FLEX NEEDLE

• US 20190321562A1
• Filed: 04/20/2018
• Published: 10/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flextronics America LLC (Flextronics International Limited)
• Original Assignee: Flextronics America LLC (Flextronics International Limited)
• Inventors: Nelson, Andrew P.
• Granted Patent: US 10,960,147 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0216 Materials providing elastic properties, e.g. for facilitating deformation and avoid breaking
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/158 Needles for infusions; Accessories therefor, e.g. for inserting infusion needles, or for holding them on the body
• 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 flexible medical needle for extended indwelling periods is provided. The medical needle apparatus includes a spine body and a flexible shaft portion. The spine body has a length between a first end, comprising a piercing tip, and a second end. The flexible shaft portion may be disposed on at least a portion of the spine body, forming a needle shaft having a passage along a portion of the length of the spine body. The spine body may also be coiled forming an axial passage within the spine body. In this latter embodiment, the flexible shaft portion surrounds the spine body. In each embodiment, the spine body is configured to facilitate bending, allowing for the medical needle to remain indwelling with reduced discomfort.

Claims

1. A flexible medical needle apparatus comprising:

a spine body comprising a first end, a second end, a length, and a cross section;

a piercing tip, wherein the piercing tip is connected to the spine body at the first end; and

a flexible shaft portion comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein

the flexible shaft portion is disposed on at least a portion of the spine body forming a needle shaft,

the proximal end of the flexible shaft portion includes an opening and is adjacent to the first end of the spine body,

the distal end of the flexible shaft portion is adjacent to the second end of the spine body, and

the needle shaft comprises a passage having an inner surface.

2. The flexible medical needle apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cross section of the spine body is generally rectangular or trapezoidal, comprising a first width across a top surface of the spine body and a second width across a bottom surface of the spine body, wherein

the first width is greater than a thickness of the spine body, the thickness extending from the top surface to the bottom surface of the spine body, and

the thickness and the length of the spine body form opposite side surfaces.

3. The flexible medical needle apparatus of claim 2, wherein the flexible shaft portion is disposed along at least a portion of the length of the spine body on the side surfaces.

4. The flexible medical needle apparatus of claim 2, wherein the passage is bounded by the inner surface of the flexible shaft portion.

5. The flexible medical needle apparatus of claim 4, wherein the passage is bounded by the top surface of the spine body and the inner surface of the flexible shaft portion.

6. The flexible medical needle apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cross section of the spine body is generally elliptical or spherical, comprising a curved top surface, a curved bottom surface, and a longitudinal groove, wherein

the longitudinal groove extends along at least a portion of the length of the spine body having the cross section that is generally elliptical or spherical, and is configured to attach the flexible shaft portion to the spine body, and

the curved top surface is located above the longitudinal groove and the curved bottom surface is located below the longitudinal groove.

7. The flexible medical needle apparatus of claim 6, wherein the passage is bounded by the curved top surface of the spine body and the inner surface of the flexible shaft portion that extends until attachment with the groove.

8. The flexible medical needle apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible shaft portion is formed from at least one of a flexible material, a polymeric material having a low durometer, polytetrafluoroethylene-based polymers, silicon, Teflon, or a thermoplastic elastomer.

9. The flexible medical needle apparatus of claim 1, wherein the piercing tip terminates at a point comprising convergence of all surfaces of the spine body.

10. The flexible medical needle apparatus of claim 1, wherein the piercing tip includes a beveled end.

11. The flexible medical needle apparatus of claim 1, wherein the piercing tip includes an extended beveled portion comprising a continuous surface and comprising an extended beveled opening.

12. The flexible medical needle apparatus of claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the flexible shaft portion is perpendicular to an axis along the length of the spine body.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the flexible shaft portion includes a beveled end portion.

14. The flexible medical needle apparatus of claim 1, wherein a material used to form the flexible shaft portion has a lubricity characteristic to facilitate insertion of the flexible medical needle apparatus.

15. A flexible medical needle apparatus comprising:

a coiled spine body comprising a first end, a second end, and a length;

a piercing tip connected to the coiled spine body at the first end; and

a flexible shaft portion comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein

an axial passage is formed along an inner surface of the coiled spine body along the length, and

the flexible shaft portion surrounds the coiled spine body.

16. The flexible medical needle apparatus of claim 15, wherein the piercing tip includes a beveled end.

17. The flexible medical needle apparatus of claim 16, wherein the piercing tip includes an extended beveled portion comprising an extended beveled opening.

18. The flexible medical needle apparatus of claim 15, wherein

the proximal end of the flexible shaft portion includes an opening and is adjacent to the first end of the coiled spine body,

the distal end of the flexible shaft portion is adjacent to the second end of the coiled spine body, and

the proximal end of the flexible shaft portion includes a beveled end portion adjacent to the first end of the spine body.

19. The flexible medical needle apparatus of claim 15, wherein the coiled spine body

does not deform when acted upon by a force in the longitudinal direction along an axis of the spine body, and

does deform in directions other than the longitudinal direction along the axis of the spine body when acted upon by a force other than in the longitudinal direction along the axis of the spine body.

20. The flexible medical needle apparatus of claim 15, wherein a material used to form the flexible shaft portion has a lubricity characteristic to facilitate insertion of the flexible medical needle apparatus.