Delivery needle apparatus with sleeve

Abstract

A delivery needle apparatus in which a sleeve is fitted over an exterior surface of a delivery needle and methods of manufacturing the same. An elongate medical device may be delivered through the interior of the delivery needle and out of an opening in the distal end of the delivery needle (i.e., the delivery opening). The sleeve may cover a proximal portion of the delivery opening and may align an elongate medical device during insertion and/or withdrawal through the delivery opening.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A delivery needle apparatus comprising:
 a delivery needle body extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to an insertion section, wherein the delivery needle body comprises a needle wall defining a lumen that extends into the insertion section, and wherein the delivery needle body further comprises a delivery opening located within the insertion section, wherein the delivery opening is in fluid communication with the lumen; and   a sleeve fixedly attached to the delivery needle body, wherein the sleeve is fitted over an exterior surface of the delivery needle body, and wherein the delivery opening of the delivery needle body is located entirely within the sleeve such that an extension portion of the sleeve extends past the insertion section of the delivery needle body.   
     
     
         27 . A delivery needle apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the extension portion of the sleeve is curved relative to the longitudinal axis of the delivery needle body. 
     
     
         28 . A delivery needle apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the delivery opening is formed along a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the delivery needle body. 
     
     
         29 . A delivery needle apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the delivery opening is formed along a plane that is not perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the delivery needle body. 
     
     
         30 . A delivery needle apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the sleeve is fixedly attached to the needle body by friction between an inner surface of the sleeve and the exterior surface of the needle body. 
     
     
         31 . A delivery needle apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the sleeve is fixedly attached to the needle body by adhesive located between an inner surface of the sleeve and the exterior surface of the needle body. 
     
     
         32 . A delivery needle apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the sleeve extends proximally from the delivery opening to the proximal end of the needle body. 
     
     
         33 . A delivery needle apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein sleeve comprises a proximal end located between the proximal end of the needle body and the delivery opening. 
     
     
         34 . A delivery needle apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the sleeve consists essentially of polymeric material. 
     
     
         35 . A delivery needle apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the needle body comprises a metallic needle wall. 
     
     
         36 . A method of manufacturing a delivery needle apparatus, the method comprising:
 providing a delivery needle that comprises:
 a needle body that extends along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to an insertion section, wherein the needle body comprises a needle wall defining a lumen that extends into the insertion section and a delivery opening within an insertion section; and 
   fixedly attaching a sleeve to the needle body, wherein the sleeve is fitted over an exterior surface of the delivery needle body, and wherein the delivery opening of the delivery needle body is located entirely within the sleeve such that an extension portion of the sleeve extends past the insertion section of the delivery needle body.   
     
     
         37 . A method according to  claim 36 , wherein the extension portion of the sleeve is curved relative to the longitudinal axis of the delivery needle body. 
     
     
         38 . A method according to  claim 36 , wherein fixedly attaching the sleeve comprises locating the sleeve over the needle body followed by reducing an inner diameter of the sleeve. 
     
     
         39 . A method according to  claim 36 , wherein fixedly attaching the sleeve comprises adhesively attaching the sleeve to the needle body. 
     
     
         40 . A method according to  claim 36 , wherein the delivery opening is faulted along a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the delivery needle body. 
     
     
         41 . A method according to  claim 36 , wherein the delivery opening is formed along a plane that is not perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the delivery needle body. 
     
     
         42 . A method according to  claim 36 , wherein the extension portion of the sleeve comprises a curvature, and wherein the method comprises adjusting the curvature. 
     
     
         43 . A method according to  claim 42 , wherein adjusting the curvature comprises manipulating the extension portion. 
     
     
         44 . A method according to  claim 42 , wherein adjusting the curvature comprises trimming the extension portion. 
     
     
         45 . A method according to  claim 36 , wherein the sleeve is made of shape memory material.