Method and apparatus to decrease the risk of intraneuronal injection during administration of nerve block anesthesia

• US 20030225371A1
• Filed: 05/28/2002
• Published: 12/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: B Braun Melsungen AG (B. Braun Holding GmbH & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Macosta Medical U.S.A., L.L.C.
• Inventors: Giglioli, Sergio, VLoka, Jerry D., Hadzic, Admir
• Granted Patent: US 6,866,648 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/118
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/048 Anaesthetics see also A61M19/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3355 Controlling downstream pump pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16854 by monitoring line pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/178 Syringes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/486 Indicating injection pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/488 Limiting injection pressure

Abstract

An objective and reproducible system for, and method of, monitoring and/or controlling the pressure during nerve blockage injection, especially by less experienced personnel, is provided in order to decrease the possibility of intraneuronal injection. More specifically, the present invention employs a pressure sensing and/or limiting device located between an injection device (typically a syringe) and a nerve block needle whereby injection pressure during a nerve block injection can be easily and objectively monitored, thereby allowing the operator to monitor the injection pressure and/or injection speed during a nerve blockage injection procedure and to take appropriate corrective actions if abnormal pressure conditions are observed.

Claims

1. A system for administration of a nerve block in a patient with reduced risk of intraneuronal injection, said system comprising

(1) an anesthetic delivery device having an anesthetic storage compartment and an output end;

(2) an anesthetic delivery device having an input end and an output end wherein the output end can be inserted into the patient for delivery of anesthetic to the patent in the vicinity of a nerve to be blocked;

(3) a tube having an anesthetic passageway connecting the output end of the anesthetic delivery device and the input end of the anaesthetic delivery device, whereby anesthetic from the anesthetic storage compartment can be delivered via the output end of the anesthetic delivery device to the patient; and

(4) a pressure sensing device located along, and in pressure sensing communication with, the anesthetic passageway, whereby the pressure of the anesthetic can be monitored during anesthetic delivery to the patient so as to reduce the risk of intraneuronal injection.

2. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the anesthetic delivery device is a syringe.

3. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the anesthetic delivery device is a nerve block needle.

4. The system as defined in claim 2, wherein the anesthetic delivery device is a nerve block needle.

5. The system as defined in claim 3, wherein the tube is flexible tubing.

6. The system as defined in claim 4, wherein the tube is flexible tubing.

7. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the pressure sensing device allows visual detection of at least normal and abnormal pressures during anesthetic delivery to the patient.

8. The system as defined in claim 2, wherein the pressure sensing device allows visual detection of at least normal and abnormal pressures during anesthetic delivery to the patient.

9. The system as defined in claim 3, wherein the pressure sensing device allows visual detection of at least normal and abnormal pressures during anesthetic delivery to the patient.

10. The system as defined in claim 4, wherein the pressure sensing device allows visual detection of at least normal and abnormal pressures during anesthetic delivery to the patient.

11. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the pressure sensing device is further equipped with an automatic shut-off device whereby anesthetic delivery is prevented when the pressure of the anesthetic during anesthetic delivery increases above a predetermined level.

12. The system as defined in claim 6, wherein the pressure sensing device is further equipped with an automatic shut-off device whereby anesthetic delivery is prevented when the pressure of the anesthetic during anesthetic delivery increases above a predetermined level.

13. A method of administering a nerve block to a patient with reduced risk of intraneuronal injection, said method comprising

(a) providing a system for administration of the nerve block in the patient with reduced risk of intraneuronal injection, said system comprising

(1) an anesthetic delivery device having an anesthetic storage compartment and an output end;

(2) an anesthetic delivery device having an input end and an output end wherein the output end can be inserted into the patient for delivery of anesthetic to the patent in the vicinity of a nerve to be blocked;

(3) a tube having an anesthetic passageway connecting the output end of the anesthetic delivery device and the input end of the anaesthetic delivery device, whereby anesthetic from the anesthetic storage compartment can be delivered via the output end of the anesthetic delivery device to the patient; and

(4) a pressure sensing device located along, and in pressure sensing communication with, the anesthetic passageway, whereby the pressure of the anesthetic can be monitored during anesthetic delivery to the patient so as to reduce the risk of intraneuronal injection;

(b) inserting the output end of the anesthetic delivery device into the vicinity of the nerve to be blocked;

(c) starting delivery of the anesthetic;

(d) monitoring the pressure of the anesthetic during delivery of the anesthetic;

(e) continuing delivery of the anesthetic so long as the pressure remains within a normal range;

(f) if the pressure increases to an abnormal range, interrupt delivery of the anesthetic so that appropriate corrective action can be taken;

(g) if the delivery of the anesthetic is interrupted in step (f), take the appropriate corrective action and continue delivery of the anesthetic; and

(f) repeat steps (d) through (g) until delivery of the anesthetic is complete or delivery of anestheticfl is terminated.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the anesthetic delivery device is a syringe and the anesthetic delivery device is a nerve block needle.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the tube is flexible tubing.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the tube is flexible tubing.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the pressure sensing device allows visual detection of at least the normal range and the abnormal range of pressures during anesthetic delivery to the patient.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the pressure sensing device allows visual detection of at least the normal range and the abnormal range of pressures during anesthetic delivery to the patient.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein an operator and an assistant administer the nerve block to the patient such that the assistant monitors the pressure and reports pressures in the abnormal range so that the operator can take appropriate corrective action.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein an operator and an assistant administer the nerve block to the patient such that the assistant monitors the pressure and reports pressures in the abnormal range so that the operator can take appropriate corrective action.