Anaesthesia set

An anaesthesia set comprising:

• an epidural cannula defining a leasing end, a first aperture, and a substantially longitudinal central axis,
• a spinal cannula defining a front end and being adapted for insertion into the epidural cannula, the spinal cannula and the epidural cannula being mutually configured so that the front end of the spinal cannula projects beyond the leading end of the epidural cannula when the spinal cannula is inserted into the epidural cannula, and
• an epidural catheter defining an outer diameter and being adapted for insertion into the epidural cannula,
• the epidural cannula further defining a bent tip having an outer wall and a second aperture formed in the outer wall of the bet tip, the second aperture being coaxial with the longitudinal central axis of the epidural cannula and having a diameter which is smaller than the outer diameter of the epidural catheter, wherein the epidural cannula defines an inner diameter and further comprising a coaxial guide ring mounted on the spinal cannula, the guide ring defining an outer diameter which is smaller than the inner diameter of the epidural cannula.

An anesthesia set for delivering anesthetic to a spinal channel and an epidural space, comprising:

• an epidural cannula having a substantially longitudinal central axis,
• a spinal cannula adapted for advancement through the epidural cannula,
• an epidural catheter adapted for advancement through the epidural cannula,
• the epidural cannula defining a bent tip having an outer wall, a first aperture and a second aperture, the second aperture being formed in the outer wall of the bent tip and being substantially coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the epidural cannula,
• the epidural cannula and the spinal cannula being mutually configured to enable the spinal cannula to be advanced through the second aperture,
• the epidural cannula and the epidural catheter being mutually configured to prevent the epidural catheter from being advanced through the second aperture and to enable the epidural catheter to be advanced through the first aperture,
• whereby the spinal cannula is advanced through the epidural cannula and the second aperture toward the spinal channel and whereby the epidural catheter is advanced through the epidural cannula and the first aperture toward the epidural space, whereby the second aperture serves as a passage for the spinal cannula.

An method of delivering anesthetic to a spinal channel and an epidural space, comprising:

• providing an epidural cannula having a substantially longitudinal central axis, the epidural cannula defining a bent tip having an outer wall, a first aperture and a second aperture, the second aperture being formed in the outer wall of the bent tip and being substantially coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the epidural cannula,
• advancing the epidural cannula through skin and muscle tissue to the outside of the dura enclosing the spinal channel,
• advancing a spinal cannula through the epidural cannula and the second aperture into the spinal channel,
• delivering an analgetic through the spinal cannula into the spinal channel,
• withdrawing the spinal cannula from the epidural cannula,
• advancing an epidural catheter through the epidural cannula and the first aperture into the epidural space,
• withdrawing the epidural cannula over the epidural catheter, and
• administering anaesthesia through the epidural catheter to the epidural space.