Flexible tip medical instrument
First Claim
1. A medical access assembly, comprising:
- an elongated introducer cannula defining an introducer lumen having a curved portion;
a set of needles adapted to be disposed within said introducer lumen and includinga hollow outer needle having a wall defining a lumen and a first relief notch having a length along a longitudinal axis of said hollow outer needle, said length of said first relief notch longer than a width of said first relief notch,an inner needle disposed within said lumen of said outer needle and defining a second relief notch having a length along a longitudinal axis of said inner needle, said length of said second relief notch longer than a width of said second relief notch,said inner needle and said outer needle having a first position with said inner needle retracted within said lumen of said outer needle with said first relief notch superposed over said second relief notch; and
said outer needle and said inner needle being sufficiently flexible where said first relief notch is superposed over said second relief notch to traverse said curved portion without binding between the needles as said needle set is inserted into said introducer lumen.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A needle set includes a hollow outer needle and an inner needle slidably disposed within the lumen of the outer needle. The outer needle defines a first relief notch having a length that is longer than its width. The inner needle defines a second relief notch, which is also longer than wide. The needle set has a first position with the first relief notch superposed over the second relief notch. A slot may also be defined in the outer needle. A firing mechanism may be engaged to the proximal ends of the needles to move the needles relative to one another. The needle set may be used with an elongated introducer cannula having a curved portion with the outer and inner needles being sufficiently flexible to traverse the curved portion without binding between the needles.
108 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A medical access assembly, comprising:
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an elongated introducer cannula defining an introducer lumen having a curved portion; a set of needles adapted to be disposed within said introducer lumen and including a hollow outer needle having a wall defining a lumen and a first relief notch having a length along a longitudinal axis of said hollow outer needle, said length of said first relief notch longer than a width of said first relief notch, an inner needle disposed within said lumen of said outer needle and defining a second relief notch having a length along a longitudinal axis of said inner needle, said length of said second relief notch longer than a width of said second relief notch, said inner needle and said outer needle having a first position with said inner needle retracted within said lumen of said outer needle with said first relief notch superposed over said second relief notch; and said outer needle and said inner needle being sufficiently flexible where said first relief notch is superposed over said second relief notch to traverse said curved portion without binding between the needles as said needle set is inserted into said introducer lumen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A set of needles, comprising:
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a hollow outer needle having a wall defining a lumen and a first relief notch having a length along a longitudinal axis of said outer needle, said length of said first relief notch longer than a width of said first relief notch; and an inner needle slidably disposed within said lumen of said outer needle and defining a second relief notch having a length along a longitudinal axis of said inner needle;
said length of said second relief notch longer than a width of said second relief notch;said inner needle and said outer needle having a first position with said inner needle retracted within said lumen with said first relief notch superposed over said second relief notch, wherein said inner needle defines a sampling cavity adjacent a distal end of said inner needle, said outer needle covering said sampling cavity in the first position, the set of needles movable between the first position and a second position wherein said distal end of said inner needle is extended away from said outer needle to expose said sampling cavity. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification