Arrow International Limited

Arrow International Investment Corp.

Richard L Harding

Jeffrey Vitullo

Fred Hafer

Mark J Spinka

David R Fischell

Robert E Fischell

Tim A Fischell

Matthew Moore

James J Thompson

Jeffrey M Vitullo

A stimulating needle and catheter system, including components, is provided such that the position of the stimulating needle or the stimulating catheter may be identified after insertion into the body of a patient by electrically stimulating and thus locating a specific nerve. Use of the needle and catheter system is eased by providing the system to the medical practitioner in a unitary structure. That is, the needle and catheter are connected by a catheter lock. The catheter lock is attached to the hub of the needle and can be actuated to either firmly grip the catheter or allow the catheter to move axially with respect to the lock and needle assembly. Thus, supplying the catheter to the practitioner already locked into the catheter lock allows the practitioner to insert the needle into the patient and, when ready, release the catheter for disposal through the needle into the patient. This and other disclosed features allow the medical practitioner to focus attention on the medical procedure.

Pre-loaded lockable stimulating catheter for delivery of anaesthetic drugs

A syringe includes a barrel defining a liquid chamber, an aperture and two or more contents indicators; a plunger movable within said barrel whereby movement of the plunger in a first direction causes the liquid chamber to fill with a fluid and movement by the plunger in a second direction causes fluid to be expelled from the liquid chamber through the aperture; and a selecting mechanism disposed on the barrel that is actuated to select only one of the contents indicators.

Syringe with selectable indicia of contents

A stimulating needle and catheter system is provided for delivery of an anaesthetic drug to a nerve having a fascia sheath. The position of the stimulating needle may be identified after insertion into the body of a patient by electrically stimulating and thus locating a specific nerve. When a specific nerve is located, the catheter is inserted through the needle such that the distal tip of the catheter is located at a point slightly beyond the distal tip of the needle. The distal tip of the catheter may then be manipulated and the optimum position within the nerve determined by applying an electrical impulse through a wire located within the catheter from the proximal end to the distal tip of the catheter. A tunneling device is inserted into the skin of the patient to form a subcutaneous tunnel through which the proximal end of the catheter is inserted.

Instrument and method for delivery of anaesthetic drugs

A needle and catheter system, including components, is provided such that the position of an stimulating needle may be identified after insertion into the body of a patient by electrically stimulating and thus locating a specific nerve. Positioning of the stimulating needle while simultaneously controlling and monitoring the electrical impulses applied therethrough is made possible by a control device and monitor integral with the stimulating needle. When a specific nerve is located, the catheter is inserted through the needle to a point slightly beyond the distal tip of the needle. The catheter tip may then be manipulated and the optimum position for the catheter tip determined by applying an electrical impulse through the helical wire and/or the ribbon support wire to the proximal tip catheter, this electrical stimulation being utilized in determining the specific location of the catheter tip within the nerve. Once properly located, or at any time relative movement between the catheter and needle is not desirable, the catheter can be locked into position with a catheter lock which may be part of the stimulating needle hub. A catheter adapter is utilized to allow easy access to the catheter and introduction of fluid into the nerve of the patient through the catheter tip.

A catheter connector for coupling to a catheter, the connector having a body part, a tubular shaped compressible plug situated in a bore in part, with the proximal end of the catheter insertable into the bore of the plug, and a lever pivotably mounted to the housing part. Pivoting of the lever applies an axial force on one end of the plug causing the plug to deform radially inward and tightly engage the proximal end of the catheter.

Catheter connector with pivot lever spring latch

A catheter includes a tube formed of plastic, a helical spring coil formed of metal and a ribbon which is longitudinally substantially non-extendable. The coil is coaxially disposed within the tube and substantially coextensive longitudinally with the tube. The ribbon is disposed within the coil, proximal ends of the ribbon and the coil being secured together, and the ribbon distal end being secured to the coil body at a predetermined point of the coil body adjacent but substantially proximally spaced from the coil distal end. The ribbon precludes substantial longitudinal extension of the coil body intermediate the coil proximal end and the predetermined point, thereby to limit longitudinal extension and increase the pull strength of the catheter.

Catheter with limited longitudinal extension

A catheter is disclosed which is capable of cutting obstructive tissue from a vessel of a living body while shielding a portion of the wall of the vessel from being exposed to the cutting blade at the catheter's distal end. An essentially continuous outer surface at the catheter's distal end allows it to be readily advanced through an introducer sheath and through a tight stenosis in an artery. The shield at the catheter's distal end could subtend an arc from as little as 45 degrees to as large as 270 degrees depending on the extent of the vessel wall that is to be protected from being cut. A vacuum source at the catheter's proximal end can cause a suction to exist at a cutout at the catheter's distal end in order to pull obstructive tissue into the cutout as the cutting cylinder is pulled back in a retrograde direction, this suction being capable of enhancing the removal of the obstructive tissue.

Growing community of inventors

Reinholds, PA, United States of America

Richard L Harding