BODILY FLUID SPACE ENTRY DETECTION METHOD

• US 20070255220A1
• Filed: 07/02/2007
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Smiths Medical ASD, Inc. (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Smiths Medical ASD, Inc. (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: King, Alan, Muskatello, James
• Application Number:
  US11/772,579
• Publication Number:
  US 20070255220A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/168.10
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15003 for venous or arterial blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150389 Hollow piercing elements, e.g. canulas, needles, for piercing the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150396 Specific tip design, e.g. for improved penetration characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150419 comprising means for capillary action
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150427 Specific tip design, e.g. for improved penetration characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150511 Details of construction of shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150519 Details of construction of hub, i.e. element used to attach the single-ended needle to a piercing device or sampling device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150824 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1535 comprising means for indicating vein or arterial entry A61B5/1545 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/32 Needles; Details of needles pertaining to their connection with syringe or hub infusion needles A61M5/158; Accessories for bringing the needle into, or holding the needle on, the body A61M5/42, A61M5/46 take precedence; guide needles for catheters A61M25/065; Devices for protection of needles apparatus specially adapted for cleaning or sterilising needles A61M5/001
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3286 Needle tip design, e.g. for improved penetration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/329 characterised by features of the needle shaft

Abstract

A bodily fluid space entry detection method includes entry of the distal, sharp tip of a needle cannula into a bodily fluid space such as a blood vessel or epidural space to allow bodily fluid such as blood or spinal fluid to establish electrical conduction along the cannula and energizing an alert source, LED, and/or a buzzer, in response.

Claims

1. A method of detecting entry of a cannula into a bodily fluid space comprising inserting a tip of a cannula into the bodily fluid space and energizing an alert source in response to body fluid in the bodily fluid space establishing electrical conduction along the cannula.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein energizing an alert source includes energizing an LED.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein energizing an alert source includes energizing a buzzer.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the cannula extends through a catheter to be introduced into the bodily fluid space, the method further comprising withdrawing the cannula from the catheter after the alert source being energized.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the alert source is coupled to an alert circuit and a battery all contained within a housing removably held adjacent an end of the cannula opposite the tip, the method further comprising removing the housing.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the alert source is energized in response to the bodily fluid establishing electrical contact adjacent the cannula tip.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the bodily fluid space is a blood vessel, the method further comprising inserting the cannula tip into the blood vessel and energizing the alert source in response to blood establishing the electrical conduction.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the bodily fluid space is a blood vessel, the method further comprising inserting the cannula tip into the blood vessel and energizing the alert source in response to blood establishing the electrical conduction.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising energizing the alert source in a modified manner in response to modified electrical conduction being established along the cannula by further flow of bodily fluid along the cannula.