Methods and apparatus for administering local anesthetic

• US 9,814,858 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2016
• Issued: 11/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avent Incorporated (Avanos Medical, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avent Incorporated (Avanos Medical, Inc.)
• Inventors: Guzman, Michael F.
• Primary Examiner(s): LAURITZEN, AMANDA L
• Application Number:
  US15/002,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20160158483A1
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/3132 for laparoscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3401 Puncturing needles for the peridural or subarachnoid space or the plexus, e.g. for anaesthesia local anaesthesia A61M19/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3403 Needle locating or guiding means guides for suture needles A61B17/0482; guiding or tracking by nuclear magnetic resonance G01R33/285
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 46/00 Surgical drapes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 46/20 specially adapted for patients
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1106 to assess neuromuscular blockade, e.g. to estimate depth of anaesthesia
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4821 Determining level or depth of anaesthesia A61B5/1106 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0841 for locating instruments
• 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 2005/1726 the body parameters being measured at, or proximate to, the infusion site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0007 Epidural catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0681 Systems with catheter and outer tubing, e.g. sheath, sleeve or guide tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1003 Spinal column
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1017 Peritoneal cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1021 Abdominal cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/06 Body-piercing guide needles or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/065 Guide needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0662 Guide tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0668 splittable, tear apart
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 29/00 Dilators with or without means for introducing media, e.g. remedies instruments for performing visual medical inspections of cavities or tubes of the body A61B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 : Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/158 : Needles for infusions; Accessories therefor, e.g. for inserting infusion needles, or for holding them on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 : using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/42 : having means for desensitising skin, for protruding skin to facilitate piercing, or for locating point where body is to be pierced
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/427 : Locating point where body is to be pierced, e.g. vein location means using ultrasonic waves, injection site templates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/46 : having means for controlling depth of insertion

Abstract

Apparatus for administering certain nerve blocks includes a sheath constructed from a flexible ultrasound echogenic material, a more rigid introducer/dilator for introducing the sheath into the patient, and an ultrasound echogenic catheter for inserting through the sheath once the distal end of the sheath is in place adjacent the nerve(s) to be blocked and the introducer/dilator has been withdrawn. The catheter has provisions at its proximal end for connecting to a source of local anesthetic. Methods for use of this apparatus are also described.

Claims

1. A method for administering a peripheral nerve block to a patient, the method comprising:

penetrating the body of the patient with a first needle to form a tunnel, wherein a distal end of the first needle emerges from the body of the patient at a predetermined marked site,

placing a first sheath over the distal end of the first needle,

withdrawing the first needle from the first sheath, wherein the first sheath is partially pulled through the tunnel made by the first needle,

inserting a first catheter having a proximal end and a distal end through the partially withdrawn first sheath until the first catheter reaches an opposite end of the tunnel,

removing the first sheath,

introducing a second needle sheathed within a second sheath having a proximal end and an open distal end through which a distal end of the second needle projects into the body of the patient at the predetermined marked site,

advancing the sheathed second needle into the tunnel until the sheathed second needle reaches a nerve bundle to be blocked,

delivering local anesthetic,

withdrawing the second needle, wherein the distal end of the second sheath is adjacent the blocked nerve bundle,

inserting the distal end of the first catheter into the proximal end of the second sheath,

advancing the distal end of the first catheter down the second sheath to the location of the blocked nerve bundle, and

removing the second sheath, wherein the first catheter forms a loop extending from the predetermined marked site, wherein the loop is pulled back through the tunnel by pulling on the proximal end of the first catheter, and

connecting the proximal end of the first catheter to a source of local anesthetic, and

commencing anesthesia via the first catheter.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a stimulating clip adjacent a proximal end of the second needle for coupling the second needle to a peripheral nerve stimulator to facilitate passing a current through the second needle and the patient'"'"'s body to stimulate nerves in the area of the distal end of the first second needle.