Light assisted needle placement system and method

A machine to detect a coring plug during an epidural procedure, the machine comprising:

• a light coupling unit having first and second connectors, where the first connector connects the light coupling unit to a syringe and where the second connector connects the light coupling unit to the needle, where, when so connected, a path of fluid communication is established between the syringe, through the light coupling unit to a distal tip of the needle, the light coupling unit further having a connection for an optical cable including:
• a first path of optical signal communication from a light source to the path of fluid communication, where a terminal end of the first path is disposed between 3 mm and 10 mm from a distal tip of the needle, and
• a second path of optical signal communication separate from the first path, where the second path communicates reflected light to a light sensor and where a terminal end of the second path is disposed adjacent to the terminal end of the first path;
• a third path of optical signal communication separate from, but in optical communication with the first and second paths of optical signal communication, the third path comprising fluid in the needle between the distal tip of the needle and the terminal ends of the first and second paths of optical signal communication;
• a controller including:
• the light source that selectively provides light along the first path of optical signal communication;
• the light sensor that receives reflected light from a distal end of the needle;
• and
• a display displaying a reflected light representation of a tissue plane at the distal tip of the needle,
• where following needle insertion the display provides depictions of transitions from a tissue type based on changes in the reflected light representation, where lack of changes in the reflected light representation indicate presence of a coring plug that has become lodged into the distal tip.

A method for detecting a coring plug during an epidural procedure, the method comprising:

• attaching a fluid source to a first side of a light coupling unit;
• attaching an optical pathway to the first side of the light coupling unit;
• threading the optical pathway through a lumen of an epidural needle;
• attaching the epidural needle to a second side of the light coupling unit;
• inserting the epidural needle into tissue of a patient;
• filling the lumen with fluid from the fluid source;
• providing a light along the optical pathway and exiting the optical pathway axially within the lumen, where the light continues to a distal tip of the epidural needle through the fluid in the lumen;
• displaying a depiction of reflectance of the light illuminating a tissue plane at the distal tip of the epidural needle;
• and
• detecting a coring plug that has become lodged into the distal tip by noting lack of change in the depiction of reflectance.