POSITIONING SYSTEM FOR A NERVE STIMULATOR NEEDLE
First Claim
1. A method of locating a target nerve or nerve plexus of a patient for the administration of an anesthetic blockade, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a carrier having a bore and an electrically nonconductive smooth surface at an end of the bore, b) placing a nerve stimulator needle having a sharp tip within the bore, c) positioning the tip in proximity to the end of the bore, d) coupling a current supply to the tip, e) initiating current flow through the patient from the tip, f) moving the end of the bore while maintaining current flow;
g) ascertaining a position of the carrier in registration with the target nerve or nerve plexus by eliciting a neurological response to current flow during step f) and h) fixing the carrier at the ascertained position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A target nerve or nerve plexus registration point is located utilizing a nerve stimulator needle positioned in a bore of a carrier. The carrier is configured with an electrically nonconductive smooth curved surface at a distal end of the bore. The needle tip is fixed in an operative cutaneous electrode position and the smooth curved surface of the carrier is forced against and compresses the epidermis, corium and subcutaneous tissue and traverses cutaneous surfaces to locate a target nerve or nerve plexus without physical penetration by the needle tip. The needle is then inserted at the located point, with or without the needle path being guided by the bore. In another embodiment, a subcutaneous portion of carrier is introduced and is pivoted about its introduction point to locate the target nerve.
52 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of locating a target nerve or nerve plexus of a patient for the administration of an anesthetic blockade, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a carrier having a bore and an electrically nonconductive smooth surface at an end of the bore, b) placing a nerve stimulator needle having a sharp tip within the bore, c) positioning the tip in proximity to the end of the bore, d) coupling a current supply to the tip, e) initiating current flow through the patient from the tip, f) moving the end of the bore while maintaining current flow;
g) ascertaining a position of the carrier in registration with the target nerve or nerve plexus by eliciting a neurological response to current flow during step f) and h) fixing the carrier at the ascertained position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of locating a target nerve or nerve plexus of a subject for the administration of an anesthetic blockade or other medical procedure, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) coupling a nerve stimulator needle to a carrier;
b) releasably fixing a sharp tip of the nerve stimulator needle relative to the carrier in a first position;
c) manipulating the carrier such that the sharp tip is in contact with dermal layers of the subject without penetrating the dermal layers and initiating the current flow through the patient from the tip;
d) manipulating the carrier to move the sharp tip along the dermal layers without penetration of the dermal layers and while maintaining current flow;
e) ascertaining a position of the sharp tip in registration with the target nerve or nerve plexus by eliciting a neurological response to current flow during step d); and
f) fixing the sharp tip at the ascertained position. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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11. A method of locating a target nerve or nerve plexus of a subject in accordance with claim 11 further including the step of:
g) releasing the sharp tip from the first position and advancing the sharp tip through the dermal layers toward the target nerve or nerve plexus at the ascertained position. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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15. A method of eliciting a neurological response to current flow, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a nerve stimulator needle having a sharp tip;
b) coupling the needle to a current supply;
c) contacting dermal layers of a subject with the sharp tip; and
d) compressing the dermal layers and underlying tissue without the sharp tip penetrating the dermal layers. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification