Regional anesthesia system and cart

• US 8,092,426 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2010
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James M. Molnar
• Original Assignee: James M. Molnar
• Inventors: Molnar, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Jackie
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stohr, Leah
• Application Number:
  US12/896,405
• Publication Number:
  US 20110021912A1
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 604/30, 604/116, 604/118, 604151-153, 604/181, 604/182, 600/439, 600/554, 606/130, 606/439
• US Class Current: 604/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4041 Evaluating nerves condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4821 Determining level or depth of anaesthesia A61B5/1106 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4893 Nerves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/13 Tomography A61B8/10, A61B8/12 take precedence; tomography for radiation diagnosis A61B6/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4218 characterised by articulated arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4405 Device being mounted on a trolley
• 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 2202/048 Anaesthetics
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/01 Remote controllers for specific apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00

Abstract

A regional anesthesia system and a cart for aiding in the placement of a regional anesthesia block without the need of ancillary assistance. The invention includes equipment for use in the performance of a regional anesthesia block which is carried on a cart for transporting and providing a stable foundation for the equipment. The equipment includes a nerve localization means such as ultrasound or a peripheral nerve stimulator for locating a target nerve of a patient, a position assist arm for maintaining the position of the localization means over the target nerve while the operator inserts an anesthetic needle over the target nerve, and an anesthetic infusion device for infusing or aspirating through the anesthesia needle. The infusion device includes an infusion pump controlled by a foot pedal. The system may be easily transported to a patient requiring a regional anesthesia block, and allows the regional anesthesia block to be performed with minimal ancillary assistance.

Claims

1. A system for use in the placement of a regional anesthesia block without the need of ancillary assistance, the system comprising:

a) a nerve localization means for assisting an operator in locating a target nerve of a patient;

b) a position assist arm for maintaining the position of the localization means over the target nerve once the target nerve has been located;

c) an infusion device adapted to control anesthetic medication flow through a regional anesthesia needle;

d) a foot pedal for controlling the flow of anesthetic medication through the infusion device, the foot pedal including an event button for recording a significant event and a picture button for creating a photograph of the significant event, wherein the buttons are operable via depression by the operator'"'"'s foot;

e) a portable battery for use either as backup when there is no standard electrical outlet available, or as a main source of power for all of the elements on the cart, thereby enhancing the portability of the system; and

f) a cart for transporting the system from one area of a hospital or medical center to the room of a patient requiring a regional anesthesia block, wherein the combination of the nerve localization means, the position assist arm, the infusion device and the foot pedal allows the operator to be free to use both hands for manipulating the anesthesia needle during the regional anesthesia block procedure.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a control module for controlling communication between the infusion device and the foot pedal, the control module comprising an infusion control for inputting preset parameters of operation for the infusion device, and a pedal control for controlling operation of the foot pedal in accordance with the preset parameters.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the infusion device is set to function at infusion pressures of between about 10 psi to about 20 psi, and at an infusion rate of between about 5 ml/min to about 15 ml/min.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the infusion device is programmed to sound an alarm when infusion pressures are outside the preset parameters and then automatically slow, stop, or prevent initiation of infusion to avoid nerve damage from a possible intra-neural injection.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a video display device which can be coupled to the nerve localization means, the infusion device, an EKG monitor, a blood pressure cuff, a pulse oximeter, or a peripheral nerve stimulator to provide a real-time display during placement of the block.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the nerve localization means is an ultrasound imaging system, and the video display device is a monitor which is coupled with the ultrasound imaging system to display a visual image of the target nerve.

7. The system of claim 1, further including a smart chip for identifying pre-packaged syringes of medication to ensure that the proper medication is administered.

8. A transportable regional anesthesia blockade system for performing a regional anesthesia block procedure, comprising:

a) an ultrasound imaging system to assist an operator in locating a target nerve, the ultrasound imaging system including a central processing unit and an ultrasound transducer probe;

b) a position assist arm for maintaining the position of the ultrasound transducer probe over the target nerve once the target nerve has been located;

c) an infusion device for controlling anesthetic medication flow through a regional anesthesia needle, the infusion device including flexible tubing which leads from the infusion device to the anesthesia needle;

d) a foot pedal for powering the infusion device, the foot pedal including a coupling cable which leads from the foot pedal to the infusion device, an event button for recording a significant event, and a picture button for creating a photograph of the significant event, wherein the buttons are operable via depression by the operator'"'"'s foot;

e) a video display device which can be coupled to the ultrasound imaging system, the infusion device, an EKG monitor, a blood pressure cuff, a pulse oximeter, or a peripheral nerve stimulator to provide a real-time display during placement of the block; and

f) a cart for transporting the system from one area of a hospital or medical center to the room of a patient requiring a regional anesthesia block, wherein the combination of the ultrasound imaging system, the position assist arm, the infusion device and the foot pedal allows the operator to be free to use both hands for manipulating the anesthesia needle during the regional anesthesia block procedure.

9. The transportable regional anesthesia blockade system of claim 8, further comprising a control module for controlling communication between the infusion device and the foot pedal, the control module comprising an infusion control for inputting preset parameters of operation for the infusion device, and a pedal control for controlling operation of the foot pedal in accordance with the preset parameters.

10. The transportable regional anesthesia blockade system of claim 9, wherein the infusion device is set to function at infusion pressures of between about 10 psi to about 20 psi, and at an infusion rate of between about 5 ml/min to about 15 ml/min.

11. The transportable regional anesthesia blockade system of claim 9, wherein the infusion device is programmed to sound an alarm when infusion pressures are outside the preset parameters and then automatically slow, stop, or prevent initiation of infusion to avoid nerve damage from a possible intra-neural injection.

12. The transportable regional anesthesia blockade system of claim 8, wherein the video display device is a monitor which is coupled with the ultrasound transducer probe to display a visual image of the target nerve.

13. The transportable regional anesthesia blockade system of claim 8, further including a portable battery for use either as backup when there is no standard electrical outlet available, or as a main source of power for all of the elements on the cart, thereby enhancing the portability of the system.

14. The transportable regional anesthesia blockade system of claim 8, further including a smart chip for identifying pre-packaged syringes of medication to ensure that the proper medication is administered.

15. A method of performing a regional anesthesia blockade procedure without the need for ancillary assistance, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a transportable regional anesthesia blockade system to an operator, the system comprising an ultrasound imaging system to aid in locating a target nerve, a position assist arm for maintaining the position of the ultrasound imaging system over the target nerve once the target nerve has been located, an infusion device for controlling anesthetic medication flow through a regional anesthesia needle, a foot pedal for powering the infusion device, the foot pedal including an event button for recording a significant event and a picture button for creating a photograph of the significant event, a video display device, and a cart for transporting the system within a hospital or medical center to the room of a patient requiring a regional anesthesia block;

b) transporting the transportable regional anesthesia blockade system via the cart to the patient;

c) locating a target nerve of the patient via the ultrasound imaging system;

d) stabilizing the ultrasound imaging system over the located target nerve by affixing the ultrasound imaging system to the position assist arm;

e) inserting a regional anesthesia needle into an injection site at or near the target nerve;

f) operating the foot pedal to inject medication from the infusion device through the regional anesthesia needle and into the injection site;

g) coupling the video display device to the ultrasound imaging system to provide a real-time display during placement of the block;

h) recording a significant event via depression of the event button by the operator'"'"'s foot; and

i) creating a photograph of the significant event via depression of the event button by the operator'"'"'s foot.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the infusion device is programmable to sound an alarm when infusion pressures are outside preset parameters and then automatically slow, stop, or prevent initiation of infusion to avoid nerve damage from a possible intra-neural injection.