Synthetic absorbable epidural catheter
OwnerJohn L. Hahn, Philip A. Pappasinventors
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Abstract
A sterile catheter formed of a biodegradable, biocompatible material for use in a continuous epidural anesthesia procedure. The epidural catheter has an effective lumen size and includes a flexible tube molded from a synthetic polymer which is absorbable in living tissue. The catheter is characterized as being dimensionally and structurally stable within the body for the duration of surgery and into the postoperative period and absorbable without causing any unfavorable tissue reaction.
Claims18
A sterile epidural catheter for use in an epidural anesthesia procedure comprising a biocompatible, biodegradable synthetic polymer absorbable in living tissue, said synthetic polymer being selected from the group consisting of a homopolymer of dioxanone, a homopolymer of caprolactone, polylactide, polyglycolide, a copolymer of lactide and glycolide, a copolymer of caprolactone and glycolide, and a copolymer of caprolactone and lactide, wherein said epidural catheter is substantially circular in cross section having an outer diameter in the range of about 0.6 to about 1.0 mm.
A method for continuous epidural anesthesia, comprising the steps of:
- inserting a rigid, hollow epidural needle successively through a patient's skin, subcutaneous tissue, interspinous ligament and ligamentum flavum until the tip of the needle reaches an epidural space;
- introducing a sterile epidural catheter through the needle, out through an opening in the tip of the needle, and into the epidural space to a length of about 3-5 cm;
- and
- injecting an anesthetic agent via the epidural catheter, wherein said epidural catheter comprises a biocompatible, biodegradable synthetic polymer absorbable in living tissue selected from the group consisting of a homopolymer of dioxanone, a homopolymer of caprolactone, polylactide, polyglycolide, a copolymer of lactide and glycolide, a copolymer of caprolactone and glycolide, and a copolymer of caprolactone and lactide.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.