Echogenic medical needle

Abstract

There is disclosed a medical needle comprising a needle shaft that defines a longitudinal axis, a tip formed at one end of the shaft, and an ultrasonic reflector formed in an outer surface of the needle shaft. The reflector comprises a first reflector surface that is at an angle of no more than 35° to the longitudinal axis of the shaft and that faces towards the tip, and at least one additional reflector surface that forms an angle to the first reflector surface within the range of 75° to 105°, and that is substantially concave in a direction towards the first reflector surface.

1 .- 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A medical needle comprising:
 a tip formed at one end of a needle shaft, and   an ultrasonic reflector formed in the outer surface of the needle shaft and having three reflector surfaces formed in an outer surface of the needle shaft, the reflector being orientated with a first line of intersection between two intersecting reflector surfaces extending from the reflector vertex towards the needle tip, and forming an angle of less than 45° with respect to a line extending radially outwardly of the needle body from the reflector vertex.   
     
     
         14 . A medical needle according to  claim 13 , wherein the angle of the first line of intersection with respect to the line extending radially outwardly from the reflector vertex is within the range of 10° to 35°. 
     
     
         15 . A medical needle according to  claim 14 , wherein the angle of the first line of intersection with respect to the line extending radially outwardly from the reflector vertex is approximately 25°. 
     
     
         16 .- 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A medical needle according to  claim 13 , wherein each of the three reflector surfaces is planar. 
     
     
         20 . A medical needle according to  claim 13 , wherein the three reflector surfaces are mutually orthogonal. 
     
     
         21 . A medical needle according to  claim 13 , wherein the reflector is one of a plurality of like reflectors formed in the outer surface of the needle shaft. 
     
     
         22 . A medical needle according to  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of reflectors are arranged in one or more series of reflectors, each series extending along linearly the needle shaft. 
     
     
         23 . A medical needle according to  claim 22 , wherein the or each series is constructed of a repeating pattern. 
     
     
         24 . A medical needle according to  claim 22 , wherein the or each series extends longitudinally along the needle shaft. 
     
     
         25 . A medical needle according to  claim 24 , wherein the or each series consists of two or more sets of reflectors, the sets being spaced longitudinally along the shaft of the needle. 
     
     
         26 . A medical needle according to  claim 25 , further comprising graduations marked on the outer surface of the needle, wherein one of the graduations is disposed between adjacent sets of reflectors in the or each series. 
     
     
         27 .- 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A medical needle according to  claim 23 , wherein the or each series extends longitudinally along the needle shaft. 
     
     
         33 . A medical needle according to  claim 32 , wherein the or each series consists of two or more sets of reflectors, the sets being spaced longitudinally along the shaft of the needle. 
     
     
         34 . A medical needle according to  claim 33 , further comprising graduations marked on the outer surface of the needle, wherein one of the graduations is disposed between adjacent sets of reflectors in the or each series.