Microtaper needle and method of use

• US 20070060927A1
• Filed: 01/31/2006
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Summit Access, LLC
• Original Assignee: Neosci Incubation, Inc.
• Inventors: Griffin, Dennis, Longson, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 7,803,142 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/108
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/065 Guide needles

Abstract

The present invention relates to medical needles used in connection with guide wires. A needle of the present invention includes a substantially cylindrical tube formed along a central longitudinal axis. A tapered tube is connected to one end of the tube and has a sharpened end. A channel extends through the cylindrical tube and the tapered tube, and is aligned with the longitudinal axis. In some embodiments, the tapered portion is radially expandable. For instance, radial expansion may result when a guide wire is selectively inserted through the channel. The radial expansion may be facilitated by a relief on the tapered tube portion. Optionally, the relief includes a plurality of slots which expand as a guide wire is inserted through the channel and tapered portion, thereby also causing the internal and outer diameters of the tapered portion to expand.

Claims

1. A medical needle comprising:

a substantially cylindrical tube having a central longitudinal axis, a first end, and a second end;

a tapered tube connected to said second end of said substantially cylindrical tube, said tapered tube having a sharpened distal end; and

a channel extending through said substantially cylindrical tube and said tapered tube, said channel being substantially concentric with said longitudinal axis.

2. The medical needle of claim 1, wherein an outside diameter at said second end is greater than an outside diameter at said distal end.

3. The medical needle of claim 1, wherein said tapered portion is radially expandable.

4. The medical needle of claim 3, wherein said tapered portion is configured radial expand in response to a guide wire selectively inserted through at least a portion of said channel.

5. The medical needle of claim 3, further comprising a relief on said tapered tube, said relief facilitating radial expansion of said tapered tube.

6. The medical needle of claim 5, wherein said relief comprises one or more of a group consisting of:

a flexible material, a slot, a perforation, a spiral, and a score.

7. The medical needle of claim 1, wherein said tapered tube comprises a first slot formed proximate said distal end.

8. The medical needle of claim 7, wherein said sharpened distal end comprises a cutting surface for penetrating the tissue of a subject, and wherein said first slot intersects said cutting surface.

9. The medical needle of claim 1, wherein said tapered tube comprises a plurality of slots proximate said distal end, said plurality of slots being configured to facilitate expansion of at least a portion of said tapered tube.

10. The medical needle of claim 1, wherein said sharpened distal end comprises a cutting surface having a primary grind, at least one secondary grind, and an interface between said primary grind and said at least one secondary grind, and wherein the medical needle further comprises:

a first slot adjacent said primary grind;

a second slot adjacent one of said interface or said at least one secondary grind; and

a third slot adjacent one of said interface or said at least one secondary grind.

11. The medical needle of claim 10, wherein at least one of said second slot and said third slot is proximally offset a first distance from said cutting surface.

12. The medical needle of claim 11, wherein said first distance is about 0.01 inch.

13. The medical needle of claim 10, wherein at least one of said second slot and said third slot is vertically offset a second distance from said cutting surface.

14. The medical needle of claim 13, wherein said second distance is about 0.01 inch.

15. The medical needle of claim 1, wherein at least three slots are formed adjacent a cutting surface of said distal end, a second slot being offset from a first slot at a first angle, and a third slot being offset from said first slot at a second angle, wherein said second angle is in a direction opposite said first angle, and wherein one or more of said first angle and said second angle is between about 110°

and 120°

.

16. The medical needle of claim 15, wherein said first angle and said second angle are about 115°

.

17. The medical needle of claim 1, further comprising a coating on at least a portion of said tapered tube.

18. A medical needle, comprising:

a cylindrical tube having a straight portion and a tapered portion, wherein said straight portion and said tapered portion are substantially concentric;

a cutting tip at a distal end of said tapered portion; and

a relief in at least said tapered portion, said relief being configured to facilitate expansion of a diameter of at least said cutting tip.

19. A medical needle as recited in claim 18, wherein said tapered portion connects said straight portion to said cutting tip, and wherein an outside diameter of said straight portion is greater than an outside diameter of said cutting tip.

20. A medical needle as recited in claim 18, wherein said relief is further configured to facilitate expansion of a diameter of said tapered portion.

21. A medical needle as recited in claim 18, wherein said relief comprises a plurality of portions.

22. A medical needle as recited in claim 21, wherein one or more of said plurality of portions extends substantially the length of said tapered portion.

23. A medical needle as recited in claim 21, wherein said plurality of portions comprises a first relief portion intersecting a cutting surface of said cutting tip.

24. A medical needle as recited in claim 23, wherein said plurality of portions comprises a second relief portion having a first end offset from said cutting surface.

25. A medical needle as recited in claim 24, wherein said first relief portion extends in a proximal direction from said cutting surface to at least a junction between said straight portion and said tapered portion, and wherein said second relief portion extends proximally from said first end to at least said junction.

26. A medical needle as recited in claim 24, wherein said cutting tip comprises a primary grind and at least one secondary grind, an interface connecting said primary grind to said at least one secondary grind, and wherein said first relief portion is adjacent said primary grind, and wherein said second relief portion is adjacent at least one of said interface or said at least one secondary grind.

27. A medical needle as recited in claim 18, wherein said tapered portion is at least partially deformable so as to receive a guide wire having an outer diameter greater than an internal diameter of said tapered portion.

28. A medical needle as recited in claim 27, wherein said tapered portion is selectively and temporarily deformed to receive said guide wire.

36. A method as recited in claim 27, wherein said needle is a tapered needle, and wherein said tapered needle is tapered from about 18 gauge to about 21 gauge.

37. A method as recited in claim 27, wherein expanding said sharpened distal end comprises expanding an outer diameter of said distal end from about 21 gauge to about 18 gauge.

29. A method for inserting a medical device into a body cavity of a subject, the method comprising:

inserting a substantially tubular needle into a body cavity, said needle having an internal passageway therethrough and a sharpened distal end of a first internal diameter;

inserting a guide wire into said internal passageway, said guide wire having an outer diameter greater than said first internal diameter of said tubular needle;

expanding said sharpened distal end to a second internal diameter to allow said guide wire to pass through said sharpened distal end; and

using said guide wire, inserting a medical device into said body cavity.

30. A method as recited in claim 29, further comprising retracting said tubular needle from said body cavity, and wherein retracting said tubular needle is performed prior to inserting said medical device into said body cavity.

31. A method as recited in claim 29, wherein said medical device is a catheter.

32. A method as recited in claim 29, wherein inserting a medical device into said body cavity is performed without a dilator.

33. A method as recited in claim 29, wherein said guide wire mates with said distal end of said needle so as to cause said distal end to expand to said second internal diameter.

34. A method as recited in claim 33, wherein said guide wire is tapered.

35. A method as recited in claim 29, wherein an opening force is required to expand said distal end of said needle to allow said guide wire to pass through said sharpened distal end, and wherein said opening force is less than or equal to about 1.5 pounds.