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.
Claims22
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 wherein the proximal end of the catheter introducer comprises:
- a cap portion in rotational securement with the distal end of the catheter introducer;
- 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;
- wherein rotation of the cap portion relative to the distal end of the catheter introducer modifies an internal diameter of the elastic tube by wrapping one end of the elastic tube about the rotational axis;
- 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.
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 either permanently attached or molded to 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;
- 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;
- and
- wherein during or after the step of preloading a catheter, the method further comprises rotating the cap portion to wrap an inner surface of the elastic tube around an outer surface of the catheter, thereby reducing an inner diameter of the elastic tube to provide a continuous, fluid-tight seal around the outer surface of the catheter, thus permitting, if desired, axial and rotational movement of the catheter within the elastic tube without loss of the continuous, fluid-tight seal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.