Patent ID: 8048030
Filing Date: 2011-11-01
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
1. A needle assembly, comprising: a plurality of needle cannulae each having a passageway and a distal tip portion, each said needle cannula, while in its unconstrained configuration, having at least one preformed bend proximate to said distal tip portion and being constrainable to a second configuration, whereby at release of external constraining forces, said distal tip portion of each said needle cannula substantially returns to the unconstrained configuration extending forwardly and radially outwardly from a respective said preformed bend; wherein said needle cannulae comprise a superelastic Ni—Ti alloy; and wherein the at least one preformed bend of each needle cannula of said plurality of needle cannulae is induced by mechanical deformation of the needle cannula such that the superelastic material of the at least one preformed bend includes a martensitic crystalline structure, while non-mechanically defomied portions of the needle cannula comprise a substantially austenitic crystalline structure.