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Publication Number
US-7740621-B2
Publication Date
2010-06-22
Expiration Date
Abstract
One of the aspects of the present invention is to provide a medical needle extending along a predetermined direction and having a vertical cross-section taken along a plane perpendicular to the predetermined direction of which cross-sectional area varies based upon a distance from a needle tip. The medical needle includes a plurality of maximal points where the cross-sectional area of the vertical cross-section is locally maximal, and a plurality of minimal points where the cross-sectional area of the vertical cross-section is locally minimal. The vertical cross-section at the maximal point closest to the needle tip has the cross-sectional area not less than those at any other maximal points.
Core Innovation
The disclosed subject matter provides a medical needle and a medical device extending along a predetermined direction and having a vertical cross-section taken along a plane perpendicular to the predetermined direction, where the cross-sectional area varies based upon a distance from a needle tip. The vertical cross-section includes a plurality of maximal points where the cross-sectional area is locally maximal and a plurality of minimal points where the cross-sectional area is locally minimal.
The vertical cross-section at the maximal point closest to the needle tip has the cross-sectional area not less than those at any other maximal points. The vertical cross-section between the needle tip and the maximal point closest to the needle tip is gradually and continuously increased in accordance with the distance from a needle tip, establishing an ascending region from the tip toward the closest maximal point.
The disclosed concepts further describe optional structural features and configurations associated with such needles, including channels or openings with chambers, grooves, and vertical cavities with seal membranes for medicament release, as well as a grating for optical measurement. Additional sensing- or sampling-related elements are described, including an arrangement related to electrodes/bio-sensor (µ-TAS) and a slit for capillary sampling.
Claims Coverage
The patent document provides two independent claims: one directed to a medical needle and one directed to a medical device. Across both independent claims, there are three inventive feature groups.
Vertical cross-sectional area varying with distance including multiple local maxima and minima
A medical needle extending along a predetermined direction and having a vertical cross-section taken along a plane perpendicular to the predetermined direction, with cross-sectional area varying based on a distance from a needle tip and including a plurality of maximal points and a plurality of minimal points.
Tip-nearest maximal point not less than other maximal points
The vertical cross-section at the maximal point closest to the needle tip has the cross-sectional area not less than those at any other maximal points.
Gradually and continuously increased area from the needle tip to the closest maximal point
The vertical cross-section between the needle tip and the maximal point closest to the needle tip is gradually and continuously increased in accordance with the distance from the needle tip.
Medical device including the needle with the same vertical cross-section variation constraints
A medical device including a medical needle with the same vertical cross-section variation, plurality of maximal and minimal points, comparative constraint at the tip-nearest maximal point, and gradually and continuously increased cross-sectional area from the needle tip to that maximal point.
Both independent claims center on a vertical cross-section that varies with distance from the needle tip using multiple locally maximal and minimal points, combined with a constraint that the maximal point closest to the tip is not less than other maxima and an ascending region where the cross-sectional area increases gradually and continuously from the needle tip to that closest maximal point. The medical device claim further frames this needle within a medical device.
Stated Advantages
Reduced pain
Minimized damage to pierced tissue/cells
Improved safety when biodegradable fragments remain in the body
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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