Methods of injecting fluids into joints using a handpiece assembly

• US 8,142,414 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2008
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carticept Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Carticept Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Ramey, Carribeth, Patrick, Timothy, Knostman, Richard, Axelrod, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehta, Bhisma
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wilson, Larry R
• Application Number:
  US12/343,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20090171194A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,190 Days
• Field of Search: 604 80- 83, 604/85, 604/87, 604/89, 604/131, 604/151, 604/152, 604/154, 604/155, 604257-259, 604/500, 604/506, 604/507, 604/511, 604518-520
• US Class Current: 604/518
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3413 guided by ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• 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 2005/3128 Incorporating one-way valves, e.g. pressure-relief or non-return valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/242 designed to open when a predetermined pressure or flow rate has been reached, e.g. check valve actuated by fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/246 being fixed along all or a part of its periphery
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14216 Reciprocating piston type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1452 pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/162 Needle sets, i.e. connections by puncture between reservoir and tube ; Connections between reservoir and tube in jet-action syringes A61M5/30; connectors for tubes having sealed ends and a needle for piercing them A61M39/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16827 controlling delivery of multiple fluids, e.g. sequencing, mixing or via separate flow-paths infusion of multiple fluids without using a controller A61M5/1407
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/20 Automatic syringes, e.g. with automatically actuated piston rod, with automatic needle injection, filling automatically A61M5/142 , A61M5/46 take precedence; hypodermic projectiles F42B12/54
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection

Abstract

Systems for injecting fluids and/or other materials into a targeted anatomical location, in particular, an intra-articular space, include a handpiece assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, a needle extending from the distal end of the handpiece assembly, a fluid delivery module comprising a cassette and a fluid transfer device. A conduit is generally configured to place the fluid delivery module in fluid communication with the handpiece assembly. Medications, formulations and/or other fluids or materials contained within vials that are secured to the fluid delivery module can be selectively delivered into an anatomy through a needle located at the distal end of the handpiece assembly. In some embodiments, ultrasound or other imaging technologies can be used to locate a joint or other targeted anatomical location.

Claims

1. A method of injecting two or more fluids into a joint of a patient using a handpiece assembly of an injection system, the method comprising:

manipulating at least a portion of a handpiece assembly into an anatomy of a patient, said handpiece assembly comprising a main portion, a needle positioned along a distal end of said main portion, and at least one fluid conduit in fluid communication with said needle;

wherein a first fluid and at least a second fluid are configured to selectively flow through the at least one fluid conduit and to the needle;

wherein the first fluid and the second fluid are configured to be delivered through the at least one fluid conduit either simultaneously or sequentially, based at least in part on instructions provided by a user;

wherein the at least one fluid conduit is at least partially routed through an interior of the handpiece assembly;

wherein at least one electronic controller is positioned along the main portion of the handpiece assembly, wherein manipulation of the at least one electronic controller is configured to regulate a fluid delivery scheme for selectively delivering the first fluid and the second fluid to and through the needle;

wherein the fluid delivery scheme comprises an order in which the first and second fluids are delivered through the at least one fluid conduit and a flowrate at which the first and second fluids are delivered through the at least one fluid conduit;

wherein the at least one electronic controller is configured to be in data communication with a fluid delivery module;

wherein handpiece assembly is configured such that fluids are prevented from flowing proximally from the handpiece assembly through the at least one fluid conduit, toward the fluid delivery module;

wherein the needle is configured to be positioned within a joint to selectively deliver at least one of said first fluid and said second fluid to said joint;

positioning the needle into or near a joint of the patient; and

delivering a volume of at least one of the first fluid and the second fluid through the at least one conduit to and through the needle;

wherein the at least one electronic controller is selectively removable from the handpiece assembly; and

wherein simultaneous delivery of the first and the second fluids is performed by combining the first and second fluids at a location proximal to the needle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one electronic controller comprises a button.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one electronic controller comprises at least one of a rollerball and a rollerwheel.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one electronic controller is configured to communicate with the fluid delivery module using a wireless connection.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the wireless connection comprises Bluetooth.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring a position of the needle using an imaging device to accurately locate a target joint of the patient.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the imaging device comprises an ultrasound device that is operatively coupled to the injection system.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a predetermined volume of the first fluid and the second fluid are configured to delivered through the handpiece assembly to the patient.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first fluid comprises an anesthetic and wherein the second fluid comprises a steroid.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second medicaments are delivered simultaneously to a joint of the patient.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second medicaments are delivered sequentially to a joint of the patient.

12. A method of injecting two or more fluids into an anatomy using a handpiece assembly, comprising:

moving a needle of a handpiece assembly within an anatomy of a patient, wherein said handpiece assembly comprises a main body and the needle positioned at a distal end of said main body, wherein the handpiece assembly is configured to be selectively grasped and manipulated by a user;

wherein the handpiece assembly comprises at least one fluid conduit, said at least one fluid conduit being positioned, at least partially, within an interior of said main body;

wherein the handpiece assembly is configured to be in data and fluid communication with a fluid delivery module;

wherein at least one of a first fluid and a second fluid is configured to flow from the fluid delivery module to the at least one fluid conduit;

wherein the at least one fluid conduit is configured to convey at least one of the first fluid and the second fluid to the needle of the handpiece assembly;

wherein the fluid delivery module comprises at least one movable member configured to slide within an interior of at least one fluid reservoir to selectively transfer at least one of the first fluid and the second fluid from the fluid delivery module to the needle;

wherein the handpiece assembly is configured such that a flow of fluid proximally through the handpiece assembly, toward the fluid delivery module, is prevented;

wherein the main body comprises an electronic control portion, said electronic control portion comprising at least one button configured to control at least one parameter of the delivery of at least one the first fluid and the second fluid through the at least one fluid conduit;

wherein the electronic control portion is selectively removable from and attachable to the main body of the handpiece assembly;

manipulating the handpiece assembly in order to position the needle into a target anatomical location of the patient;

delivering a volume of at least one of the first fluid and the second fluid through the at least one fluid conduit to the needle of the handpiece assembly; and

removing the needle from the target anatomical location of the patient once a desired volume of the first and second fluids has been delivered to said target anatomical location.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the electronic control portion is configured to communicate with the fluid delivery module using a wireless connection.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the wireless connection comprises Bluetooth.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the target anatomical location of the patient comprises a joint.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein manipulating the handpiece assembly comprises using an imaging device to accurately locate the target anatomical location.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the imaging device comprises an ultrasound device that is operatively coupled to at least one of the handpiece assembly and the fluid delivery module.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein a predetermined volume of the first fluid and the second fluid are configured to delivered through the handpiece assembly to the target anatomical location of the patient during an injection procedure.