IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0900219
(2001-07-06)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Fitzgibbons, James F.
- Young, Christopher S.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
14 인용 특허 :
6 |
초록
▼
An epidural space locating device for locating an epidural space, the device comprising a body section having a first end and a second end and a longitudinal passageway extending therethrough, the first end of which is coupleable to a luer assembly; and a collapsible bellows chamber having one end c
An epidural space locating device for locating an epidural space, the device comprising a body section having a first end and a second end and a longitudinal passageway extending therethrough, the first end of which is coupleable to a luer assembly; and a collapsible bellows chamber having one end coupled to the second end of the body section and the other end exposed so as to permit pressure to be exerted thereon by one or more digits of a hand, wherein positive pressure within the bellows chamber maintains the integrity of the shape of the bellows chamber and wherein negative or zero pressure within the bellows chamber facilitates the collapsing of the shape of the bellows chamber thus indicating the locating of the epidural space by a needle that is coupled to the luer assembly; wherein the loss of pressure within the bellows chamber is sensed by the one or more digits of the hand as the shape of the bellows chamber collapses.
대표청구항
▼
1. An epidural space locating device for locating an epidural space, the device comprising:a body section having a first end and a second end and a longitudinal passageway extending therethrough, the first end of which is coupleable to a luer assembly; anda collapsible bellows chamber having one end
1. An epidural space locating device for locating an epidural space, the device comprising:a body section having a first end and a second end and a longitudinal passageway extending therethrough, the first end of which is coupleable to a luer assembly; anda collapsible bellows chamber having one end coupled to the second end of the body section and the other end exposed so as to permit pressure to be exerted thereon by one or more digits of a hand, wherein positive pressure within the bellows chamber maintains the integrity of the shape of the bellows chamber and wherein negative or zero pressure within the bellows chamber facilitates the collapsing of the shape of the bellows chamber thus indicating the locating of the epidural space by a needle that is coupled to the luer assembly as the needle enters the epidural space;wherein the loss of pressure within the bellows chamber is sensed by the one or more digits of the hand as the shape of the bellows chamber collapses. 2. The epidural space locating device as claimed in claim 1, including a luer lock coupled to the first end of the body section, the luer lock for air-tightly coupling a needle to the body section. 3. The epidural space locating device as claimed in claim 2, including a needle assembly comprising a needle hub and epidural needle coupled to the luer lock. 4. The epidural space locating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bellows chamber includes a neck portion, the neck portion being air-tightly coupled to the second end of the body section, and wherein the neck portion has an air passageway that is inline with the longitudinal passageway extending through the body section. 5. The epidural space locating device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the bellows chamber includes a neck portion, the neck portion being air-tightly coupled to the second end of the body section, and wherein the neck portion has an air passageway that is inline with the passageway of the needle. 6. The epidural space locating device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the bellows chamber and the neck portion are integrally formed and the neck portion and the first end of the body section are threadably coupled:whereby the bellows chamber is removeable from the body section by the repeated turning of the neck portion relative to the body section. 7. The epidural space locating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body section includes outwardly extending finger grips, the finger grips for providing support of the locating device when pressure is being asserted against the bellow chamber; andwherein a squeezing force exerted by and between a thumb of a hand upon a first end of the bellows chamber and other digits of the same hand being engaged against the finger grips facilitates the detection of the negative or zero pressure within the bellows chamber when a needle coupled to the locating device enters the epidural space. 8. The epidural space locating device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first end of the bellows chamber includes a concave surface for supporting the thumb of the hand, wherein the negative or zero pressure within the bellows chamber is detected by the thumb of the hand as the bellow chamber collapses. 9. The epidural space locating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bellows chamber is made of polyethlyene or rubber. 10. A method for detecting the entry of a needle into the epidural space of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:providing an epidural space locating device comprising a body section having a first end and a second end and a longitudinal passageway extending therethrough, the first end of which is coupleable to a luer assembly; and a collapsible bellows chamber having a first end coupled to the second end of the body section and a second end exposed so as to permit pressure to be exerted thereon by one or more digits of a hand, wherein positive pressure within the bellows chamber maintains the integrity of the shape of the bellows chamber and wherein negative or zero pressure within the bellows chanter facilitates the collapsing of the shape of the bellows chamber thus indicating the locating of the epidural space by a needle that is coupled to the luer assembly;coupling a luer assembly and epidural needle to said locating device;inserting the needle into a patient towards the patient's epidural space;continuing to insert the needle towards the patient's epidural space while applying pressure against the second end of the bellows chamber by a digit of a hand until the shape of the bellows chamber begins to collapse, thereby indicating entrance into the epidural space. 11. The method as claimed in claim 10, including the step of sensing a drop of pressure in the bellows chamber by the thumb of the hand against the second end of the bellows chamber. 12. The method as claimed in claim 10, including the step of inserting the needle into at least the interspinous ligament as the needle is moving towards the epidural space. 13. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the bellows chamber includes a neck portion, the method comprising the step of:air-tightly coupling the neck portion to the body section by threadably screwing the neck portion into one end of the body section;wherein the neck portion has an air passageway that is inline with the longitudinal passageway extending through the body section. 14. The method as claimed in claim 12, including the step of:removing the bellows chamber from the body section by the repeated turning of the neck portion relative to the body section. 15. The method as claimed in claim 10, including the steps of:introducing a solution into the bellows chamber;inserting the needle into a patient towards the patient's epidural space;continuing to insert the needle towards the patient's epidural space while applying pressure against the second end of the bellows chamber by a digit of a hand until the shape of the bellows chamber begins to collapse by the solution being introduced into the epidural space, thereby indicating entrance into the epidural space. 16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the solution is introduced into the bellows chamber as the second end of the bellows chamber is pulled in a direction away from the body section. 17. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the body section includes outwardly extending finger grips for providing support and guidance of the locating device when pressure is being asserted against the bellow chamber, wherein the method comprises the steps of:providing a squeezing force by and between a thumb of a hand upon the first end of the bellows chamber and other digits of the same hand being engaged against the finger grips;whereby there is a facilitation of the detection of the negative or zero pressure within the bellows chamber when a needle coupled to the locating device enters the epidural space. 18. A method for deflecting a patient's dura for preventing dural puncture, the method comprising the steps of:providing an epidural space locating device comprising a body section having a first end and a second end and a longitudinal passageway extending therethrough, the first end of which is coupleable to a luer assembly; and a collapsible bellows chamber having a first end coupled to the second end of the body section and a second end exposed so as to permit pressure to be exerted thereon by one or more digits of a hand, wherein positive pressure within the bellows chamber maintains the integrity of the shape of the bellows chamber and wherein negative or zero pressure within the bellows chamber facilitates the collapsing of the shape of the bellows chamber thus indicating the locating of the epidural space by a needle that is coupled to the luer assembly;coupling a luer assembly and epidural needle to said locating device;inserting the needle into a patient towards the patient's epidural space;continuing to insert the needle towards the patient's epidural space while applying pressure against the second end of the bellows chamber by a digit of a hand until the shape of the bellows chamber begins to collapse, thereby deflecting a patient's dura for preventing dural puncture. 19. The method as claimed in claim 18, including the step of sensing a drop of pressure in the bellows chamber by a thumb of the hand against the second end of the bellows chamber. 20. The method as claimed in claim 18, including the step of inserting the needle into at least the interspinous ligament as the needle is moving towards the epidural space. 21. The method as claimed in claim 18, including the steps of:introducing a solution into the bellows chamber;inserting the needle into a patient towards the patient's epidural space;continuing to insert the needle towards the patient's epidural space while applying pressure against the second end of the bellows chamber by a digit of a hand until the shape of the bellows chamber begins to collapse by the solution being introduced into the epidural space, thereby indicating entrance into the epidural space. 22. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the solution is introduced into the bellows chamber as the second end of the bellows chamber is pulled in a direction away from the body section. 23. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the body section includes outwardly extending finger grips for providing support and guidance of the locating device when pressure is being asserted against the bellow chamber, wherein the method comprises the steps of:providing a squeezing force by and between a thumb of a hand upon the first end of the bellows chamber and other digits of the same hand being engaged against the finger grips;whereby there is a facilitation of the detection of the negative or zero pressure within the bellows chamber when a needle coupled to the locating device enters the epidural space.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.