US6533732B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Nerve stimulator needle guidance system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 2001-02-01
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Granted: 2003-03-18
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Expires: 2021-02-01
Abstract
Abstract A target nerve or nerve plexus registration point is percutaneously located using a cutaneous nerve stimulator electrode to elicit response. The electrode includes a tip at the end of a coaxial cylindrical body. A central bore extends through the electrode and carries a nerve stimulator needle. The needle is inserted at the located registration point with the needle path being mechanically guided by the bore, thereby avoiding errant needle passes. A peripheral flange of the body serves as a depth guide in assuring appropriate depression of epidural layers for electrical conductivity and for fixation of the nerve. A nerve stimulator current generator supplies both the percutaneous electrode and the nerve stimulator needle and includes multiple outputs as well as base and variable current setting levels as appropriate for each aspect of the technique and for the specific nerve or nerve plexuses being treated.
Inventors
- 👤 William F. Urmey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 10:10
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/05; A61B5/48; A61B5/4887; A61B5/4893
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
A nerve stimulator needle guidance system comprising a cutaneous electrode, the cutaneous electrode including an electrically conductive tip, the tip having a smooth surface for traversing over the surface of a patient's skin while maintaining electrical current flow through the patient to locate a cutaneous registration point in proximity with a target nerve or nerve plexus, the smooth surface being incapable of penetrating the patient's skin when forced thereagainst to compress subcutaneous tissue or fat, the tip further including a bore, whereby the located cutaneous registration point may be accessed through the bore by a needle without removing the cutaneous electrode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
101 words
A nerve stimulator needle guidance system comprising a cutaneous electrode, the cutaneous electrode including an electrically conductive tip, the tip having a smooth surface for traversing over the surface of a patient's skin while maintaining electrical current flow through the patient to locate a cutaneous registration point in proximity with a target nerve or nerve plexus, the smooth surface being incapable of penetrating the patient's skin when forced thereagainst to compress subcutaneous tissue or fat, the tip further including a bore, whereby the located cutaneous registration point may be accessed through the bore by a needle without removing the cutaneous electrode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
A nerve stimulator needle guidance system as constructed in accordance with claim 1 , the cutaneous electrode further including a body, the tip being positioned at an end of the body, the bore extending coaxially through the body and the tip whereby the located cutaneous registration point may be accessed through the body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A nerve stimulator needle guidance system as constructed in accordance with claim 2 further including a flange, the flange extending laterally from the body and being positioned on the body adjacent the tip.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A nerve stimulator needle guidance system as constructed in accordance with claim 1 further including a nerve stimulator needle, the needle being positioned in the bore for translational movement through the patient's skin at the registration point.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
A nerve stimulator needle guidance system as constructed in accordance with claim 4 wherein the needle includes a shaft, the shaft having a distal end, the exterior surface of the distal end of the shaft being electrically conductive, the exterior surface of the remainder of the shaft being electrically nonconductive.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A nerve stimulator needle guidance system as constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the smooth surface is curved.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A nerve stimulator needle guidance system as constructed in accordance with claim 6 wherein the tip is hemispherical in shape.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of positioning a needle for physiological administration at an internal anatomic target, the method including the steps of: a) moving a smooth surface member having a needle guide along a cutaneous surface until a point in registration with the target is located, b) inserting a tip of the needle through the cutaneous surface at the located point, and c) utilizing the needle guide to direct a path of needle travel toward the target while maintaining the smooth surface member at the located point.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of positioning a needle for physiological administration at an internal anatomic target, the method including the steps of: a) moving a smooth surface member having a needle guide along a cutaneous surface until a point in registration with the target is located, b) inserting a tip of the needle through the cutaneous surface at the located point, and c) utilizing the needle guide to direct a path of needle travel toward the target while maintaining the smooth surface member at the located point.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method of positioning a needle for physiological administration in accordance with claim 8 wherein step b) is practiced by utilizing the needle guide to position the needle tip for insertion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method of positioning a needle for physiological administration in accordance with claim 8 wherein smooth surface member comprises an electrode and the point is located utilizing a nerve stimulator coupled to the smooth surface member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
64 words
A method of positioning a needle for physiological administration in accordance with claim 8 wherein the needle is a nerve stimulator needle and the target comprises a nerve or nerve plexus, the method further including the step of: d) employing a nerve stimulator coupled to the nerve stimulator needle to position the tip of the needle in proximity to the nerve or nerve plexus.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method of positioning a needle for physiological administration in accordance with claim 8 wherein the smooth surface member is pressed against the cutaneous surface in step a) and pressure is maintained during step b) and step c).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
113 words
A needle guidance system suitable for locating a target nerve or a nerve plexus in a subject, the system comprising a guiding electrode, the guiding electrode having a smooth tip, the guiding electrode being selectively coupled to a current supply for eliciting a neurological response to current flow through the subject, the guiding electrode including a bore, a needle carried in the bore, the needle being movable within the bore relative to the guiding electrode the needle selectively coupled to a current supply for eliciting a neurological response to current flow through the subject when the needle is advanced into the subject through the bore and toward the target nerve or nerve plexus.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
113 words
A needle guidance system suitable for locating a target nerve or a nerve plexus in a subject, the system comprising a guiding electrode, the guiding electrode having a smooth tip, the guiding electrode being selectively coupled to a current supply for eliciting a neurological response to current flow through the subject, the guiding electrode including a bore, a needle carried in the bore, the needle being movable within the bore relative to the guiding electrode the needle selectively coupled to a current supply for eliciting a neurological response to current flow through the subject when the needle is advanced into the subject through the bore and toward the target nerve or nerve plexus.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
A needle guidance system as constructed in accordance with claim 13 wherein the guiding electrode includes a body and a conductive tip, the system further including an electrical lead for coupling the conductive tip to the current supply.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
A needle guidance system as constructed in accordance with claim 13 wherein the guiding electrode current supply comprises a nerve stimulator.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
A needle guidance system as constructed in accordance with claim 13 wherein the needle current supply comprises a nerve stimulator.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
A needle guidance system as constructed in accordance with claim 13 wherein the guiding electrode current supply and the needle current supply comprise a nerve stimulator having an output for coupling to the guiding electrode and a further output for coupling to the needle.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
42 words
A needle guidance system as constructed in accordance with claim 13 wherein the guiding electrode includes an axial slot extending from the bore and the needle includes a radial arm fixed to the needle, the radial arm being received in the slot.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
A needle guidance system as constructed in accordance with claim 18 wherein the guiding electrode further includes indicia adjacent the slot, whereby the depth of penetration of the needle may be gauged.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of locating a target nerve or nerve plexus for the administration of an anesthetic blockade or other treatment regimen, the method comprising the steps of: a) locating a point in registration with the target nerve or nerve plexus utilizing a guiding electrode coupled to a nerve stimulator, b) utilizing the guiding electrode to advance a nerve stimulator needle coupled to a nerve stimulator into the patient at the located point, c) extending the needle beyond the point toward the target nerve or nerve plexus, and d) detecting when the nerve stimulator needle is properly positioned by observing when the maximal neural response is attained at the minimum current level.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of locating a target nerve or nerve plexus for the administration of an anesthetic blockade or other treatment regimen, the method comprising the steps of: a) locating a point in registration with the target nerve or nerve plexus utilizing a guiding electrode coupled to a nerve stimulator, b) utilizing the guiding electrode to advance a nerve stimulator needle coupled to a nerve stimulator into the patient at the located point, c) extending the needle beyond the point toward the target nerve or nerve plexus, and d) detecting when the nerve stimulator needle is properly positioned by observing when the maximal neural response is attained at the minimum current level.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
79 words
A method of locating a target nerve or nerve plexus for the administration of an anesthetic blockade or other treatment regimen in accordance with claim 20 wherein the step of locating includes applying a compressive force through the guiding electrode and the step of utilizing the guiding electrode to advance the nerve stimulator needle is practiced while maintaining the compressive force, whereby the target nerve or nerve plexus is fixed in position while the nerve stimulator needle is advanced.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method of locating a target nerve or nerve plexus in accordance with claim 21 wherein the guiding electrode includes a bore, and the point is located on a cutaneous surface.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method of locating a target nerve or nerve plexus for the administration of an anesthetic blockade or other treatment regimen in accordance with claim 21 wherein the guiding electrode includes a bore and the step of utilizing the guiding electrode to advance the nerve stimulator needle includes advancing the nerve stimulator needle through the bore.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method of locating a target nerve or nerve plexus for the administration of an anesthetic blockade or other treatment regimen in accordance with claim 23 wherein the nerve stimulator needle is guided during step b) and step c) by the bore.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method of locating a target nerve or nerve plexus for the administration of an anesthetic blockade or other treatment regimen in accordance with claim 20 wherein the guiding electrode is maintained in a fixed position during step b) and step c).
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method of locating a target nerve or nerve plexus for the administration of an anesthetic blockade or other treatment regimen in accordance with claim 20 further including the step of controlling the nerve stimulator to provide current flow only through the electrode during step a) and to provide current flow only through the needle during step c).
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-03-17 | 2006-09-16 | 2007-03-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-03-17 | 2010-09-16 | 2011-03-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-03-17 | 2014-09-16 | 2015-03-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |