Continuous anesthesia nerve conduction apparatus, system and method thereof

Abstract

The invention generally relates to a continuous anesthesia nerve conduction apparatus and method thereof, and more particularly to a method and system for use in administering a continuous flow or intermittent bolus of anesthetic agent to facilitate a continuous or prolonged nerve block. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a sheath having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end. The sheath also includes an embedded conductive element for transmitting an electrical signal from a proximal portion of the sheath to a distal portion of the sheath. A cannula is arranged in the at least one lumen of the sheath and has a distal end protruding from a distal portion of the sheath. The cannula is electrically coupled to at least a portion of the embedded conductive element and is configured to provide nerve stimulation.

1 .- 194 . (canceled) 
     
     
         195 . An over-the-needle catheter assembly, comprising:
 a catheter comprising a body, said body comprising a proximal end and a distal end, said body defining a lumen extending from said proximal end to said distal end;   a conductive coil-shaped insert configured within said lumen of said body of said catheter, said coil-shaped insert comprising a proximal end and a distal end, said coil-shaped insert embedded into an interior wall of said body of said catheter and defining a hollow passageway extending from said proximal end to said distal end of said body of said catheter;   a handle secured at the proximal end of said coil-shaped insert, said handle defining a recess;   a needle configured within the hollow passageway of said coil-shaped insert, wherein said coil-shaped insert prevents said catheter from kinking when said catheter is within a patient;   a needle hub secured at a proximal end of said needle, wherein said needle hub is secured within the recess of said handle so as to form a hub assembly, said hub assembly configured to engage a fluid delivery device; and   a stimulation assembly configured with said coil-shaped insert, said stimulation assembly configured to provide stimulation to a targeted site within the patient via the conductive coil-shaped insert.   
     
     
         196 . The over-the-needle catheter assembly of  claim 195 , wherein the needle hub further comprises a locking mechanism configured to releasably couple the needle hub to the handle. 
     
     
         197 . The over-the-needle catheter assembly of  claim 196 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a tab portion configured to releasable engage the recess of the handle. 
     
     
         198 . The over-the-needle catheter assembly of  claim 195 , wherein the needle hub further comprises a central protrusion, the handle further comprises an annular recess, and the central protrusion is configured to engage with the annular recess via a friction coupling to couple the needle hub to the handle. 
     
     
         199 . The over-the-needle catheter assembly of  claim 195 , wherein the body of the catheter further defines one or more lateral port, wherein the one or more lateral port is configured to permit a flow of an agent through the one or more lateral port and the one or more lateral port is located away from the distal end of the body of the catheter. 
     
     
         200 . The over-the-needle catheter assembly of  claim 195 , wherein the stimulation assembly is configured to be electrically coupled to the coil-shaped insert by a stimulation wire. 
     
     
         201 . The over-the-needle catheter assembly of  claim 195 , wherein a first diameter of the body at the distal end is less than a second diameter of the body at a location between the distal end and the proximal end of the body. 
     
     
         202 . The over-the-needle catheter assembly of  claim 195 , wherein a first portion of the body at the distal end is more flexible than a second portion of the body that is between the first portion of the body and the proximal end of the body. 
     
     
         203 . The over-the-needle catheter assembly of  claim 195 , wherein the coil-shaped insert comprises a plurality of windings and a first density of the windings within the first portion of the body is less than a second density of the windings within the second portion of the body. 
     
     
         204 . An over-the-needle catheter assembly, comprising:
 a catheter comprising a body, the body comprising a proximal end and a distal end defining a first length, the body defining a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end;   a needle configured to fit within at least a portion of said lumen so as to guide said catheter within a patient a targeted site;   a needle hub secured at a proximal end of said needle;   a conductive coil-shaped insert sized to fit within at least a portion of said lumen of said catheter after said catheter is placed adjacent to the targeted site and said needle is removed, wherein said conductive coil-shaped insert prevents said catheter from kinking when said catheter is within the patient, said conductive coil-shaped insert comprising a second length, said second length being longer than said first length such that said conductive coil-shaped insert is configured to extend past said distal end of said catheter when inserted therethrough; and   a handle secured at the proximal end of said conductive coil-shaped insert, said handle defining a radial recess, wherein said needle hub is secured within the radial recess of said handle.   
     
     
         205 . The catheter assembly of claim  10 , further comprising a stimulation assembly coupled with the conductive coil-shaped insert, said stimulation assembly configured to provide stimulation to the targeted site via a wire within the conductive coil-shaped insert. 
     
     
         206 . The catheter assembly of claim  11 , wherein the stimulation assembly is electrically coupled to the conductive coil-shaped insert by a stimulation wire, wherein the stimulation wire extends through at least one of the needle hub and the handle. 
     
     
         207 . The over-the-needle catheter assembly of claim  10 , wherein the body of the catheter further defines an opening, the opening is configured to permit a flow of an agent through the opening, and the opening is located away from the distal end of the body of the catheter. 
     
     
         208 . The over-the-needle catheter assembly of claim  10 , wherein a tip region of the body of the catheter at the distal end is tapered. 
     
     
         209 . The over-the-needle catheter assembly of claim  10 , wherein a first portion of the body at the distal end is more flexible than a second portion of the body that is between the first portion of the body and the proximal end of the body. 
     
     
         210 . An over-the-needle catheter assembly, comprising:
 a catheter comprising a body, the body comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the body defining a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, wherein the body further comprises a conductive reinforcement member at least partially embedded within an interior wall of the body, the conductive reinforcement member defining a hollow passageway through the body of the catheter;   a handle secured at the proximal end of the body of the catheter;   a needle configured to pass through the hollow passageway of the conductive reinforcement member, wherein the conductive reinforcement member prevents the catheter from kinking when the catheter is within a patient;   a needle hub secured at a proximal end of the needle, wherein the needle hub is configured to releasably couple to the handle to form a hub assembly, the hub assembly configured to engage a fluid delivery device; and   a stimulation assembly configured with the coil-shaped insert, the stimulation assembly configured to provide stimulation to a targeted site within the patient via the conductive reinforcement member.   
     
     
         211 . The over-the-needle catheter assembly of claim  16 , wherein the needle hub further comprises a central protrusion, the handle further comprises an annular recess, and the central protrusion is configured to engage with the annular recess to couple the needle hub to the handle. 
     
     
         212 . The over-the-needle catheter assembly of claim  16 , wherein the body of the catheter further defines an opening located away from the distal end of the body of the catheter. 
     
     
         213 . The over-the-needle catheter assembly of claim  16 , wherein the needle further comprises a plurality of markings. 
     
     
         214 . The over-the-needle catheter assembly of claim  16 , wherein a first portion of the body at the distal end is more flexible than a second portion of the body that is between the first portion of the body and the proximal end of the body.