Echogenic Article with Compound Indentations
AssigneeAvent, Inc.
InventorsAlfred C. Coats, Louis Lupin
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Abstract
The present invention provides an article or an interface having a distribution of a first partially spherical indentation and at least a second partially spherical indentation contained within the first indentation to form a multi-component or “compound” shape that is referred to as a “compound” or “nested” dimples or indentations. These compound dimples or indentions may be concentric and are etched or otherwise formed into a surface or interface of an article to enhance the ultrasonic imaging. Exemplary articles may be needles of the type used to conduct nerve blocks or the interface may be the surface of such a needle, cannula, catheter, catheter tip or similar article.
Claims8
A method of manufacturing an echogenic article, the article comprising at least one of a needle, a cannula, a catheter, or a catheter tip, the method comprising:
- providing the article having a surface;
- forming a distribution of a plurality of first partially spherical indentations into the surface of the article, each of the plurality of first partially spherical indentations defining a first inner surface having a first radius of curvature;
- forming a second partially spherical indentation within each of the plurality of first partially spherical indentations, each of the plurality of second partially spherical indentations defining a second inner surface having a second radius of curvature, each of the second partially spherical indentations contained within one of the first partially spherical indentations, the first radius of curvature being larger than the second radius of curvature such that each of the plurality of the first partially spherical indentations is flatter than the each of the plurality of second partially spherical indentations.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.