Infiltration cannula

Abstract

An infiltration cannula and method of using the infiltration cannula during a tumescent infiltration procedure are disclosed herein. The infiltration cannula may have an outwardly flaring hub which may be wedged into an adit of a patient to minimize leakage of fluid being infiltrated into the patient. Also, the infiltration cannula may be utilized to hydrate a dehydrated patient by a medically untrained person. The infiltration cannula may also be used to deliver an antibiotic/vasoconstrictive drug solution to minimize surgical site infections.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An infiltration cannula insertable into an adit of a patient for infiltrating fluid into the patient, the infiltration cannula comprising:
 a tubular needle defining a proximal end, the needle comprising a plurality of apertures disposed in a pattern between about 33% to about 100% of the distal end portion, the apertures configured to infiltrate fluid into subcutaneous tissue or muscle of a patient; and   a hub configured to be held by a person infiltrating the fluid into the patient, the hub having a first end and an opposing second end, the hub flaring outwardly from the first end to the opposing second end, the first end being attached to the proximal end of the tubular needle, the second end comprising a connector configured to connect to an input source for receiving the fluid to be infiltrated into the subcutaneous tissue of the patient, the fluid flowing from the connector, through the hub, into the cannula, through the plurality of apertures and into the patient;   wherein the outward flared portion of the hub is wedgeable into the adit to minimize leakage of the fluid flowing out of the proximal apertures and out of the adit.   
     
     
         2 . The infiltration cannula of  claim 1  wherein the hub from the first end to the opposing second end has a conical shape. 
     
     
         3 . The infiltration cannula of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the cannula is closed. 
     
     
         4 . The infiltration cannula of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the cannula is open with a hole allowing a tip of a rigid stylet to protrude through. 
     
     
         5 . The infiltration cannula of  claim 1 , wherein the apertures are round or oval. 
     
     
         6 . The infiltration cannula of  claim 1  wherein the tubular needle is flexible or rigid. 
     
     
         7 . The infiltration cannula of  claim 1  further comprising a solid stylet for guiding the tubular needle into subcutaneous tissue or muscle of the patient. 
     
     
         8 . A method of infiltrating fluid into subcutaneous tissue or muscle of a patient, the method comprising:
 a) providing a first cannula having a tubular needle with apertures disposed about a distal 33% to 100% end of the needle;   b) inserting the tubular needle into an adit of the patient;   c) inserting all of the apertures disposed on the needle into the patient;   d) wedging an outwardly flaring hub into the adit for forming a seal between the hub and an inner periphery of the adit to minimize leakage of fluid to be flowed through apertures of the first cannula;   e) flowing fluid through the hub, apertures and into the subcutaneous tissue of the patient;   f) blocking fluid flow out of the adit between the needle and the skin of the patient due to flow of fluid through proximal apertures disposed on the needle.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising repeating steps of a)-f) with a second cannula by inserting the second cannula into the patient adjacent to the first cannula. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising the step of removing the first cannula after performing steps a)-f) with the second cannula. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the steps a)-f) are performed with the second cannula after performing step e) with the first cannula for about one and a half minute. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising the steps of stopping fluid flow through the hub and apertures of the first cannula; removing the first cannula;
 inserting the first cannula into a second site; and repeating steps a)-f) while the first cannula is disposed at the second site. 
 
     
     
         13 . A method of minimizing infections at a surgical site, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a solution containing an antibiotic and a vasoconstrictive drug;   inserting a tubular needle having apertures into an adit of the patient such that the tubular needle is adjacent the surgical site to infiltrate the solution at the surgical site;   flowing the antibiotic/vasoconstrictive drug solution through the tubular needle and out of the apertures to constrict the blood vessels and delay systemic absorption of the antibiotic for prolonging a length of time that the antibiotic remains at the surgical site; and   performing surgery at the surgical site.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the step of mixing lidocaine into the antibiotic/vasoconstrictive drug solution for providing an antibacterial effect. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the performing surgery step occurs after the flowing step. 
     
     
         16 . A method of hydrating a dehydrated patient, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a hydrating solution in a container;   inserting a flexible tubular needle connected to the container of hydrating solution into the patient;   flowing the hydrating solution through the flexible tubular needle, out of apertures disposed on the flexible tubular needle and into the patient for hydrating the dehydrated patient.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the inserting step is performed by a person untrained in establishing intravenous access. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the inserting step is performed by inserting the flexible tubular needle into the subcutaneous tissue of a thigh of a person. 
     
     
         19 . An infiltration cannula insertable into an adit of a patient for infiltrating fluid into the patient, the infiltration cannula comprising:
 a flexible tubular needle defining a hollow center, the needle comprising a plurality of needle apertures disposed in a pattern between about 33% to about 100% of the distal end portion, the needle apertures configured to infiltrate fluid into subcutaneous tissue or muscle of a patient; and   a rigid stylet having a plurality of stylet apertures disposed in a pattern between about 33% to about 100% of the distal end portion, the stylet apertures configured to infiltrate fluid into subcutaneous tissue or muscle of a patient, the stylet being sized and configured to be removeably insertable within the hollow center of the tubular needle.   
     
     
         20 . The infiltration cannula of  claim 19  wherein the pattern of the needle apertures is identical to the pattern of the stylet apertures. 
     
     
         21 . The infiltration cannula of  claim 19  wherein the pattern of the needle apertures is dissimilar to the pattern of the stylet apertures. 
     
     
         22 . The infiltration cannula of  claim 19  wherein the stylet is sized and configured to the hollow center of the tubular needle such that the stylet is rotateable within the tubular needle to align or misalign the patterns of needle apertures and stylet apertures. 
     
     
         23 . The infiltration cannula of  claim 19  wherein the stylet has a blunt tip or a sharp tip.