Flat-inclined tip needle

• US 4,721,506 A
• Filed: 11/07/1986
• Issued: 01/26/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Leonides Y. Teves
• Original Assignee: Leonides Y. Teves
• Inventors: Teves, Leonides Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): YASKO JR, JOHN D
• Application Number:
  US06/928,187
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 604/51, 604/158, 604/164, 604/165, 604/170, 604/272, 604/273, 604/274, 128/753, 128/754
• US Class Current: 604/506
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06085 having a blunt tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3286 Needle tip design, e.g. for improved penetration

Abstract

An epidural needle and method of use are disclosed involving a needle shaft having a first end and a second end with an axial channel extending therebetween. The first end of the needle shaft includes an inclined surface and a rounded and blunted point. The second end of the needle includes an attachment means. A solid rod having an inclined surface and a rounded and blunted point is receivable into the axial channel of the needle shaft. When the solid rod is positioned within the axial channel of the needle shaft, the point of the solid rod and the needle together form a unitary tip having an inclined portion and a blunted portion. The blunted portion forms an end face disposed at an angle of about 80 to 100 degrees relative a longitudinal axis of the needle. The unitary tip avoids nicking, piercing, severing, or perforating the veins, arteries, nerves and dura of the patient in traversing the spinal ligaments and in entering a space proximate the dura matter of a spinal cord of a patient to provide liquid communication with the space when the solid rod is withdrawn from the axial channel of the needle.

Claims

1. An epidural needle for providing liquid communication with a space proximate the dura mater of a spinal cord of a patient comprising:

a needle shaft having a first end and a second end with an axial channel extending therebetween;

said second end of said needle shaft having an attachment means for providing a liquid tight engagement with the syringe;

said first end of said needle shaft having an inclined surface and a rounded and blunted point;

a solid rod having a first end and a second end and being slidably receivable into said axial channel of said needle shaft such that said first end of said solid rod is aligned with said first end of said needle shaft;

said first end of said solid rod having an inclined surface and a rounded and blunted point;

said point of said needle shaft and said point of said solid rod together defining a unitary tip configuration having a blunt portion and an inclined portion;

said blunt portion of said unitary tip forming an end face disposed at an angle of about 80°

to 100°

relative a longitudinal axis of said needle shaft whereby said unitary tip avoids nicking, piercing, severing, or perforating the veins, arteries, nerves and dura of the patient in traversing the spinal ligaments in and entering a space proximate the dura mater of the spinal cord of the patient to provide liquid communication with the space when the solid rod is withdrawn from the axial channel of the needle shaft.

2. The epidural needle of claim 1 wherein said end face of said blunt portion of said tip forms an end face disposed at an angle of about 90°

relative said longitudinal axis of said needle shaft.

3. The epidural needle of claim 1 wherein said inclined portion of said tip is inclined at an angle of 40°

to 50°

relative said longitudinal axis of said needle.

4. The epidural needle of claim 1 wherein said blunted portion of said tip comprises about 30% of the diameter of the needle and forms an angle of about 90°

relative said longitudinal axis.

5. The epidural needle of claim 1 wherein said attachment means is a hub.

6. An epidural needle for use with a syringe for administrating a liquid injection to a space proximate the dura mater of a spinal cord of a patient comprising:

a needle shaft having an axial channel extending therethrough and including a first end and a second end;

said second end of said needle shaft having a hub to enable liquid tight engagement with the syringe;

said first end of said needle shaft having an inclined surface and a rounded and blunted point;

a solid rod having a first end and a second end and being receivable into said axial channel of said needle shaft in a close fitting relation such that said first end of said solid rod is aligned with said first end of said needle shaft;

said first end of said solid rod having an inclined surface and a rounded and blunted point;

said point of said needle shaft and said point of said solid rod together defining a unitary tip configuration having a blunt portion and an inclined portion;

said inclined portion of said tip being inclined at an angle of 40°

to 50°

relative a longitudinal axis of said needle such that the inclined portion comprises about 70% of the diameter of the needle; and

said blunt portion of said tip forming an end face disposed at an angle of about 90°

relative said longitudinal axis of said needle shaft such that the blunt portion comprises about 30% of the diameter of the needle whereby said tip avoids nicking, piercing, severing, or perforating the veins, arteries, nerves and dura of the patient in traversing the spinal ligaments in entering a space proximate the dura mater of the spinal cord of the patient to provide liquid communication with the space when the solid rod is withdrawn from the axial channel of the needle shaft.

7. A method of effecting liquid communication with an epidural space of a patient comprising:

providing an epidural needle including a needle shaft having a first end and a second end with an axial channel extending therebetween and with the first end having an inclined surface and rounded and blunted point and the second end of the needle shaft having an attachment means for providing a liquid tight engagement with a syringe;

a solid rod having a first end with an inclined surface and a rounded and blunted point and a second end, with the solid rod being slidably receivable into the axial channel of the needle shaft such that the first end of the solid rod is alignable with the first end of the needle shaft to define a unitary tip configuration having a blunt portion and an inclined portion comprising the point of the needle shaft and the point of the solid shaft where the blunt portion of the tip forms an end face disposed at an angle of about 80°

to 100°

relative a longitudinal axis of the needle shaft; and

conducting an epidural injection comprising;

inserting an introducer comprising a needle with a sharp tip and having an axial channel therein through the skin and flesh of a patient up to a position proximate the spinal ligaments ascertainable by an increased penetration resistance;

inserting the epidural needle with the solid rod disposed therein, into the axial channel of the introducer;

inserting the epidural needle through the spinal ligaments and into the epidural space whereby the unitary tip avoids nicking, piercing, severing, or perforating the veins, arteries, nerves and dura of the patient in traversing the spinal ligaments and in entering a space proximate the dura mater of the spinal cord of the patient; and

withdrawing the solid rod from the introducer and epidural needle to provide liquid communication with the space via the axial channel of the epidural needle.