Retrobulbar Needle and Methods of Use

• US 20100010468A1
• Filed: 07/01/2009
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bruce Becker
• Original Assignee: Bruce Becker
• Inventors: Becker, Bruce
• Granted Patent: US 8,945,086 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/506
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0017 implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/007 Methods or devices for eye surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31511 Piston or piston-rod constructions, e.g. connection of piston with piston-rod A61M5/5066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3243 being axially-extensible, e.g. protective sleeves coaxially slidable on the syringe barrel devices for protecting guide needles in combination with catheters A61M25/0612
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3257 Semi-automatic sleeve extension, i.e. in which triggering of the sleeve extension requires a deliberate action by the user, e.g. manual release of spring-biased extension means
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3291 Shafts with additional lateral openings

Abstract

A syringe and needle assembly includes a needle that extends through the barrel of the syringe and is attached to a proximal portion of the syringe. The distal end of the needle extends through a sleeve attached to the distal end of the syringe. The proximal end of the needle includes a spring which biases the needle proximally, so that the distal tip of the needle is normally retracted within the sleeve. The assembly can be used for injections in portions of a patient'"'"'s body including delicate tissues that could be damaged if contacted by the needle tip

Claims

1. A syringe comprising:

a cylindrical barrel having a proximal end, a distal end, an interior wall, and an open interior space between the proximal and distal ends;

a plunger assembly including

a plunger stem having a proximal end and a distal end, and

a piston attached to the plunger stem distal end, the piston forming a fluid seal with the barrel interior wall;

a cannula attached to the barrel, the cannula including a longitudinally extending lumen, a proximal portion, and a distal portion having a flexibility greater than the cannula proximal portion; and

a needle assembly including

a longitudinally extending shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending proximally from the needle shaft distal end,

at least one side hole formed along the needle shaft, and

a proximal body mounted to the needle shaft proximal end, the proximal body sealing the proximal end of the needle shaft lumen, the proximal body positioned proximal of the piston.

2. The syringe according to claim 1, wherein the needle assembly is longitudinally movable relative to the barrel and the cannula between a distal position at which the needle shaft distal end is distal of the cannula distal end, and a proximal position at which the needle shaft distal end is proximal of the cannula distal end.

3. The syringe according to claim 2, wherein the at least one side hole in the needle shaft is located along the needle shaft so that the at least one side hole is in fluid communication with the barrel interior space when the needle assembly is at any position between the distal position and the proximal position.

4. The syringe according to claim 2, wherein the needle shaft distal end is positioned within the cannula proximal portion when in the distal position.

5. The syringe according to claim 1, wherein the proximal body is positioned between the plunger stem proximal and distal ends.

6. The syringe according to claim 1, wherein the plunger stem has a laterally open space between the plunger stem proximal and distal ends.

7. The syringe according to claim 1, wherein the plunger stem is positioned laterally offset from the needle assembly proximal body.

8. The syringe according to claim 1, wherein the needle assembly shaft extends through the piston and through the cannula proximal portion.

9. The syringe according to claim 1, further comprising:

a stabilizer bar mounted laterally across the barrel, the stabilizer bar including a longitudinally extending bore, a portion of the needle assembly extending through the stabilizer bar bore.

10. The syringe according to claim 9, further comprising:

a spring extending between the needle assembly proximal body and the stabilizer bar, the spring biasing the needle assembly in a proximal direction.

11. The syringe according to claim 9, wherein:

the stabilizer bar includes at least one tang in the stabilizer bar bore oriented partially distally;

the proximal body includes a distal shoulder oriented proximally; and

the tang engages against the distal shoulder.

12. The syringe according to claim 1, wherein the needle assembly proximal body includes a proximal shoulder having a lateral size greater than a lateral size of the stabilizer body bore.

13. The syringe according to claim 1, further comprising:

a cavity formed on the distal end of the barrel interior wall, the needle assembly shaft extending through the cavity.

14. The syringe according to claim 1, wherein the cannula includes a proximal end positioned within the barrel interior.

15. An assembly comprising:

a hollow cylinder having an open proximal end and a distal end;

a needle hub attached to the cylinder adjacent to the cylinder distal end, the needle hub including a proximal end, a distal end, and a hollow interior;

an elongate needle having a proximal end, a sharpened distal end, and a lumen extending between the needle proximal and distal ends, the needle mounted to the needle hub with the needle lumen in communication with the needle hub interior;

an elongate outer member having a proximal end, a distal end, and at least two laterally spaced arms longitudinally extending outside of the hollow cylinder;

a cannula hub attached to the elongate outer member distal end, the cannula hub including a proximal end, a distal end, and a hollow interior;

an elongate cannula having a proximal end, a blunt distal end, and a lumen extending between the cannula proximal and distal ends, the cannula mounted to the cannula hub with the cannula lumen in communication with the cannula hub interior;

wherein the elongate needle is partially positioned in the cannula lumen;

wherein the needle hub is partially positioned in the cannula hub; and

wherein the hollow cylinder, needle hub, and needle are longitudinally movable relative to the elongate outer member, the cannula hub, and the cannula between a first position at which the needle distal end is distal of the cannula distal end, and a second position at which the needle distal end is proximal of the cannula distal end.

16. The assembly according to claim 15, wherein:

the cannula hub includes a longitudinally extending slot; and

the needle hub includes a longitudinally extending flange which extends laterally into the cannula hub slot.

17. The assembly according to claim 15, wherein the at least two laterally spaced arms define an opening through which the hollow cylinder is accessible.

18. The assembly according to claim 15, wherein the needle hub includes means for connecting to a syringe positioned at the needle hub proximal end.

19. The assembly according to claim 15, wherein the cannula includes a proximal portion and a distal portion, the cannula distal portion being more flexible than the cannula proximal portion.

20. The assembly according to claim 19, wherein the needle distal end is positioned within the cannula proximal portion when the needle is in the second position.

21. A method of performing an injection into an anatomical location of a patient, the method comprising:

providing a needle and a cannula, the cannula having a distal end, the needle having a sharpened distal end, the needle positioned and longitudinally movable within the cannula between a distal position at which the needle sharpened distal end is distal of the cannula distal end, and a proximal position at which the needle sharpened distal end is proximal of the cannula distal end;

moving the needle into the distal position;

inserting the needle and the cannula into the anatomical location;

moving the needle into the proximal position; and

injecting a fluid through the distal end of the cannula.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the anatomical location is selected from the group consisting of the orbital fat, lumbar region, thorax, chest wall, and an area of the human body covered with skin and muscle and having soft fragile structures under the muscle.