JP2001231866A - Bifurcate epidural needle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To avoid a complicated procedure taken by an existing epidural needle for inserting a catheter into a hole from which a syringe is pulled out after an epidural cavity is confirmed with the syringe by the loss-of-resistance method. SOLUTION: The needle and the tip of the needle of the epidural needle are the same as those generally used, though the entrance part of the epidural needle is modified. The entrance part is bifurcated: one is a hole for mounting a syringe as in an existing epidural needle and the other is a hole for inserting a catheter when the needle tip reaches the epidural cavity. Since the latter structure has a check-valve, there is no problem in the loss-of-resistance method that is a means for confirming the epidural cavity. Therefore, a catheter can be inserted into the other hole with the syringe left attached after the epidural cavity is confirmed. In addition, by using a catheter dispenser together with the epidural needle for further improving the merit of the epidural needle, an epidural catheter can be inserted sanitarily while holding the epidural needle.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The epidural needle is a tool for performing anesthesia from the spine on the back. Epidural anesthesia is achieved by using this tool to locate the epidural space deep in the spine, place a tube (called a catheter) therein, and inject an anesthetic drug from the catheter. There is a strong ligament from the skin on the back to the epidural space due to the presence of a rigid ligament, but the epidural space is under negative pressure. Therefore, in order to confirm the epidural space, a syringe is mounted on the hole at the entrance, the syringe is filled with air or saline, and the feel of the inner cylinder of the syringe proceeding without resistance is a guide.

The epidural needle of the present invention has exactly the same needle and needle tip as those commonly used, but an improvement has been made on the inlet side of the epidural needle. The entrance side was bifurcated, one was a hole for mounting a syringe as in a conventional epidural needle, and the other was a hole for inserting a catheter when the needle tip reached the epidural space. Since the latter structure has a check valve, there is no obstacle to the resistance disappearance method as a means for confirming the epidural space.

The method of use is to check the epidural space by connecting a syringe and removing the resistance as conventionally performed (this method is called a resistance disappearance method in medical terms). When the epidural space is confirmed, a catheter for epidural anesthesia is inserted and placed through the other hole with a check valve without removing the syringe. At this time, the catheter can be inserted with one hand by attaching the catheter dispenser to the hole with the check valve.

In the conventional epidural needle, after confirming the epidural space by the resistance elimination method using a syringe, there is a problem that the catheter is inserted through the hole without removing the syringe. However, after confirming the epidural space with the structure invented this time ,
It is possible to insert the catheter from the other hole with the mark on . For this reason: There is no deviation in epidural needle depth when removing the syringe. 2. If it is not clear whether it is an epidural space, a test insertion of the catheter is possible in the other hole. 3. By utilizing the catheter dispenser option, it is possible for the surgeon who has inserted the epidural needle to hold only the epidural needle and the syringe, and that another caregiver can insert the catheter through the other hole. 4. The application to continuous spinal cord is possible, for example, it is possible to insert a catheter into the subarachnoid space from the other hole while checking the epidural space and subarachnoid space.

In the present invention, the positional relationship between the hole for mounting the syringe and the hole for inserting the catheter is fixed with respect to the bending direction of the tip of the needle. Is changed to the right side or the left side, which may make it difficult to insert the catheter due to the dominant hand of the operator. Therefore, we plan to add further measures such as detachment so that the positional relationship between the forked part and the needle direction can be freely changed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a bifurcated side of the epidural needle opposite to the tip of the needle as shown in the figure. One is a hole for inserting a syringe and an inner cylinder, and the other is a hole for inserting a catheter into the epidural space. It is for insertion.

FIG. 2 is a catheter dispenser for inserting an epidural catheter under clean conditions to further enhance the usefulness of the epidural needle.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A conventional epidural needle has a bifurcated inner cylinder insertion port side, one of which is dedicated to the insertion of a syringe, and the other is an entrance dedicated to the insertion of a catheter equipped with a check valve. 2. A catheter dispenser has been developed as an option so that the catheter can be inserted under a clean condition when the catheter is inserted.