Catheter system and method for administering regional anesthesia to a patient
OwnerDavid A. Nelsoninventor
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Abstract
A catheter system and method is provided for overcoming various problems commonly associated with the application of regional anesthesia. Disclosed herein are several embodiments for providing continuous regional anesthesia. In general, the catheter system includes an epidural catheter, an epidural needle, tubing for optional fluid administration, an attached conductive wire (for connection to a nerve stimulator) and a catheter introducer, which is integrated within the proximal hub of the insulated needle. The embodiments may differ in several ways.
Claims37
A catheter system comprising:
- an insulated needle having a proximal end configured for fluid connection and a distal end configured for insertion through tissue and into a vicinity of a nerve or nerve plexus within a patient;
- an electrically conductive wire coupled for supplying an electrical current to the insulated needle;
- a catheter introducer having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the distal end is made integral with the proximal end of the insulated needle;
- and
- a catheter configured for insertion within and through the catheter introducer and the insulated needle, wherein the catheter is adapted to administer fluids within the vicinity of the nerve or nerve plexus.
The catheter system as recited in claim 13, wherein the side port extends from a side surface of the distal end of the catheter introducer at an acute angle from a longitudinal axis of the catheter system.
A catheter system, comprising:
- an insulated needle having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is configured for insertion through tissue and into a vicinity of a nerve or nerve plexus within a patient;
- a side port extending from a side surface of the proximal end of the insulated needle at an acute angle from a longitudinal axis of the catheter system;
- an electrically conductive wire coupled for supplying an electrical current to the insulated needle;
- and
- a catheter configured for insertion through the side port and the insulated needle for administration of fluids within the vicinity of the nerve or nerve plexus.
A method for administering local anesthetic or other fluids to a nerve or plexus of nerves within a patient, the method comprising:
- providing a catheter system, comprising (i) an insulated needle having a proximal end configured for fluid connection and a distal end configured for insertion through tissue and into a vicinity of the nerve or plexus of nerves, (ii) a catheter introducer having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein
- the distal end of the catheter introducer is made integral with the proximal end of the insulated needle, and wherein the proximal end of the catheter introducer comprises:
- a cap portion in rotational securement with the distal end of the catheter introducer;
- and
- an elastic tube arranged about a rotational axis of the catheter introducer and fixedly attached to the cap portion and to the distal end of the catheter introducer;
- and
- preloading a catheter within the catheter introducer and into the proximal end of the insulated needle before the insulated needle, or any other component of the catheter system, is inserted within the patient, wherein the catheter is adapted for administration of local anesthetic or other fluids.
The method as recited in claim 35, further comprising providing the side port and the flexible tube with individual configurations that allow the step of administering fluids to be conducted without interference with anatomical features of the patient.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.