Medical needle and medical device

• US 20060100654A1
• Filed: 12/16/2004
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lightnix, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lightnix, Inc.
• Inventors: Aoyagi, Seiji, Fukuda, Mitsuo
• Granted Patent: US 7,740,621 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/181
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1411 by percutaneous method, e.g. by lancet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150099 by negative pressure, other than vacuum extraction into a syringe by pulling on the piston rod or into pre-evacuated tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150106 Means for reducing pain or discomfort applied before puncturing; desensitising the skin at the location where body is to be pierced
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150229 Pumps for assisting the blood sampling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150282 for piercing elements, e.g. blade, lancet, canula, needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150396 Specific tip design, e.g. for improved penetration characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150404 Specific design of proximal end
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150412 Pointed piercing elements, e.g. needles, lancets for piercing the skin blade-like piercing elements A61B5/150442
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150419 comprising means for capillary action
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150427 Specific tip design, e.g. for improved penetration characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150458 Specific blade design, e.g. for improved cutting and penetration characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150503 Single-ended needles hollow piercing element tip design A61B5/150396, needle sets for catheters A61M25/06, needles for bringing media into the body A61M5/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150511 Details of construction of shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3286 Needle tip design, e.g. for improved penetration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/422 Desensitising skin

Abstract

One of aspects of the present invention is to provide a medical needle extending along a predetermined direction and having a vertical cross-section taken along a plane perpendicular to the predetermined direction of which cross-sectional area varies based upon a distance from a needle tip. The medical needle includes a plurality of maximal points where the cross-sectional area of the vertical cross-section is locally maximal, and a plurality of minimal points where the cross-sectional area of the vertical cross-section is locally minimal. The vertical cross-section at the maximal point closest to the needle tip has the cross-sectional area not less than those at any other maximal points.

Claims

1. A medical needle extending along a predetermined direction and having a vertical cross-section taken along a plane perpendicular to the predetermined direction of which cross-sectional area varies based upon a distance from a needle tip, the medical needle, comprising:

a plurality of maximal points where the cross-sectional area of the vertical cross-section is locally maximal; and

a plurality of minimal points where the cross-sectional area of the vertical cross-section is locally minimal;

wherein the vertical cross-section at the maximal point closest to the needle tip has the cross-sectional area not less than those at any other maximal points.

2. The medical needle according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one channel formed therein extending along the predetermined direction and having at least one opening.

3. The medical needle according to claim 2, further comprising:

a holding member connected to a needle rear;

wherein the holding member has at least one chamber in communication with the channel.

4. The medical needle according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one groove extending along the predetermined direction.

5. The medical needle according to claim 4, further comprising:

a holding member connected to a needle rear;

wherein the holding member has at least one chamber in communication with the groove.

6. The medical needle according to claim 1,

wherein when viewed on a projected plane parallel to the predetermined direction, the cross-sectional area varies in a linear manner between one of maximal points and the adjacent one of the minimal points.

7. The medical needle according to claim 1,

wherein the vertical cross-section has a shape selected from a group consisting of triangle, quadrangle, hexagon, polygon, semi-circle, circle, and ellipse.

8. The medical needle according to claim 1,

wherein the vertical cross-section at the maximal point closer to the needle tip has the cross-sectional area greater than that at another maximal point closer to the needle rear.

9. The medical needle according to claim 1,

wherein the vertical cross-sections at the minimal points have the same cross-sectional area to each other.

10. The medical needle according to claim 1,

wherein the vertical cross-section at the minimal point closer to the needle tip has the cross-sectional area less than that at another maximal point closer to the needle rear.

11. The medical needle according to claim 1,

wherein the cross-sectional area of the vertical cross-section at the minimal point closest to the needle rear is less than those at any other minimal points.

12. The medical needle according to claim 1,

wherein a distance between a pair of the adjacent maximal points is substantially equal to one between another pair of the adjacent maximal points.

13. The medical needle according to claim 1,

wherein a pair of the adjacent maximal points closer to the needle tip is more spaced than another pair of the adjacent maximal points closer to the needle rear.

14. The medical needle according to claim 1, further comprising a grating.

15. The medical needle according to claim 1,

wherein the needle tip has a radius of curvature of 10 μ

m or less.

16. The medical needle according to claim 1, further comprising a slit extending along the predetermined direction.

17. The medical needle according to claim 1,

wherein the medical needle is made of biocompatible material.

18. The medical needle according to claim 1,

wherein the medical needle is made of biodegradable material.

33. The medical needle according to claim 1,

wherein when viewed on a projected plane parallel to the predetermined direction, the cross-sectional area varies in a curved manner between one of maximal points and the adjacent one of the minimal points.

19-31. -31. (canceled)

32. A medical device including a medical needle extending along a predetermined direction and having a vertical cross-section taken along a plane perpendicular to the predetermined direction of which cross-sectional area varies based upon a distance from a needle tip, the medical needle, comprising:

a plurality of maximal points where the cross-sectional area of the vertical cross-section is locally maximal; and

a plurality of minimal points where the cross-sectional area of the vertical cross-section is locally minimal;

wherein the vertical cross-section at the maximal point closest to the needle tip has the cross-sectional area not less than those at any other maximal points.