Introduction

The medical device conceived brings innovation to the practice of sub-arachnoid spinal anesthesia, a type of local anesthesia that creates a temporary block of the sympathetic nervous system, motor capacity and sensitivity of the lower half of the body. Our invention offers a universal continuous spinal anesthesia, with the aim of facilitating injecting in the epidural space, while maintaining the comfort of a normal sub-arachnoid. The kit thus created summarizes all the advantages of the other devices on the market without the disadvantages, in order to directly access the sub-arachnoid space.

Technical features

The universal device for continuous spinal anesthesia comprise an introducer needle, a spinal needle equipped with a mandrel, an over needle bridge cannula (shorter than the spinal needle), through which a spinal catheter can be appropriately positioned.  The device, works by sliding the needle for administering the drug, coaxially to another called “introducer”, with the function of penetrating right into the “dura mater” part. In this way the anesthetic injected through the internal needle can spread locally into the cerebrospinal fluid of the subarachnoid space, to numb the nerve fibers there. The support structure of the device also avoids the possible obstruction caused by bending and compression due to the small calibers of the other devices without coaxial support. Once the way to the epidural space has been opened, it can remain open, continuously injecting the necessary quantity of drug into it (another advantage of a finer dosage compared to a single shot injection).

Possible Applications

• Spinal (Sub-arachnoid) anesthesia;
• Pain Therapy;
• Pharmacological Therapy;
• Intensive and Emergency Medicine;
• Obstetrics and Analgesia for Childbirth.

 

Advantages

• Similar / traditional usage for spinal (or subarachnoid) injection: re-use of the same techniques and manual skills;
• Both single and continuously shot operation mode;
• Reduced caliber of the spinal needle, with lower risk of PDPH as post-operation back side effect for the patient;
• Catheters spinal cord for young and paediatric patients,  extended use.