System and method of delivering local anesthesia

• US 7,713,257 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2007
• Issued: 05/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Inventors: Partika, Larry, Ferrara, Michael S., Brimhall, Greg L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons; Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): WITCZAK, CATHERINE
• Application Number:
  US11/697,916
• Publication Number:
  US 20070250021A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,128 Days
• Field of Search: 604/164.01, 604/164.02, 604/164.04, 604/164.07, 604/16, 604/4.08, 604/165.01, 604/165.02, 60416701-16705, 604/158, 604/161, 604/164.06, 604/164.11, 604/164.09, 604/278, 604/239, 604/93.01, 604/43, 604/44, 604/512, 604/21, 604/20, 606/34, 606/41, 607/3, 607/46, 607/116, 607/6, 600/373, 600/424, 600/427, 600/547, 600/26
• US Class Current: 604/512
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 19/00 Local anaesthesia syringes therefor A61M5/00; Hypothermia A61M5/42 takes precedence; cooling blood in a bypass of the arterial system A61M1/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0637 Butterfly or winged devices, e.g. for facilitating handling or for attachment to the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0693 Flashback chambers

Abstract

A catheter and introducer needle assembly is provided including a catheter adapter at its proximal end. The catheter adapter includes a side port in fluid communication with the catheter and a septum located in the proximal end of the catheter adapter proximal of the side port. The introducer needle is connected at its proximal end to a needle hub and includes at least one notch in communication with the introducer needle lumen. The notch allows blood to flow into the open distal end of the needle and through the notch into the catheter lumen (specifically, the annular space between the outside of the introducer needle and the inside of the catheter and catheter adapter). Thereafter, the blood can flow through the annular space and then through the side port and extension tube that extends from the catheter adapter.

Claims

1. A catheter and introducer needle assembly for use in delivering anesthesia to human tissue including:

a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, which catheter is formed of a material that is an electrical insulator;

a catheter adapter in fluid communication with the catheter and having a proximal end and a distal end connected to the proximal end of the catheter, the catheter adapter including a side port in fluid communication with the catheter adapter;

an introducer needle having a proximal end and an open distal end disposed inside the catheter, the introducer needle defining a notch and a central bore therein, wherein the catheter sealingly engages the introducer needle near the distal end thereof, thereby defining an annular space between the introducer needle and the catheter and directing fluid flow in the annular space through the notch rather than out the distal end of the catheter;

a source of anesthesia selectively engaged to the side port, wherein anesthesia fluid passes from the source through the side port into the annular space through the notch and out the central bore of the introducer needle;

a needle hub having a proximal end and a distal end connected to the proximal end of needle;

an electrical lead connected to the needle; and

an elastomeric septum disposed in the catheter adapter and located proximal of the side port, the septum being equal to or longer than the distance between a proximal end of the notch and the open distal end of the introducer needle.

2. The catheter and introducer needle assembly of claim 1 further comprising a needle shield removably engaged to the catheter adapter for engaging the tip of the needle as it is withdrawn from the septum.

3. The catheter and introducer needle assembly of claim 1 wherein the elastomeric septum comprises a hollow interior portion.

4. A catheter and introducer needle assembly for use in delivering anesthesia to human tissue including:

a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end;

an introducer needle having a proximal end and an open distal end slidingly disposed inside the catheter, the introducer needle defining a notch and a central bore therein, wherein the catheter sealingly engages the introducer needle near the distal end thereof, thereby defining an annular space between the introducer needle and the catheter and directing fluid flow in the annular space through the notch rather than out the distal end of the catheter;

a catheter adapter in fluid communication with the catheter, the catheter adapter having a seal equal to or longer than the distance between a proximal end of the notch and the open distal end of the introducer needle, wherein a portion of the needle is disposed within the seal;

a closed system access port operably attached to the catheter adapter such that the closed system access port is in fluid communication with the catheter adapter;

a source of anesthesia selectively engaged to the closed system access port, wherein anesthesia fluid passes from the source through the closed system access port into the annular space through the notch into the central bore and out the open tip of the introducer needle;

a needle hub having a proximal end and a distal end connected to the proximal end of needle; and

an electrical lead operably connected to the needle;

wherein, when the introducer needle is withdrawn from the catheter adapter, the seal prevents fluid flow through the seal.

5. The catheter and introducer needle assembly of claim 4 wherein the seal includes a septum disposed in the catheter adapter and located proximal of the catheter.

6. The catheter and introducer needle assembly of claim 5 wherein the septum comprises a hollow interior portion.

7. A catheter and introducer needle assembly for use in delivering anesthesia to human tissue including:

a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end;

an introducer needle having a proximal end, an open distal end and a notch, the needle being slidingly disposed within the catheter, wherein a first seal between the distal end of the catheter and the distal end of the needle directs fluid flow in the catheter through the notch and out the distal end of the needle;

a catheter adapter in fluid communication with the catheter, the catheter adapter having a second seal equal to or longer than the distance between a proximal end of the notch and the open distal end of the introducer needle;

an access port operably attached to a source of anesthesia and the catheter adapter such that the access port is in fluid communication with the catheter adapter;

a needle hub having a proximal end and a distal end connected to the proximal end of the needle; and

an electrical lead operably connected to the needle;

wherein, when the introducer needle is withdrawn from the catheter adapter, a seal is formed to prevent fluid flow through the second seal.

8. The catheter and introducer needle assembly of claim 7 wherein the needle is disposed within the access port before it is withdrawn from the catheter adapter.