Patent ID: 9168351
Filing Date: 2015-10-27
Classification: A61M,A61N

Abstract:
1. A method for delivery of an anesthetic drug to a nerve of a patient, the method comprising: providing a catheter assembly capable of conveying an electrical impulse from a proximal end of the catheter assembly to a distal tip of the catheter assembly, the catheter assembly having an inflatable balloon at a distal end of the catheter assembly capable of being inflated with an injected substance; inserting the distal tip of the catheter assembly into the patient for placement of the distal tip near the nerve; applying the electrical impulse to the proximal end of the catheter assembly, which electrical impulse is conveyed to the distal tip of the catheter assembly; inflating the inflatable balloon at the distal end of the catheter assembly with the injected substance; wherein inflating the inflatable balloon at the distal end of the catheter assembly with the injected substance comprises: injecting the injected substance into a balloon channel injection opening of a balloon channel terminating within the inflatable balloon at the distal end of the catheter assembly; releasing the injected substance into the inflatable balloon at a balloon channel opening at a distal end of the balloon channel within the inflatable balloon; using ultrasound from a source external to the patient to view the inflatable balloon via the injected substance so as to manipulate the location of the catheter assembly proximate to the nerve; and administering the anesthetic drug through the catheter assembly to the nerve.