System and method of delivering local anesthesia

Abstract

A catheter and introducer needle assembly is provided including a catheter adapter at its proximal end. The catheter adapter includes a side port in fluid communication with the catheter. A septum is located in the proximal end of the catheter adapter proximal of the side port. The introducer needle is connected at its proximal end to a needle hub and includes at least one notch formed therein in communication with the introducer needle lumen. The notch is formed in the needle such that blood can flow into the open distal end of the needle, through the lumen in the needle and through the notch into the catheter lumen (specifically, the annular space between the outside of the introducer needle and the inside of the catheter and catheter adapter). Thereafter, the blood can flow through the annular space and then through the side port and extension tube that extends from the catheter adapter. Similarly, liquids delivered to the side port flow to the annular space between the needle and the catheter, through the notch into the lumen within the needle, and out of the tip of the needle. Liquid anesthesia thus can be delivered to the patient's tissue surrounding the needle tip be delivering the liquid through the side port. An electrical connection may be provided to the needle via the needle hub to. carry an electrical charge to the patient's tissue. After withdrawing the needle from the catheter, the catheter remains in place, with the tip of the catheter disposed in the tissue being anesthetized. The clinician may provide additional anesthesia via the catheter through the extension tube set.

Description

[0001] The present application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 417,728, filed on Oct. 10, 2002, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] This invention relates to systems and methods of delivering anesthesia to tissue. Specifically, the invention relates to systems and methods of providing anesthesia to tissue using a catheter and introducer needle assembly, and applying a current to the needle assembly to create stimulation in the tissue to identify a target needle depth at which to deliver the anesthesia. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] In certain instances, it is desirable to provide anesthesia at a point in a patient's tissue proximate to a nerve. Such procedures are known as peripheral block procedures. Typically, the clinician employs a hollow needle that is coated with an electrical insulator, leaving only the tip o...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] In accordance with one implementation of the invention, a catheter and introducer needle assembly is provided including a catheter adapter at its proximal end, which preferably includes at least one wing radially extending from the catheter adapter. The catheter adapter also includes a side port in fluid communication with the catheter. A septum is located in the proximal end of the catheter adapter proximal of the side port. Preferably, the septum prevents any fluid from flowing into or out of the proximal end of the catheter adapter and thus diverts any fluid flowing in the catheter lumen into the side port. Similarly, the septum diverts any fluid flowing from the side port into the catheter lumen. The septum has a hollow interior portion to minimize drag on the introducer needle as it is being withdrawn from the catheter through the septum.

[0012] It will be appreciated that this structure permits the flow of liquid through the side port to either the annular space between the needle and the catheter (or a notch that may positioned on the needle within the catheter adapter), through the notch into the lumen within the needle, and out of the tip of the needle. When the needle is removed, the catheter adapter remains in place, permitting later delivery of fluids through the catheter. Access to the side port may be through a closed system access port, thereby ensuring that an open conduit to the environment is not created.

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