Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6371963
-
Patent Number
6,371,963
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Date Filed
Tuesday, November 17, 199825 years ago
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Date Issued
Tuesday, April 16, 200222 years ago
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Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 606 1
- 606 110
- 606 113
- 606 114
- 606 127
- 606 151
- 606 167
- 606 170
- 606 171
- 606 172
- 606 185
- 604 272
- 604 187
- 604 264
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International Classifications
-
Abstract
An endoscopic needle device having a handle and a catheter sheath connected to the handle, wherein the catheter sheath has at least one lumen, for example a needle lumnen and a stabilization lumen, extending there through. A needle is selectively movable within the needle lumen between a needle retracted position and a needle extended position and a stabilization element is selectively movable within the stabilization lumen between a stabilizer retracted position and a stabilizer extended position. A linking mechanism may operatively connect the needle and the stabilization element so that when the needle is in the needle retracted position the stabilization element is in the stabilizer extended position and when the needle is in the needle extended position the stabilization element is in the stabilizer retracted position.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to endoscopic needle devices, and in particular relates to an endoscopic needle device allowing for controlled penetration of an injection needle.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Endoscopic needle devices are used for a variety of applications, including fine needle aspiration to collect cell cultures, injection schelerotherapy to stop bleeding, and sub-mucosal injection of saline for EMR imaging. Current endoscopic needle devices used for these and other purposes typically consist of an actuation handle, a flexible catheter sheath, and a rigid metal needle. While current endoscopic needles are generally adequate for penetration of soft tissues, known devices may have difficulty penetrating tough legions and tumors. Because the application of force by the operator occurs outside the body, the force may not be entirely transferred to the injection site. Accordingly, the needle may be unable to apply enough pressure at the site to achieve penetration. Moreover, even if the needle does penetrate the site, the depth of penetration cannot be readily controlled. For known embodiments of endoscopic needle devices, this latter drawback exists for soft tissue penetration as well as for harder tissues.
In addition, many legions, tumors, or other injection sites are relatively inaccessible or hard to reach. These sites may require some manipulation or stabilization of the intended site. Known endoscopic needle devices do not provide stabilization of the site to effect penetration in many situations, much less stabilization that would allow controlled penetration of the needle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention is directed to an endoscopic needle device, comprising a handle and a catheter sheath connected to the handle, wherein the catheter sheath has at least one lumen extending therethrough. A needle is selectively movable within the lumen between a needle retracted position and a needle extended position and a stabilization element is selectively movable within the lumen between a stabilizer retracted position and a stabilizer extended position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of an endoscopic needle device according to the present invention, including a first exemplary embodiment of a stabilization element according to the present invention;
FIG. 2
is a side view of a second exemplary embodiment of an endoscopic needle device according to the present invention;
FIG. 3
is a side view of a third exemplary embodiment of an endoscopic needle device according to the present invention;
FIG. 4
is a side view of a fourth exemplary embodiment of an endoscopic needle device according to the present invention;
FIG. 5
is a side view of a distal end of the endoscopic needle device of
FIG. 1
including a second exemplary embodiment of a stabilization element according to the present invention;
FIG. 6
is a side view of a distal end of the endoscopic needle device of
FIG. 1
including a third exemplary embodiment of a stabilization element according to the present invention;
FIG. 7
is a side view of a distal end of the endoscopic needle device of
FIG. 1
at a penetration site, with the stabilization element of
FIG. 1
in an extended position;
FIG. 8
is a side view of the distal end of the endoscopic needle device of
FIG. 1
at a penetration site, with the stabilization element of
FIG. 1
in a retracted position;
FIG. 9
is a side view of a fifth embodiment of the endoscopic needle device according to the present invention including a fourth exemplary embodiment of a stabilization element according to the present invention;
FIG. 10
is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a valve arrangement and linking mechanism for the needle device of
FIG. 9
;
FIG. 11
is a side view of the endoscopic needle device of
FIG. 9
being employed to penetrate a lesion;
FIG. 12
is a side view of a distal end of the endoscopic needle device of
FIG. 1
including a fifth exemplary embodiment of a stabilization element according to the present invention; and
FIG. 13
is a side view of a sixth exemplary embodiment of a needle penetration device according to the present invention having an exemplary embodiment of a needle penetration window according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1
illustrates an exemplary endoscopic needle device
101
according to the present invention. The needle device
101
includes, for example, a handle
103
connected to a catheter sheath
105
(the term catheter sheath is intended to include any sort of catheter or similar tubular member). The catheter sheath
105
, which extends from a proximal end coupled to the handle
103
to a distal end, will typically be a flexible member, but may be completely or partially rigid if suitable. The catheter sheath
105
has at least one lumen extending therethrough. In the exemplary embodiment of
FIG. 1
, the catheter sheath
105
includes, for example, a pair of lumens extending axially therethrough, a needle lumen
127
and a stabilization lumen
125
. The needle lumen
127
and stabilization lumen
125
terminate at openings located, for example, at the distal end of the catheter sheath
105
(the distal end being located to the right in each of the Figures).
A needle
107
extends, for example, through the needle lumen
127
from a needle base
115
disposed in the handle
103
, to a needle head
111
which, in an extended position, protrudes from the distal end of the needle lumen
127
. In a retracted position, the needle head
111
may be completely received within the needle lumen
127
. A needle hub
121
may also be attached to the needle
107
at, for example, the needle base
115
. The needle hub
121
is disposed, for example, outside the proximal end of the handle
103
. Inside the handle
103
, the needle
107
may be retained in place by retaining members
123
. Those skilled in the art will understand that alternate arrangements may be used to retain the needle
107
in conjunction with or in place of retaining members
123
.
A stabilization wire
108
is provided, for example, within the stabilization lumen
125
. The stabilization wire
108
extends, for example, from a wire base
113
disposed in the handle
103
, to a stabilizing element which, in an extended position, protrudes from the distal end of the stabilization lumen
125
. In a retracted position, the stabilizing element may be completely received within the stabilization lumen
125
, if suitable. In the exemplary embodiment of
FIG. 1
, the stabilizing element is in the form of a loop
109
which is shaped, for example, as a circular or ovoid wire element which, in an operative position, is placed around an injection site. Loop
109
may be formed, for example, by bending an extension of the stabilization wire
108
back around upon itself and attaching the extension to the stabilization wire
108
. Those skilled in the art will understand, however, that any suitable stabilizing element or elements may be used, and that the present invention should not be limited to the embodiments pictured in the Figures and described herein. Likewise, in
FIG. 1
the stabilization lumen
125
extends into the handle, but other means of retaining the stabilization wire
108
inside the stabilization lumen
125
may be employed.
In the exemplary embodiment of
FIG. 1
, needle
107
and stabilization wire
108
are, for example, linked by a linking mechanism, although the linking mechanism may be omitted in other embodiments, including several embodiments described below. When present, the linking mechanism coordinates the movement of the needle
107
and stabilization wire
108
so that as one of the two elements is extended the other of the elements retracts, for example by a corresponding amount. Any suitable linking mechanism may be employed. In the embodiment of
FIG. 1
, for example, needle base
15
and wire base
113
have teeth extending along inner sides thereof (i.e., the sides facing each other). The teeth interconnect, for example, with gear
117
. In this manner, needle base
115
, wire base
113
, and gear
117
form a rack-and-pinion arrangement that provides smooth, controlled movement of the needle
107
and stabilization wire
108
whereby motion of the needle by a predetermined distance proximally causes a corresponding motion of the stabilization element distally with the ratio of motion being determined based on the distance between the teeth of the needle base
115
as compared to the distance between the teeth of the wire base
113
.
At least one of the needle base
115
and the wire base
113
may extend outside the handle
103
, or be connected to a component which is outside the handle
103
, so that the needle
107
and stabilization wire
108
may be easily manipulated by the operator. In the exemplary embodiment of
FIG. 1
, the wire base
113
is connected to a control tab
119
. The control tab
119
may be shaped, for example, in the form of a thumb loop designed to fit around the thumb of the operator. When the control tab
119
is urged distally by the operator, the stabilization wire
108
(along with the stabilizing element) will extend distally (assuming, for example, that the control tall
119
is attached to the wire base
113
). At the same time, if a linking element is present then the needle
107
and needle head
111
will retract, i.e. move proximally, into the needle lumen
127
.
FIG. 2
illustrates a second exemplary embodiment of a needle device
101
according to the present invention in which only a single lumen is provided. It should be understood that the needle
107
and the stabilization wire
108
need not be maintained in separate lumens. Rather, in certain situations it will be advantageous for the needle
107
and stabilization wire
108
to be located within a single lumen. This may be true, for example, when very narrow vessels or body lumens wherein the profile size of a deployed endoscope may be small, requiring instrumentation and, correspondingly, a catheter sheath
105
having relatively thin cross-sections. As can be seen in
FIG. 2
, a needle device
101
according to this embodiment of the present invention is similar to the embodiment of FIG.
1
. However, the exemplary embodiment of
FIG. 2
includes a single lumen
126
in which the needle
107
and stabilization wire
108
are maintained. It may be seen that the catheter sheath
105
of the embodiment of
FIG. 2
is of smaller cross-section than the catheter sheath of
FIG. 1
, but this is not required. In general, the catheter sheath
105
in any embodiment may be of any suitable width. It should also be understood that while the remaining Figures typically illustrate a dual-lumen arrangement, a single-lumen arrangement may be employed with other embodiments of the present invention, including the exemplary embodiments described below.
FIG. 3
illustrates a third exemplary embodiment of a needle device
101
according to the present invention. In this embodiment, movement of the needle
107
and stabilization wire
108
are, for example, not linked. Rather, the needle
107
and stabilization wire
108
may be activated independently, each being movable to any position regardless of the position of the other. Accordingly, needle base
115
and wire base
113
(if present) do not, for example, contain any teeth.
In some situations it may be preferable to provide partial linkage between the needle
107
and stabilization wire
108
. In the exemplary embodiment of
FIG. 4
, for example, the needle base
115
and wire base
113
are provided with teeth along a portion of an inner side. In this manner, stabilization wire
108
can be partially retracted, or needle
107
partially extended, without causing movement of the other member. When the stabilization wire
108
or needle
107
reaches a certain point, however, the teeth of the wire base
113
or needle base
115
contact, for example, gear
117
. If the other of the wire base
113
and needle base
115
is also contacting the gear, it will move in the direction opposite movement of the first element.
As noted above, any suitable stabilizing element may be employed.
FIGS. 5 and 6
illustrate additional embodiments of stabilizing elements that may be used in conjunction with the present invention.
FIGS. 5 and 6
each illustrate the distal end portion of a needle device according to the present invention, including, for example, needle lumen
127
, needle
107
with needle head
111
, stabilization lumen
128
, and stabilization wire
108
.
FIG. 5
illustrates a stabilization element in the shape of a barb
139
. The barb
139
may be shaped, for example, as a longitudinal member having one or more backward facing barb elements. The barb
139
may be used, for example, to puncture the injection site. When the stabilization wire
108
and barb
139
are retracted, the barb elements will embed in the site and draw the site towards the needle device
101
. Alternatively, the barb
139
may be, for example, scraped against the injection site to draw the site towards the needle device
101
.
FIG. 6
illustrates a third exemplary embodiment of a stabilization member according to the present invention. The stabilizing member of
FIG. 6
is shaped, for example, as a J-hook
149
. The J-hook
149
may be extended, for example, beyond and around an injection site. When retracted, the J-hook
149
will wrap around, and possibly puncture, the injection site, thereby achieving a stable hold on the site. Those skilled in the art will understand that the J-hook
149
may also include one or more barb elements as shown in
FIG. 5
to provide additional stabilization.
FIGS. 7 and 8
illustrate the operation of the needle device
101
of
FIG. 1
in greater detail. The operation is illustrated with the needle device employing, for example, a loop
109
as the stabilization element.
FIG. 7
shows the distal end of the needle device
101
with loop
109
in an extended position placed, for example, around an injection site. Assuming for example that a linkage mechanism is present, the with loop
109
in the extended position, the needle
107
is in a retracted position. In this position, the needle head
111
may be contained entirely within needle lumen
127
. However, those skilled in the art will understand that other arrangements may be employed for shielding the needle head
111
while the loop
109
is in the extended position.
Once the stabilization element is in place around the injection site and the site is stabilized, loop
109
may be retracted. When the loop
109
is retracted, as shown in
FIG. 8
, the injection site is drawn towards the needle device
101
. At the same time, the needle
107
extends so that the needle head
111
penetrates the injection site (again assuming linkage). The device may preferably be configured so that when the loop
109
reaches a fully retracted position, the needle reaches a filly extended position, in which the needle head
111
achieves its maximum penetration of the injection site. Once suitable penetration has been achieved, the needle
107
may be retracted (as shown in FIG.
7
). Those skilled in the art will understand that the needle
107
and needle head
111
may be extended and retracted numerous times, so that, if desired, the needle head
111
will penetrate the injection site numerous times. The loop
109
may then be withdrawn from around the injection site, and the needle device
101
may be removed.
Accordingly, a method of use of the needle device
101
according to the present invention includes, for example, the following steps. The needle device
101
is inserted and delivered to the injection site. Once the needle device
101
has been positioned at the injection site, the stabilization element is activated to stabilize the site. This may involve looping a loop
109
or J-hook
149
around the site, scraping a barb
139
along the site or thrusting a barb
139
into the site, positioning a grasper around the site (as discussed below), applying a vacuum to the site (as discussed below), or applying some other sort of stabilization element. With the stabilization element activated, the needle may be extended. If a linkage mechanism is present, then the penetration site may be drawn towards the needle device
101
as the needle
107
is extended. Finally, the injection site is penetrated by the needle
107
.
FIGS. 9
to
11
illustrate another exemplary embodiment of an endoscopic needle device
101
according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the needle device
101
includes a vacuum hood
159
as the stabilization element. The hood
159
is, for example, a substantially cylindrical member having a substantially cylindrical channel
160
therethrough. The interior diameter of the channel
160
is, for example, substantially equivalent to the outer diameter of catheter sheath
105
. The proximal end of the hood
159
may then be placed over the distal end of the endoscopic needle device
101
or the catheter sheath
105
, the two members being attached at the overlap section. If desired, the hood
159
may instead be integral with the needle device
101
or catheter sheath
105
rather than a separate, attached member. The hood
159
is arranged, for example, so that the needle head
111
may extend into the channel
160
of the hood
159
when in the extended position.
As shown in
FIG. 11
, the stabilization lumen
125
of this embodiment need not contain any stabilization wire
108
or stabilization member. Rather, the stabilization lumen
125
may simply be connected to a vacuum (not shown), so that a vacuum can be drawn through the channel
160
. The term vacuum is intended to include a partial or full vacuum, as well as any vacuum-creating device, system, or arrangement that may be onset to he stabilization lumen
125
to create a partial or full vacuum therein. The vacuum may be linked to the extension of the needle
107
(for example via a piston or valve arrangement) or may be controlled independently of the needle
107
. In either case, the control tab
119
is not connected to the wire base
113
in this embodiment, but instead is connected, for example, to a vacuum base
166
as shown in
FIG. 10
or to the needle base
115
. The vacuum base
166
may, for example, have the same or substantially the same shape as wire base
113
.
An exemplary valve arrangement for connecting the stabilization lumnen
125
to a vacuum is shown in FIG.
10
. The arrangement includes a vacuum base
166
connected to a piston
162
. The vacuum base
166
may be connected to a control tab
119
, and may form part of a linking mechanism, as described above with respect to wire base
113
. Vacuum base
166
and piston
162
are movable, for example, between extended and retracted positions. In the extended position, the piston
162
blocks vacuum lumen
164
which is connected to a vacuum. Thus in this position no vacuum is established in the stabilization lumen
125
or vacuum hood
159
. In the retracted position, however, the piston
162
does not block the vacuum lumen
164
. In this position, a vacuum will be established in the stabilization lumen
125
and vacuum hood
159
, drawing the injection site into channel
160
. Those skilled in the art will understand that the vacuum lumen
164
or the connection between vacuum lumen
164
and stabilization lumen
125
may be shaped (e.g. widened) so that as the piston
162
is retracted a vacuum is gradually established in the stabilization lumen
125
and vacuum hood
159
.
In operation, the needle device
101
with vacuum hood
159
is extended to the desired injection site. Once at the site, the vacuum may be applied to draw the injection site into the channel
160
, as shown in FIG.
11
. As the vacuum is applied, or after the vacuum has been applied, the needle
107
may be extended so that the needle head
111
enters the channel
160
and penetrates the injection site. Once the needle head
111
has adequately penetrated the site, the needle
107
can be retracted and the vacuum terminated. The needle device
101
may then be removed from the site. As in the embodiments described above, it will be understood that the needle head
107
may be extended and retracted a number of times prior to the removal of the needle device
101
.
FIG. 12
illustrates another exemplary embodiment of a stabilization element in operation. In this embodiment, the stabilization element, generally referred to as a grasper
169
, includes, for example, a plurality of longitudinal hook elements
170
extending distally from the needle device
101
. The hook elements
170
extend substantially axially from the stabilization wire
108
, but in an unbiased position also extend slightly radially outwardly as they extend distally, as shown in FIG.
12
. When retracted into the stabilization lumen
125
, for example, the hook elements
170
may be forced inwardly so that all of the hook elements
170
fit inside the stabilization lumen
125
. When extended outside the stabilization lumen, however, the hook elements may spring back to their slightly outwardly extending position.
The distal tips of hook elements
170
bend back inwardly and proximally, for example, toward the needle device
101
. When grasper
169
is extended over an injection site, the hook elements
170
are urged outwardly by the tissue of the injection site. The hook elements
170
therefore exert an inward force on the injection site so that the bent tips of the hook elements
170
frictionally engage or puncture the injection site, as shown in FIG.
12
. The grasper
169
may then be retracted to draw the injection site toward the needle device
101
. At the same time, needle
107
may be extended until needle head
111
penetrates the injection site. As with the embodiments described above, the needle
107
may be extended and retracted multiple times, if desired. After sufficient penetration has been achieved, the grasper
169
may be separated from the injection site (for example by twisting), and the needle device
101
withdrawn.
FIG. 13
illustrates a further exemplary feature of a needle device
101
according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the handle
103
includes, for example, a penetration window
133
. The penetration window
133
provides an operator with visual access to, for example, the needle base
115
, the needle itself, or another component connected to the needle that may act as a visual depth gauge. In this embodiment, the needle
107
may extend, for example, through a longitudinal channel in the needle base
115
to the needle hub
121
. The outer surface of the needle
107
and the inner surface of needle base
115
may be threaded, for example. When the needle hub
121
is rotated, the needle
107
and needle hub
121
move, for example, proximally or distally with respect to the needle base
115
, depending on which direction the needle hub
121
is rotated.
In this manner, a maximum penetration depth may be established for the needle head
111
. This maximum penetration depth may be adjusted, for example, by rotating the needle hub
121
until the desired depth has been established. The maximum penetration depth may be determined, for example, according to the position of the depth gauge in relation to a set of penetration depth markers
137
appearing on the outside of the handle
103
. The depth markers
137
may be arranged so that when the needle
107
is in an initial position, for example the fully retracted position, the position of the needle base
115
relative to the depth markers
137
indicates, for example, the maximum penetration depth of needle head
111
.
It may be understood that other arrangements of the needle
107
and the needle hub
121
will allow for adjustment of the needle
107
. For example, the needle hub
121
may be fixed to the needle base
115
or handle
103
, for example, with respect to the axial direction (i.e. capable of rotational but not axial movement). The needle hub
121
may also include, for example, a channel therethrough having threads on an inner surface that cooperate with threads on a threaded portion of the needle
107
. When the needle hub
121
is rotated, the needle
107
will be extended or retracted, thereby altering the maximum penetration depth. This embodiment may or may not include a needle base
115
or other elements described above.
Although the present invention has been described with respect to several exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that there are many other variations of the above described embodiments within the teaching of the present invention, which is to be limited only by the claims appended hereto.
Claims
- 1. An endoscopic needle device, comprising:a handle; a catheter sheath connected to the handle, the catheter sheath having at least one lumen extending therethrouqh; a needle at least Partially disposed within the lumen and selectively movable within a first range between a needle retracted position and a needle extended position; a stabilization element at least partially disposed within the lumen and selectively movable within a second range between a stabilizer retracted position and a stabilizer extended position, the needle being independently movable through at least part of the first range and the stabilization element being independently movable through at least part of the second range; and a linking mechanism operatively connecting the needle and the stabilization element so that movement of the needle and the stabilization element are linked through second parts of the first and second ranges.
- 2. The endoscopic needle device according claim 1, the linking mechanism comprising:a needle base disposed within the handle, the needle base being connected to the needle, wherein a plurality of teeth are formed along at least a portion of an inner side of the needle base; a wire base disposed within the handle opposite the needle base, the wire base being connected to the stabilization element via a stabilization wire, wherein a plurality of teeth are formed along at least a portion of an inner side of the wire base facing the inner side of the needle base; and a gear operatively connected between the needle base and the wire base, wherein the needle base, the wire base, and the gear form a rack-and-pinion arrangement.
- 3. The endoscopic needle device according to claim 2, wherein the stabilization element is a loop.
- 4. The endoscopic needle device according to claim 2, wherein the stabilization element is a barb, the barb being a substantially longitudinal member having at least one proximally slanting barb element disposed thereon.
- 5. The endoscopic needle device according to claim 2, wherein the stabilization element is a J-hook.
- 6. The endoscopic needle device according to claim 2, wherein the stabilization element is a grasper, the grasper including a plurality of flexible longitudinal members which, when in the stabilizer retracted position, extend substantially parallel to an axis of the catheter sheath and, in the stabilizer extended position, extend distally along the axis and outwardly from the axis, each of the longitudinal members having an inwardly-bent distal tip.
- 7. The endoscopic needle device according to claim 2, further comprising a control tab connected to the wire base and extending outside the housing.
- 8. The endoscopic needle device according to claim 7, wherein the control tab includes a thumb loop.
- 9. An endoscopic needle device, comprising:a handle; a catheter sheath connected to the handle, the catheter sheath having at least one lumen extending therethrough: a needle selectively movable within the at least one lumen between a needle retracted position and a needle extended position: a stabilization element selectively movable within the at least one lumen between a stabilizer retracted position and a stabilizer extended position; and a substantially longitudinal needle hub rotatably coupled to the handle, wherein a channel extending substantially longitudinally through the needle hub includes a threaded surface, wherein an outer surface of the needle is threadably coupled to the threaded surface of the channel so that, when the needle hub is rotated in a first direction, the needle moves distally to increase a maximum penetration depth of the needle and, when the needle hub is rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction, the needle moves proximally to decrease the maximum penetration depth of the needle.
- 10. The endoscopic needle device according to claim 9, wherein the handle includes a depth gauge for indicating a depth of maximum needle penetration and a penetration window for allowing visual access to the depth gauge, the maximum penetration depth being determinable based on a position of the depth gauge within the penetration window.
- 11. An endoscopic needle device, comprising:a handle; a catheter sheath connected to the handle, the catheter sheath having a needle lumen and a stabilization lumen extending therethrough; a needle selectively movable within the needle lumen between a needle retracted position and a needle extended position; a vacuum hood disposed at a distal end of the catheter sheath; and a valve arrangement including: a vacuum lumen connected to the stabilization lumen; and a piston movable between a piston extended position in which the piston blocks a connection between the vacuum lumen and the stabilization lumen and a piston retracted position in which the connection between the vacuum lumen and the stabilization lumen is at least partially unblocked.
- 12. The needle device according to claim 11, further comprising:a needle base disposed within the handle, the needle base being connected to the needle and having a plurality of teeth disposed along an inner side thereof; a vacuum base disposed within the handle opposite the needle base, the vacuum base being connected to the piston and having a plurality of teeth disposed along an inner side thereof so that the vacuum base teeth face the needle base teeth; and a gear operatively connected between the needle base teeth and the vacuum base teeth, the needle base, the vacuum base, and the gear forming a rack-and pinion arrangement, so that, when the needle base moves distally, the vacuum base moves proximally and the piston moves towards the retracted position and, when the needle base moves proximally, the vacuum base moves distally and the piston moves towards the extended position.
- 13. A method of injecting a needle into an injection site using an endoscopic needle device, the endoscopic needle device including a handle, a catheter sheath connected to the handle, a stabilization element disposed at a distal end of the needle device, and a needle disposed at the distal end of the needle device, comprising:inserting the needle device into a body; delivering the needle device to an injection site; applying the stabilization element to stabilize the injection site; and penetrating the injection site with the needle while maintaining the stabilization element and the injection site substantially immobile with respect to the distal end of the needle device.
- 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the step of applying the stabilization element includes looping a loop around the injection site.
- 15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the step of applying the stabilization element includes looping a J-hook around the penetration site.
- 16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the step of applying the stabilization element includes positioning a grasper around the penetration site.
- 17. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the following, which is performed after applying the stabilization element and prior to penetrating the injection site with the needle:partially drawing the injection site towards the catheter sheath.
- 18. A method of injecting a needle into an injection site using an endoscopic needle device, the endoscopic needle device including a handle, a catheter sheath connected to the handle, a stabilization element disposed at a distal end of the needle device, and a needle disposed at the distal end of the needle device, comprising:inserting the needle device into a body; delivering the needle device to an infection site; applying the stabilization element to stabilize the injection site; and penetrating the infection site with the needle while maintaining the stabilization element and the injection site substantially immobile with respect to the distal end of the needle device; wherein the step of applying the stabilization element includes scraping a barb along the surface of the penetration site to embed barb elements in the site.
- 19. A method of injecting a needle into an injection site using an endoscopic needle device, the endoscopic needle device including a handle, a catheter sheath connected to the handle, a stabilization element disposed at a distal end of the needle device, and a needle disposed at the distal end of the needle device, comprising:inserting the needle device into a body; delivering the needle device to an injection site; applying the stabilization element to stabilize the injection site; and penetrating the injection site with the needle while maintaining the stabilization element and the injection site substantially immobile with respect to the distal end of the needle device; wherein the step of applying the stabilization element includes inserting a barb into the penetration site.
- 20. A method of infecting a needle into an injection site using an endoscopic needle device, the endoscopic needle device including a handle, a catheter sheath connected to the handle, a stabilization element disposed at a distal end of the needle device, and a needle disposed at the distal end of the needle device, comprising:inserting the needle device into a body; delivering the needle device to an injection site; applying the stabilization element to stabilize the injection site; and penetrating the injection site with the needle while maintaining the stabilization element and the injection site substantially immobile with respect to the distal end of the needle device; wherein the step of applying the stabilization element includes applying a vacuum to the penetration site, the vacuum being created within a vacuum hood.
US Referenced Citations (13)