Variable extension combined spinal/epidural needle set and method for its use
First Claim
1. An epidural needle having a hollow bore therethrough useful for releasably fixing a position of a spinal needle disposed within the bore of the epidural needle comprises:
- an elongate tube defining a longitudinal axis having a proximal end, a distal end and an axial hollow bore having an inside diameter therethrough;
a hub having a proximal end, a distal end and an open passageway having an inside diameter substantially similar to said hollow bore therethrough, said distal end of said hub being fixedly attached to said proximal end of said elongate tube so that said hollow bore of said elongate tube is in fluid communication and substantial axial alignment with said open passageway, said hub further having a cavity therein disposed between said proximal end and said distal end of said hub;
a resilient member having an opening therethrough with an inner diameter, substantially similar to said inside diameter of said hollow bore, said resilient member disposed in said cavity so that said opening is substantially axially aligned and in fluid communication with said open passageway; and
a clamp having a releasable latch disposed about said resilient member, said clamp being selectively movable between an open position wherein said inner diameter of said resilient member is substantially unaffected, a clamp position wherein said clamp causes a strain to at least a portion of said resilient member thereby reducing said inner diameter of said opening through at least a portion of said resilient member, and a latch position wherein said latch releasably retains said clamp in said clamp position; and
wherein a practitioner using said epidural needle to position a spinal needle having an outside diameter less than said inside diameter of said hollow tube may freely axially move the spinal needle within said hollow bore with respect to said epidural needle and fix a position of the spinal needle relative to said epidural needle by said reduction of said inner diameter of said opening through said resilient member to a diameter less than the outside diameter of the spinal needle by movement of said clamp to said clamp position and said latch position thereby to grasp releasably the spinal needle sufficiently to fix the relative position of the spinal needle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An epidural needle has an elongate tube defining a longitudinal axis having a proximal end, a distal end and an axial hollow bore having an inside diameter therethrough. The needle has a hub with a proximal end, a distal end and an open passageway having an inside diameter substantially similar to the hollow bore therethrough, the distal end of the hub being fixedly attached to the proximal end of the elongate tube so that the hollow bore of the elongate tube is in fluid communication and substantial axial alignment with the open passageway. The hub further has a cavity disposed between the proximal end and the distal end of the hub. There is a resilient member with an opening therethrough that has an inner diameter substantially similar to the inside diameter of the hollow bore disposed in the cavity so that the opening is substantially axially aligned and in fluid communication with the open passageway. The hub of the epidural needle of the invention has a clamp with a releasable latch disposed about the resilient member. The clamp is selectively movable between an open position wherein the inner diameter of the resilient member is substantially unaffected, a clamp position wherein the clamp causes a strain to the resilient member and thereby reduces the inner diameter of the opening through the resilient member. The clamp also has a latch position where the latch releasably retains the clamp in the clamp position.
136 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An epidural needle having a hollow bore therethrough useful for releasably fixing a position of a spinal needle disposed within the bore of the epidural needle comprises:
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an elongate tube defining a longitudinal axis having a proximal end, a distal end and an axial hollow bore having an inside diameter therethrough;
a hub having a proximal end, a distal end and an open passageway having an inside diameter substantially similar to said hollow bore therethrough, said distal end of said hub being fixedly attached to said proximal end of said elongate tube so that said hollow bore of said elongate tube is in fluid communication and substantial axial alignment with said open passageway, said hub further having a cavity therein disposed between said proximal end and said distal end of said hub;
a resilient member having an opening therethrough with an inner diameter, substantially similar to said inside diameter of said hollow bore, said resilient member disposed in said cavity so that said opening is substantially axially aligned and in fluid communication with said open passageway; and
a clamp having a releasable latch disposed about said resilient member, said clamp being selectively movable between an open position wherein said inner diameter of said resilient member is substantially unaffected, a clamp position wherein said clamp causes a strain to at least a portion of said resilient member thereby reducing said inner diameter of said opening through at least a portion of said resilient member, and a latch position wherein said latch releasably retains said clamp in said clamp position; and
wherein a practitioner using said epidural needle to position a spinal needle having an outside diameter less than said inside diameter of said hollow tube may freely axially move the spinal needle within said hollow bore with respect to said epidural needle and fix a position of the spinal needle relative to said epidural needle by said reduction of said inner diameter of said opening through said resilient member to a diameter less than the outside diameter of the spinal needle by movement of said clamp to said clamp position and said latch position thereby to grasp releasably the spinal needle sufficiently to fix the relative position of the spinal needle.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for releasably fixing a position of a spinal needle disposed within the bore of an epidural needle comprises:
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providing an epidural needle including an elongate tube defining a longitudinal axis, said tube having a proximal end, a distal end and an axial hollow bore having an inside diameter therethrough, a hub having a proximal end, a distal end and an open passageway having an inside diameter substantially similar to said hollow bore therethrough, said distal end of said hub being fixedly attached to said proximal end of said elongate tube so that said hollow bore of said elongate tube is in fluid communication and substantial axial alignment with said open passageway and wherein said open hub further having a cavity disposed between said proximal end and said distal end of said hub, a resilient member having an opening therethrough with an inner diameter, substantially similar to said inside diameter of said hollow bore, said resilient member disposed in said cavity so that said opening is substantially axially aligned and in fluid communication with said open passageway, and a clamp having a releasable latch disposed about said resilient member, said clamp being selectively movable between an open position wherein said inner diameter of said resilient member is substantially unaffected, a clamp position wherein said clamp causes a strain to said resilient member thereby reducing said inner diameter of said opening through said resilient member, and a latch position wherein said latch releasably retains said clamp in said clamp position;
placing a spinal needle having an outside diameter less than said inside diameter of within said hollow bore of said epidural needle;
selecting a position of said spinal needle relative to said epidural needle; and
fixing a position of said spinal needle relative to said epidural needle by moving of said clamp to said clamp position and said latch position thereby releasably fixing said position of said spinal needle relative to said epidural needle.
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15. A combined spinal epidural needle set comprises:
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an epidural needle including an elongate tube defining a longitudinal axis having a proximal end, a distal end and an axial hollow bore having an inside diameter therethrough, said epidural needle having a hub having a proximal end, a distal end and an open passageway having an inside diameter substantially similar to said hollow bore therethrough, said distal end of said hub being fixedly attached to said proximal end of said elongate tube so that said hollow bore of said elongate tube is in fluid communication and substantial axial alignment with said open passageway and wherein said hub further having a cavity disposed between said proximal end and said distal end of said hub, a resilient member having an opening therethrough with an inner diameter, substantially similar to said inside diameter of said hollow bore, said resilient member disposed in said cavity so that said opening is substantially axially aligned and in fluid communication with said open passageway, and a clamp having a releasable latch disposed about said resilient member, said clamp being selectively movable between an open position wherein said inner diameter of said resilient member is substantially unaffected, a clamp position wherein said clamp causes a strain to said resilient member thereby reducing said inner diameter of said opening through said resilient member, and a latch position wherein said latch releasably retains said clamp in said clamp position; and
a spinal needle having an outside diameter less than said inside diameter of said hollow tube disposed within said hollow bore, and wherein a practitioner using said epidural needle to position said spinal needle may freely axially move said spinal needle within said hollow bore with respect to said epidural needle and fix a position of said spinal needle relative to said epidural needle by said reduction of said inner diameter opening through said resilient member to a diameter less than said outside diameter of the spinal needle by movement of said clamp to said clamp position and said latch position thereby to grasp releasably the spinal needle sufficiently to fix the position. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification