Device for performing regional anesthesia

• US 10,076,630 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2013
• Issued: 09/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn NHS Foundation Trust
• Original Assignee: The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn NHS Foundation Trust
• Inventors: Young, Peter Jeffrey, Carter, Joseph Joachim, Fawzy, Emad Eldin Fahmy, Gibson, John Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Santos Rodriguez, Joseph M
• Application Number:
  US14/396,761
• Publication Number:
  US 20150099966A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,973 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0841 for locating instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4416 related to combined acquisition of different diagnostic modalities, e.g. combination of ultrasound and X-ray acquisitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4444 related to the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4472 Wireless probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/54 Control of the diagnostic device
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 19/00 Local anaesthesia syringes therefor A61M5/00; Hypothermia A61M5/42 takes precedence; cooling blood in a bypass of the arterial system A61M1/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1588 having means for monitoring, controlling or visual inspection, e.g. for patency check, avoiding extravasation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3112 Incorporating self-aspirating means, e.g. to provide flashback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/048 Anaesthetics
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/106 reciprocating
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3375 Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/44 making noise when used incorrectly
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/01 Remote controllers for specific apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14216 Reciprocating piston type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1452 : pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/158 : Needles for infusions; Accessories therefor, e.g. for inserting infusion needles, or for holding them on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16804 : Flow controllers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16827 : controlling delivery of multiple fluids, e.g. sequencing, mixing or via separate flow-paths infusion of multiple fluids without using a controller A61M5/1407
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16881 : Regulating valves on-off valves, e.g. clamps A61M39/28
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16886 : for measuring fluid flow rate, i.e. flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/427 : Locating point where body is to be pierced, e.g. vein location means using ultrasonic waves, injection site templates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/5086 : for indicating if defective, used, tampered with or unsterile

Abstract

An anesthetic administration device comprising an infusion device, which is in fluid connection with a regional anesthetic needle by means of a feed tube. The infusion device comprises one or more anesthetic flow devices capable of triggering forward flow, and optionally backward flow, of the local anesthetic through the regional anesthetic needle. Forward, and optionally backward flow, of the local anesthetic through the regional anesthetic needle is controlled by a controller that comprises one or more actuator switches. The one or more actuator switches are positioned on the device such that they may be operated by hand.

Claims

1. An anesthetic administration device comprising:

(a) a regional anesthetic needle;

(b) an infusion device comprising a housing and one or more anesthetic flow devices in fluid communication with the regional anesthetic needle via a feed tube, wherein the anesthetic flow devices are capable of generating forward and backward flow of local anesthetic through the regional anesthetic needle; and

(c) a controller that comprises one or more actuator switches, wherein the one or more actuator switches activate forward and backward flow of the local anesthetic through the regional anesthetic needle, and wherein the one or more actuator switches are positioned on the regional anesthetic needle such that they may be operated by hand, wherein the one or more actuator switches are selected from the group consisting of;

(i) one or more pushbutton switches, wherein an amount of depression of the pushbutton switch correlates with at least one of flow rate and pressure of the local anesthetic through the regional anesthetic needle; and

(ii) one or more slide switches, wherein a distance that the slide switch is moved correlates with at least one of flow rate and pressure of the local anesthetic through the regional anesthetic needle,

wherein the anesthetic administration device further comprises at least one of a pressure sensor monitor and a flow rate monitor.

2. The anesthetic administration device of claim 1, wherein the infusion device further comprises a local anesthetic reservoir for storing the local anesthetic, and wherein the local anesthetic reservoir is in fluid communication with the feed tube.

3. The anesthetic administration device of claim 1, wherein the infusion device comprises a single anesthetic flow device.

4. The anesthetic administration device of claim 1, wherein the anesthetic flow devices comprise:

(i) a first anesthetic flow device capable of triggering forward flow of the local anesthetic from the infusion device to the regional anesthetic needle via the feed tube, and

(ii) a second anesthetic flow device capable of triggering backward flow of fluid through the regional anesthetic needle into an aspiration tube.

5. The anesthetic administration device of claim 4, wherein the one or more actuator switches are configured to control flow of local anesthetic through the regional anesthetic needle by actuating one or more valves.

6. The anesthetic administration device of claim 5, wherein the one or more valves are positioned in the feed tube or in the regional anesthetic needle or optionally in the aspiration tube.

7. The anesthetic administration device of claim 1, wherein the anesthetic flow device is a pump.

8. The anesthetic administration device of claim 1, wherein the regional anesthetic needle comprises a hypodermic needle and a needle hub.

9. The anesthetic administration device of claim 1, wherein the one or more actuator switches operate in a first position that activates forward flow of the local anesthetic through the regional anesthetic needle, and a second position that activates backward flow of the local anesthetic through the regional anesthetic needle.

10. The anesthetic administration device of claim 1, wherein the one or more actuator switches operate in a first position that activates forward flow of the local anesthetic through the regional anesthetic needle, a second position that activates backward flow of the local anesthetic through the regional anesthetic needle, and a third position that halts flow of the local anesthetic through the regional anesthetic needle.

11. The anesthetic administration device of claim 1, wherein the actuator switches comprise two actuator switches, wherein the first actuator switch is capable of activating forward flow of the local anesthetic through the regional anesthetic needle, and the second actuator switch is capable of activating backward flow of the local anesthetic through the regional anesthetic needle.

12. The anesthetic administration device of claim 1, wherein the one or more actuator switches are selected from the group consisting of a pushbutton switch, a toggle switch, a rocker switch and a slide switch.

13. The anesthetic administration device of claim 1, wherein the one or more actuator switches are positioned on the regional anesthetic needle.

14. The anesthetic administration device of claim 1, wherein the one or more actuator switches are configured to trigger forward or backward flow of the local anesthetic through the regional anesthetic needle by activating the one or more anesthetic flow devices.

15. The anesthetic administration device of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor monitor, flow rate monitor, or both comprise a visual indicator, audio indicator, or both of the pressure, flow rate, or both pressure and flow rate.

16. The anesthetic administration device of claim 15, wherein the pressure sensor (i) actuates at least one of a visual and audio alarm when a pressure threshold is exceeded, and (ii) causes infusion to slow or stop when a pressure threshold is exceeded.

17. The anesthetic administration device of claim 16, wherein the pressure threshold is selected from 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 or 25 psi.

18. An anesthetic administration device comprising:

(a) a regional anesthetic needle;

(b) an infusion device comprising a housing and one or more anesthetic flow devices in fluid communication with the regional anesthetic needle via a feed tube, wherein the anesthetic flow devices are capable of generating forward and backward flow of local anesthetic through the regional anesthetic needle;

(c) an ultrasound probe; and

(d) a controller that comprises one or more actuator switches, wherein the one or more actuator switches activate forward and backward flow of the local anesthetic through the regional anesthetic needle, and wherein the one or more actuator switches are positioned on at least one of the ultrasound probe and the regional anesthetic needle such that they may be operated by hand, wherein the one or more actuator switches are selected from the group consisting of;

(i) one or more pushbutton switches, wherein an amount of depression of the pushbutton switch correlates with at least one of flow rate and pressure of the local anesthetic through the regional anesthetic needle; and

(ii) one or more slide switches, wherein a distance that the slide switch is moved correlates with at least one of flow rate and pressure of the local anesthetic through the regional anesthetic needle,

wherein the anesthetic administration device further comprises at least one of a pressure sensor and flow rate monitor.

19. The anesthetic administration device of claim 18, wherein the one or more actuator switches are positioned on the ultrasound probe.