US3310199A - Article dispensing units removable from an enclosing casing - Google Patents

Description

T` J. ROBERTS ETAL. ARTICLE DISPENSING UNITS REMOVABLE March'Zl, 1967 FROM AN ENCLOSINGCASING 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 22, 1965 'r` J. ROBERTS ETAL 3,310,199 ARTICLE DISPENSING UNITS REMOVABLE FROM AN ENCLOSING CASING March 21,1967

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 22, 1965 /A/ VEA/Top5 POBEQIZS g f2 Q Q\ Mig;

March 2l, 1967 T. J. ROBERTS ETAL Swgg ARTICLE DIsPENsING UNITS REMOVABLE FROM AN ENcLosING CASING Filed March 22, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent O ARTICLE DISPENSING UNITS REMOVABLE FROM AN ENCLOSING CASING Tom I. Roberts and Donald lL. Paulson, Des Moines,

Iowa, assignors to Ethicon, Inc., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Mar. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 441,482

2 Claims. Cl. 221-25) This invention relates generally to sutures for stitching purposes, and particularly to individually dispensing sterile lsutures and other relatively thin elements by a machine.

A suture is a strand or fiber used to sew parts of the living body together. IIt should be sterile when used. One method of sterile pre-packaging is the placing of a sterile suture in between a pair of strips of foil or the like, the insides of which are sterile. At the time f use, the strips are separated by hand. Due to the need of sterility, however, as the outer, exposed surfaces are nonsterile, an extra pair of hands must be used, in the operating room for example, to open the suture package for removal of the sterile suture by sterile hands.

In an attempt at even more sterilization, the picture is beclouded further by the placement of the suture package in between another pair of flexible, separable strips, whereby the non-sterile hands separate .the first strips to empty out the sterile package for sterile hands. Other methods, just as cumbersome, are provided for dispensing sutures, one-by-one.

The clouded picture is made even more hazy by the fact that there are dozens and dozens of different sutures for different purposes, the sutures being of different length, thickness, strength, material, etc. The non-expert can begin to see a basis for a waste of sutures in the operating room, professional or make-shift, and the expertparticularly the hospital administrator, knows of the high amount of wastage of opened but unused sutures.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a means for dispensing one or more sutures which 1'educes substantially the waste of sutures.

It is another object of this invention to provide a means for dispensing sutures one at a time, the dispensing action literally stripping open a suture package in a sterile manner and presenting the suture for handling by sterile hands.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a machine for individually dispensing sut-ures, whereby action of the operator, usually a nurse, results in first a stripping open of a suture package, secondly an extending of the suture outwardly of the machine toward the nurse, and thirdly in an exposure, to the nurse, of only the inner sterile surfaces of the package about the suture.

This latter object is all the more meaningful when it is realized that the mere dispensing of a suture through a hole, for example, would not accomplish all that is needed to be accomplished; As the lsuture must be grasped, were the lingers of the nurse to contact a nonsterile machine or cabinet front, not only would the suture ibe wasted, but the nurse would have to re-cleanse her hands.

Thus, an object of this invention is to expose or present to the grasping fingers of the nurse only the suture and the sterile inner portions of the package originally containing the suture. v

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a machine for automatically dispensing in sequential, operator-controlled and timed steps, any number Aof relatively thin elements, without critical regard for size or shape.

Patented Mar'.` 21, 1967 Another object of this invention is the provision of a machine capable of attainin-g these objectives which can dispense any number of different elements, the different elements .arranged in a side-by-side arrangement, whereby the operator can choose any yone of the different elements; and further wherein a plurality of elements can be st-ored in the machine in a non-used but ready condition.

Yet `another object of this invention is the provision of a machine capable of individually dispensing from a roll lor the like, a plurality of thin elements in a sequential manner, and wherein a different roll of elements can be quickly and easily -substituted for the rst roll, without any actual physical handling or contacting of any of the elements.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a machine cap-able of individually dispensing in a sterile manner a suture or the like, which suture is one of any number of like sutures packaged in an end-to-end manner in an elongated web of material comprising a pair of flexible, superimposed strips between which the sutures have been inserted.

Another object of this invention is the provision of such a machine, wherein the dispensing is obtained by ya foot actuated linkage, and the actuation being adjustable to adapt the machine to dispense elements of `different length.

It is another object of this invention to provide a machine for individually dispensing a lange number of individually wrapped sutures, the packages of which are joined end-to-end, and wherein the packaged sutures need not even be removed from the shipping carton therefor, assuming the carton is opened to permit a longitudinal withdrawal of the joined packages.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a machine capable of attaining all of the above mentioned objectives, which machine can easily be tailored to the needs of a user, is economical to manufacture, simple and rugged in construction, easily operated, and effective in operation.

These objects, and other features and advantages of this invention will become readily apparent upon reference to the following description, when taken with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. l is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention in the form of an enclosed machine;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the machine of this invention, with the rear broken away to show a plurality of dispensing units in place for present use, with other units stored in a ready condition for future use;

FIG. 3 is :an enlarged, foreshortened sectional view taken along theline 3 3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken along theline 4 4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional View taken along the line 5 5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a reduced, fragmentary view of the side of the machine opposite from that of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, perspective view of a detail of a dispensing unit;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along theline 8 8 in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the Kline 9 9 in FIG. 5.

:Referring now to the drawings, one embodiment of the machine of this invention -is indicated generally at 10` in FIG. 1. Generally, themachine 10 comprises a rectangularshaped housing 11 of any size depending upon considerations not pertinent to the invention, which housing 11 :has afront panel 12,side panels 13 and 1i4, a bottom wall `16 (FIG. 3), ahinged top 17, and a hingedback 10.Casters 19 of a conductive material are mounted on thebottom wall 16 of thehousing 11 for safety purposes in an operating room.

Across thefront panel 12 of thehousing 11, at the normal arm height for an average sized nurse are a plurality of horizontally spaced and aligned, substantially rectangular slots 21 (FIG. 1). Below the slots, asmall drip pan 22 is mounted, the purpose of which is defined hereinafter. Then, at the bottom of thefront panel 12 are mounted a plurality of horizontally spacedfoot pedals 24, again each foot pedal being vertically aligned with oneslot 21. It will be seen that the bottom front of thehousing 11 is cut out at 26 whereby either foot of the nurse may easily be inserted above afoot pedal 24 for a depressing movement thereagainst.

Internally of thehousing 11, a trio of vertically spaced shelves are arranged across the entire width. The upper shelf comprises a plurality of horizontally spaced and alignedguide track units 27, with each pair of adjacent units spaced on either side of a slot 21 (FIG. 4). Eachunit 27 being the same, only one will be described.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 4 and 5, aguide track unit 27 comprises an upper T-bar track 28 and a lower T-bar track 29, with thehorizontal flanges 28a and 29a vertically spaced a predetermined distance. Each track is welded at one end to abracket 31 and 32 respectively, with the brackets in turn being secured to the inner surface of thehousing front panel 12. A limit pin 33 (FIG. is secured between theanges 28a and 29a intermediate the ends of the tracks.

Adjacent the free ends of the tracks, acatch 34 is pivotally mounted for movement in a vertical plane through slots (not shown) provided therefor, whichcatch 34 is biased toward a position illustrated by alinger latch 36. It will be noted that thefree end 37 of thelower track 29 extends further than thefree end 38 of theupper track 28.

.Referring to FIG. 2, thetracks 27 which comprise the upper shelf are all spaced above across brace 39 for the rear of thehousing 11, and with the top 17 hingedly moved upward, the entire upper part of thehousing 11 is thereby exposed from above and to the rear of the upper part of thehousing 11. Below thecross brace 39, the intermediate shelf comprises ahorizontal panel 41, and with the bottom shelf comprising the upper surface of thebottom wall 16.

The three shelves are adapted to hold thirtysuture dispensing units 42 of a magazine type, with eachunit 42 being identical except for the type of suture held thereby. Thus, thirty different sutures lmay be held in themachine 10, with the ten units on the upper, guide track shelf held in a presently usable position, and the twenty units placed on the lower storage shelves held in a future but ready position. With theunits 42 being identical, only one will be described.

Eachunit 42 comprises generally aframe 43 to which is secured a container `45 for holding aweb 44 of individual sutures 46 (FIG. 8), a guide unit indicated generally at 47 in FIG. 8 for guiding theweb 44 through aslot 21, and a rst actuating unit indicated generally at 48 for moving theweb 44 through the guide means in a manner hereinafter described to expose and extend eachsuture 46 outwardly of theslot 21 and the forward portion of theguide unit 47. As shown herein in FIGS. 4 and 5, for example, eachsuture 46 is actually a at packet easily grasped and unfolded by the hand. Within thepacket 46 is found the suture of a predetermined length and material, and which is attached to a predetermined needle for stitching purposes.

Theweb 44 includes al pair of parallel, identical,superimposed strips 49 and 51 of preferably flexible material. The strips are secured together by any bonding agent, or by heat sealing means and with a plurality ofsutures 46 arranged in a longitudinally spaced, end-to-end manner. As best illustrated in FIG. 8, pockets S2 for retaining thesutures 46 may actually be formed, and it of course will be realized that the entire inner surface area of theweb 44 is sterile, as are thesutures 46.

Theunit frame 43 includes a pair of vertical, parallel atpanels 53 and 54 (FIG. 9) having top and bottom edges S6 and S7 (FIG. 6) and including a pair of elongatedstationary arms 58 and 59 (FIG. 4). At the rear of thepanels 53 and 54, thecontainer 45 is mounted, and which also includes a pair of vertical, parallelflat panels 61 and 62 (FIGS. 4 and 5). Thepanels 61 and 62 are joined at their rear by apanel 63, at their base edges by abottom panel 64, and intermediate their front edges by ashort panel 66. Ahandle 70 is secured to the rear of thecontainer 45 to enable the nurse to push and pull, and otherwise handle theunit 42.

Thus a box-like container is formed for supporting and holding theweb 44 in an accordion folded manner. It is conceivable that were theweb 44 in an open carton or box, or in a roll, for example, the container 4S could easily accommodate theweb 44. IReferring to FIGS. 5 and 6, it is evident that a pair of horizontally spaced and alignedstuds 65 and 65a protrude from the sides of thecontainer 45. It is further evident that by means of thestuds 65 and 65a being inserted bet-Ween the anges of theguide track units 27, the dispensing unit l42 is readily `and easily interchanged with another unit having a different type of suture.

Alead portion 44a (FIG. 8) of theweb 44 extends and is led through theguide unit 47, which unit includes a pair of convergingplates 67 and 68 forming thereby a gradually narrowing throat ended by a pair ofrollers 69 and 71. Thelower plate 68 extends between and is secured to thestationary arms 58 and 59, and thelower roller 71 also extends between and is rotatably supported by thearms 58 and 59 at their outermost limits.

Both the downwardly inclinedupper plate 67 and theupper roller 69 are secured to and extended between a pair ofarms 72 and 73, similar to thestationary arms 58 and 59 and pivotally mounted thereabove by pivot pins 74 (FIG. 5). The upper arms, furthermore, are biased downwardly toward an engagement between therollers 69 and 71 'by a pair of L-type springs 76 and 77 mounted as illustrated. Thus, substantially any item of a relatively thin thickness may be passed between thestationary roller 71 and the floatingroller 69. See, for example, the upwardly pivoted position in FIG. 8 of theroller 69, as illustrated in dotted lines.

The dispensingunit 42 is completed by thefirst actuating unit 48 which includes an upper pair of frictionally engaged,knurled rollers 78 and 79, a lower pair of frictionally engaged,knurled rollers 81 and 82, and a pair ofmeshed gears 83 and 84. Both sets of rollers are rotatably mounted to and extended between theframe panels 53 and 54 on stud pins (see FIG. 9) or the like, and with thegears 83 and 84 mounted on eX- tensions of the inner pair ofrollers 79* and 81.

The outer pair ofrollers 78 and 82 are biased downwardly and upwardly, respectively, toward theiradjacent rollers 79 and 81 by a pair ofU-shaped springs 86 and 87 secured to vertically spacedprojections 88 and 89, and lapped over theextensions 91 of therollers 78 and 82. To accommodate a vertical floating of therollers 78 and 82, a pair of verticallyelongated slots 92 are formed, each in aside panel 53 and 54.

Eachweb lead portion 44a includes a pair of tabs 44b and 44C (FIG. 5) of indeterminate length, which are threaded, respectively between the upper pair ofrollers 78 and 79, and the lower pair ofrollers 81 and 82. Then, in response to clockwise rotation of the upper gear 83 (FIG. 5), and counterclockwise rotation of the lower gear 84 (FIG. 5), the roller pairs 78, 79 and 81, 82 are so rotated to draw both lead tabs 44b and 44C to the right as illustrated by the arrows in FIG. 5. This movement, when theweb 44 proper is guided through thethroat plates 67 and 68, results in thestrips 49 and 51 being separated at the guide rollers .5 69 and 71, being movably trained about the outer peripheral edges of these rollers and then being pulled themselves toward and through the rollers pairs 78, 79 and 81, 82.

This action thus results in each suture 46 (FIG. 8) being individu-ally projected fromv between thestrips 49 and 51 past therollers 69 and 71, and through the front panel slot 21 (FIG. 5) for engagement by the nurses fingers. Importantly, when theunit 42 is inserted into and between each pair of adjacentguide track units 27, the positions of the limit pin 33 (FIG. 5) and thecatch 34 relative to thestuds 65 and 65a, maintain theunit 42 such that at least the outer portions of theguide rollers 69 and 71 pro-ject beyond the 'outer surface of thefront panel 12. It also twill be noted that the vertical (FIG. and horizontal (FIG. 4) dimensions of theslot 21 is such to permit therollers 69 and 71 to project therethrough.

Thus, the web strips 49 and 51 (FIG. 8) extend beyond thefront panel 12, and upon being separated, the inner, formerly enclosed surfaces of thestrips 49 and 51 are exposed with thesuture 46 for physical nger engagement in a vertical plane at least even with thefront panel 12. And advantageously, formerly the outer nonsterile surfaces of thestrips 49 and 51 are removed from physical engagement by the nurse, being permitted to fall into anelongated pan 93 extended across the width of thehousing 11 below all the vunits 42 (FIGS. 2 and 3). Acurved guide 90 is hingedly mounted on thecontainer 45 to aid in guiding the spentupper strip 51 rearwardly to thepan 93.

To operate theiirst actuating unit 48, and to provide a variable amount of rotations to thegears 83 and 84 (FIG. 3), a second actuating unit is provided, indicated generally at 94 in FIG. 3. A single,complete unit 94 is provided for each pair oftrack units 27, it having been noted in FIGS. 4 -and 9 particularly that lche gears 83 and 84 are mounted on only one side of each dispensingunit 42. Thus, eachsecond actuating unit 94 is so located as to 'be cooperably engaged by each and every dispensingunit 42 retractably inserted in between each pair oftrack units 27.

As thesecond actuating units 94 are identical, only one will be described. A foot pedal 24 (FIG. 3) is vertically slidably mounted in abracket 96 secured to thehousing 11 near the 'base area 26 thereof, and is pivotally connected to anelongated link 97 the upper end 98 (FIG. 5) of which is connected to thehorizontal leg 99 of an L-shapedslide bar 100 having anupper leg 101 reciprocally mounted in aguide block 102. The block straddles and i's secured to theupper track 28.

Thelink 97 andfoot pedal 24 are biased to their raised full line positions by aspring 103 extended between astud 104 in alower track 29 and aprojection 106 on theleg 99. Thestud 104 serves a dual purpose in that it also extends through (see FIG. 9) anelongated slot 107 formed in theleg 101 whereby to aid in retaining and guiding theslide bar 100.

Referring particularly to FIG. 5, it is seen that theupper edge 108 of theleg 101 has gear teeth formed thereon, and which are normally in mesh withthe teeth of the first actuating unitlower gear 84. Thus, in response to a full depressing movement of the pedal 24, theleg 101 acts as a rack and rotates the gear 84 a certain amount, whereby the roller pairs 78, 79 and 81, 82 are rotated to advance theweb 44 sufficiently to expose anothersuture 46, assuming it is desired to expose one suture for every depression of a'foot pedal 24.

It is evident that upon a return of theslide bar 100 to its original position shown in FIG. 5, theleg rack 108 must be separated from thegear 84 during the return stroke. To accomplish this, a passage 109 (FIGS. 5 and 7) is formed in theguide block 102, extended from an upper entrance 111 to alower entrance 112, and with a 6 spring urgedball 113 mounted in theblock 102 at the upper entrance 111.

A pin 114 (FIGS. 5 and 9) is secured to one side of theleg 101, and engages theface 116 of theguide block 102 due to the bias of thespring 103. Thus, upon downward movement of thebar 100, when it reaches the lower end of its stroke, thepin 114 will fallagain due to the spring bias, into thelower entrance 112 of thepassage 109. Theslide bar 100, riding along side theguide block 102, and -capable of tilting about thestud 104 due to the articulated nature of the linkage, is thereby pulled away from thegear 84 during its return stroke by thepin 114 riding upwardly inside thepassage 109. At the upper entrance 111 of thepassage 109, to ensure that theleg 101 is again placed in mesh with thegear 84 for the next stroke, thebiased ball 113 aids in kicking thepin 114 out of thepassage 109 where it is brought back against theface 116 of theguide block 102.

In certain instances, sutures are packaged such that a small amount `of fluid is contained within eachpocket 52 for storage purposes. Thus, should any of the uid not be evaporated upon exposure of the interior of thepocket 52 by the stripping action, thedrip pan 22 is provided t0 prevent the uid from running down the face of thepanel 12. It should also be noted herein that thesecond actuating unit 94 need not be limited to a foot actuated linkage. It is entirely conceivable that an electric motor or the like, energized for example by the nurses hand or foot interrupting a light ray between a pair of photoelectric cells, could be easily adapted to ladjustably reciprocate theslide bar 100.

The importance of the capability of themachine 10 to effect an extremely quick change of a stored suture dispensin-g unit 42 for aunit 42 on the top shelf, cannot be over-emphasized. Due to the structure provided, a circulating nurse in an operating room, for example, need merely depress the latch 36 (FIG. 5); pull theupper unit 42 olf thetracks 28 and 29; set theunit 42 aside; pick up a stored lower unit 42 (FIG. 2) from a lower shelf; insert the new unit in between the open pair of tracks, guided by thelead studs 65 on the protruding lower tra-ck end 37; and push theunit 42 forward until the limit pins 33 are engaged by thestuds 25, whereupon thelatches 36 lock.

This action automatically meshes thelower gear 84 with theslide bar rack 108, whereby the rst and second actuating units for thenew unit 42 are immediately available for utilization by the scrub nurse. She depresses thecorrect foot pedal 24, whereupon thestrips 49 and 51 of thatparticular web 44 are separated to expose for use thenext suture 46.

Due to theweb 44 between eachpocket 52, or between eachsuture 46 or the like, being bonded transversely across the entire width, theelement 46 just exposed by the scrub nurse has remained sterile for an indeiinite period of time. It thus may be appreciated that nosuture 46 in themachine 10 need be exposed until absolutely necessary for use, and that nosuture 46 not used need even be contacted or handled in any manner after originally being loaded, it being retained by the machine in an antiseptic condition until actually used.

In view of this description, it is believed that a means for 4automatically dispensing sutures and the like in an individual and sterile manner has been disclosed, which means is novel, practical, and economical, .and which means when placed in an operating room would be of tremendous value and savings to all concerned.

Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been described and disclosed hereinbefore, it is to be remembered that various modications and `alternate constructions may be made thereto without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A machine for individually dispensing thin elements such as sutures and the like, -comprising in combination:

.a housing having a slot formed therein through which the elements may pass;

a magazine unit containing a means for holding a plurality of the elements retractably inserted into said housing and supported thereby adjacent said slot;

said holding means including a pair of superimposed, exible, separately connected strips between which a plurality of the elements are inserted in longitudinally spaced relation;

said unit including guide means protruded outwardly through said slot for guiding said strips las a unit outwardly of said housing;

said unit including further upper and lower pairs of rollers for gripping said strips such, upon rotation, to `separate said strips and feed the elements successively through said guide means and outwardly -of said slot;

first actuating means including at least a gear mounted on said unit for rotating said rollers;

second actuating means mounted yon said housing, and including a reciprocal rack engageable by said gear upon insertion of said unit into said housing; and

in said means for reciprocating said rack includes a footoperated linkage mounted within said housing, with a foot pedal thereof exposed at the bottom front of the housing.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 732,337 6/1903 Clemons 221-72 778,515 12/ 1904 Trefny 221-131 1,079,996 12/1913 Stimpson 22l-l31 1,925,502 9/1933 Schaeffer 221-72 2,471,055 5 1949 Asbill 221-72 FOREIGN PATENTS 910,047 3/1945 France.

1,026,333 10/1950 France.

ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner- WALTER SOBIN, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A MACHINE FOR INDIVIDUALLY DISPENSING THIN ELEMENTS SUCH AS SUTURES AND THE LIKE, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A HOUSING HAVING A SLOT FORMED THEREIN THROUGH WHICH THE ELEMENTS MAY PASS; A MAGAZINE UNIT CONTAINING A MEANS FOR HOLDING A PLURALITY OF THE ELEMENTS RETRACTABLY INSERTED INTO SAID HOUSING AND SUPPORTED THEREBY ADJACENT SAID SLOT; SAID HOLDING MEANS INCLUDING A PAIR OF SUPERIMPOSED, FLEXIBLE, SEPARATELY CONNECTED STRIPS BETWEEN WHICH A PLURALITY OF THE ELEMENTS ARE INSERTED IN LONGITUDINALLY SPACED RELATION; SAID UNIT INCLUDING GUIDE MEANS PROTRUDED OUTWARDLY THROUGH SAID SLOT FOR GUIDING SAID STRIPS AS A UNIT OUTWARDLY OF SAID HOUSING; SAID UNIT INCLUDING FURTHER UPPER AND LOWER PAIRS OF ROLLERS FOR GRIPPING SAID STRIPS SUCH, UPON ROTATION, TO SEPARATE SAID STRIPS AND FEED THE ELEMENTS SUCCESSIVELY THROUGH SAID GUIDE MEANS AND OUTWARDLY OF SAID SLOT; FIRST ACTUATING MEANS INCLUDING AT LEAST A GEAR MOUNTED ON SAID UNIT FOR ROTATING SAID ROLLERS; SECOND ACTUATING MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID HOUSING, AND INCLUDING A RECIPROCAL RACK ENGAGEABLE BY SAID GEAR UPON INSERTION OF SAID UNIT INTO SAID HOUSING; AND MEANS FOR RECIPROCATING SAID RACK IN A PREDETERMINED MANNER WHEREBY ONE ELEMENT IS FED THROUGH SAID SLOT AT A TIME.

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