Force measuring epidural needle

A force measuring epidural needle, comprising:

• a lug section, a spring section, and a needle section wherein the spring section is between the lug section and the needle section and wherein the lug section, the spring section and the needle section are axially aligned along an epidural needle axis;
• wherein the lug section comprises a force-measuring sensor mounted on a first end of the lug section and has a cavity at a second end of the lug section;
• wherein the spring section comprises a cylindrical or conical protrusion that is configured to fittingly engage with the cavity of the lug section, an inner needle, an inner needle holder, and a spring, wherein the inner needle is fixed in position along the epidural needle axis, wherein the inner needle is attached to a first end of the inner needle holder, wherein the spring is inset inside the inner needle holder and is mechanically connected to the inner needle holder;
• wherein the needle section comprises an outer needle and an outer needle holder, wherein the outer needle is attached to a first end of the outer needle holder;
• wherein the inner needle is nested inside and rests against an inner wall of the outer needle;
• wherein the protrusion of the spring section is shaped to match the cavity of the lug section and the spring section is mechanically coupled to the lug section;
• wherein the protrusion of the spring section is in physical contact with the force-measuring sensor at the lug section;
• and
• wherein the force-measuring sensor is configured to measure a force applied to a tip of the outer needle and transmitted through the outer needle through the spring of the spring section through the protrusion of the spring section to the force-measuring sensor of the lug section.