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Apparatus and methods for guiding a needle

  • US 7,204,826 B2
  • Filed: 12/15/2003
  • Issued: 04/17/2007
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1999
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An entry needle comprising:

  • a first assembly comprising,a housing;

    a stylet extending into the housing and biased towards a distal end of the entry needle; and

    a hub adjacent the housing at a proximal end of the entry needle, the hub in connection with the stylet;

    a second assembly comprising a cannula surrounding the stylet, wherein the first assembly and the second assembly seal together and are separable, and such that body fluid cannot pass through the needle when the first and second assemblies are sealed together;

    wherein the hub is movable from a first position to a second position, the hub in the first position indicating that the entry needle is impeded by a tissue and the hub in the second position indicating that the entry needle is substantially unimpeded by the tissue; and

    wherein fluid cannot pass through the entry needle when the hub is in the second position and the entry needle is substantially unimpeded by tissue.

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