Echogenic medical needle

a needle and echogenic technology, applied in the field of needles, can solve the problems of exacerbated problems, decrease in needle visibility in ultrasound images,

Inactive Publication Date: 2014-02-27
COCO RES
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a medical needle with an ultrasonic reflector that can be easily detected and located during ultrasonic imaging. The reflector has multiple reflector surfaces that intersect to form a reflector vertex, with an angle between the reflector surfaces ranging from 75° to 105°. The needle can also have a lumen and a lateral port for accessing the needle tip. The technical effects of this invention include improved needle placement and reduced risk of complications during ultrasonic imaging procedures.

Problems solved by technology

This results in the ultrasound waves being reflected away from the transducer, which decreases the visibility of the needle in the ultrasound image.
This problem is exacerbated with steep angles of insertion; that is, as the needle approaches the parallel to the emitted ultrasound waves.

Method used

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  • Echogenic medical needle
  • Echogenic medical needle
  • Echogenic medical needle

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

first embodiment

[0086]FIG. 1 shows a medical needle 10 according to the present invention. The needle 10 has a needle tip 12 at one end of the shaft 14. In this embodiment, the needle 10 defines a lumen (not shown) for delivering fluid, and / or extracting tissue, fluid or cells during a procedure. The needle shaft 14 defines a longitudinal axis.

[0087]The needle 10 has an ultrasonic reflector 16 formed in the outer surface of the needle shaft 14. In this embodiment, the reflector 16 is formed by three reflector surfaces. Each reflector surface intersects the other two reflector surfaces to form a reflector vertex. The angle between adjacent reflector surfaces is in the range of 75° to 105°. The reflector is orientated with the line L of intersection between two of the reflector surfaces extending from the vertex of the reflector towards the needle tip 12.

[0088]In this embodiment, the reflector 16 is in the form of a corner reflector, which has three mutually orthogonal, planar surfaces R1, R2, R3. As...

second embodiment

[0102]FIG. 3 shows a medical needle 110 according to the present invention. Features of the needle 110 that are correspond with features of the needle 10 are indicated with corresponding reference numerals that have the prefix ‘1’.

[0103]The medical needle 110 has a number of ultrasonic corner reflectors 116 that are arranged in a series linearly along the outer surface of the needle 110 with respect to the axial direction of the needle 110. All corner reflectors 116 within the series are identical in orientation and configuration. The series is configured to provide the proceduralist with a recognizable scale along the needle, making it easier to appreciate distances when moving the needle inside tissue. This can be useful in guiding the needle tip 112 around and / or within features of the surrounding tissue.

[0104]For example, the tip 112 may need to be placed immediately adjacent a nerve. The series of corner reflectors 116 allows the proceduralist to estimate the distance of the ti...

third embodiment

[0108]FIGS. 4 to 6 show a medical needle 210 according to the present invention. Features of the needle 210 that are correspond with features of the needle 10 are indicated with corresponding reference numerals that have the prefix ‘2’.

[0109]The needle 210 has a lateral injection port 220 positioned rearwardly from the needle tip 212. An ultrasonic reflector 216 is formed in the shaft 214. In this embodiment, the reflector 216 is in the form of a corner reflector. As shown in FIG. 6, the depth of the vertex 218 (from the side wall of the shaft 214) is deeper than the thickness of the tubular wall of the needle 210. In this way, the corner reflector 216 is formed in the port 220.

[0110]The needle 210 also has a removable stylet 222 that extends through the lumen of the needle 210 and, when fully inserted, closes off the port 220. The stylet 222 improves the quality of the ultrasound waves reflected by the corner reflector 216. To this end, the forward end of the stylet 222 includes an...

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Abstract

There is disclosed a medical needle comprising a needle shaft that defines a longitudinal axis, a tip formed at one end of the shaft, and an ultrasonic reflector formed in an outer surface of the needle shaft. The reflector comprises a first reflector surface that is at an angle of no more than 35° to the longitudinal axis of the shaft and that faces towards the tip, and at least one additional reflector surface that forms an angle to the first reflector surface within the range of 75° to 105°, and that is substantially concave in a direction towards the first reflector surface.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to a medical needle.BACKGROUND[0002]Medical needles are used in clinical procedures to pierce tissue in order to deliver fluids containing pharmaceutical compounds subcutaneously, and also to gather tissues, cells and / or bodily fluid for diagnostics. In certain procedures, it is desirable to insert the needle tip to a specific location. For example, in some anaesthetic procedures, anaesthetic may need to be delivered beside a nerve.[0003]Misplacement of the needle and needle related injury are a significant concern to the proceduralist and patient. In certain procedures it is particularly important to avoid piercing or damaging nerves, veins, arteries, and other organs / entities during insertion of the needle. For these reasons, proceduralists use many techniques for identifying the location of the needle tip.[0004]It is now relatively common to use ultrasound to confirm needle positioning during procedures. This involves the ...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & AuthorityApplications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): A61B8/08A61B10/00A61B5/153A61M5/32A61B10/02
CPCA61B8/481A61B8/0841A61B10/0045A61B10/0233A61B5/153A61M5/3287A61B8/0833A61B10/0283A61B2017/3413A61B90/39A61B2090/3925A61B8/00A61M5/158
InventorMITCHELL, CHRISTOPHER
OwnerCOCO RES