Nerve stimulator output control needle with depth determination capability and method of use
First Claim
1. A nerve stimulator needle apparatus comprising:
- a needle capable of carrying an electric current;
a variable control mechanism which is operable to variably control the amplitude of an ion of electric current to said needle;
a plurality of electrical connectors connected to said variable control mechanism and said needle which allows said variable control mechanism to remotely connect to a nerve stimulation device which is operable to provide a voltage to said variable control mechanism and to provide a current pulse to said needle having an amplitude which is controlled by said variable control mechanism; and
a housing which holds said variable control mechanism, said plurality of electrical connectors and said needle.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved nerve stimulator needle which allows for improved ease of use and efficacy in the performance of targeted drug delivery to nerve. A variable control mechanism is contained in a housing to which a needle is attached and several electrical conductors are attached. The housing contains an embedded fluid path through which a syringe is attached to the needle. The variable control mechanism and the housing allows for positioning the needle and applying current to the needle with the same hand. The needle may also contain a linear resistive coating that enables the determination of the depth of the needle by determining the resistance of the length of the needle above the skin surface of a patient. Another embodiment of the needle may include an optical variable control mechanism.
45 Citations
40 Claims
-
1. A nerve stimulator needle apparatus comprising:
-
a needle capable of carrying an electric current;
a variable control mechanism which is operable to variably control the amplitude of an ion of electric current to said needle;
a plurality of electrical connectors connected to said variable control mechanism and said needle which allows said variable control mechanism to remotely connect to a nerve stimulation device which is operable to provide a voltage to said variable control mechanism and to provide a current pulse to said needle having an amplitude which is controlled by said variable control mechanism; and
a housing which holds said variable control mechanism, said plurality of electrical connectors and said needle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A nerve stimulator apparatus comprising:
-
a nerve stimulator device comprising;
a voltage source;
a controller; and
a current source operable to produce an electrical current in response to said controller; and
a needle unit remotely located from said nerve stimulator device and connected to said nerve stimulator device only by at least one electrical conductor, said needle unit comprising;
a variable control mechanism which is operable to receive a voltage from said voltage source and to provide instructions to said controller to variably control the amplitude of said electrical current provided by said current source;
a needle capable of carrying said electric current from said current source having the amplitude controlled by said variable control mechanism; and
a housing which holds said variable control mechanism and said needle. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
-
-
36. A method of locating nerves comprising the steps of:
-
(A) inserting a needle mounted on a housing through a surface of skin of a subject;
(B) activating a variable control mechanism mounted on said housing to provide a variably controlled current to said needle;
(C) monitoring a detected current signal from a return electrode attached to said surface of skin of a subject using a nerve stimulator device, wherein steps A and B are substantially performed simultaneously by the same hand of an operator. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40)
-
Specification