle so that said needle may pass easily through the tissues being sutured in one direction only thereby providing a temporary detent that allows the surgeon to pull said needle through from the pointed end and preventing it from slipping back. 2. The improved surgical needle set forth in claim 1 wherein said hook means include a triangle shaped outwardly and rearwardly extending hook member. 3. The improved surgical needle set forth in claim 1 wherein said hook means include a fish scale shaped outwardly and rearwardly extending hook member.

Inventors: FRANCA FERNANDO E, FRANCA, FERNANDO, E.
Applicants: FRANCA FERNANDO E, FRANCA, FERNANDO, E.
Application year: 1985
Main classification: A61B17
IPC codes: A61B17