AN AMNIOCENTESIS NEEDLE

Abstract: An amniocentesis needle (1) for use in performing amniocentesis to obtain amniotic fluid and fetal debris from a pregnant woman's uterus for diagnostic purposes. The amniocentesis needle (1) comprises a hollow needle (3) and a stylet (19). The hollow needle (3) has a lumen (7) removably and complementally receiving the stylet (19) in close-fitting relationship. The hollow needle (3) has a non-cutting tip (5) and a distal portion which has side holes (9) communicating with the lumen (7).

Description: Description An Amniocentesis Needle Technical Field This invention relates to the procedure of amniocentesis , and in particular, relates to a needle for specific use in such procedure. Background Art The prior art, U.S. Patent No. 1,845,727, discloses a trocar ; U.S. Patent No. 3,459,188 discloses a paracentesis stylet catheter; U.S. Patent No. 3, 547, 119 discloses a catheter assembly; U. S. Pa¬ tent No. 3, 565, 074 discloses an indwelling arterial cannula assembly * .U.S. Patent No. 3,680,562 discloses a surgical drainage apparatus for bladder; U.S. Patent No. 3,698,396 discloses a catheter assem¬ bly for peritoneal cavity insertion; U.S. Patent No. 4,153, 058 dis¬ closes a pleural decompression catheter. Disclosure of Invention The object of the invention is to provide an amniocentesis needle for use in performing amniocentesis. Amniocentesis is a procedure utilized to obtain 10 to 20 cc of am¬ niotic fluid from a pregnant woman's uterus for diagnostic purposes. Such fluid is obtained, in the prior art, by inserting a long spinal needle, having a sharp-cutting tip, through the skin, fascia and uter- ine cavity and -obtaining therefrom such amniotic fluid by aspiration. Complications, including trauma, hemorrhage and infection have re¬ sulted from employing such prior-art surgical needle in such proce¬ dure. Concomitantly, the fetus, umbilical cord or placenta maybe punctured by such sharp- cutting surgical needle and with such re- suiting injuries that vary from scratching of parts of the fetus to intrauterine hemorrhage, causing fetal distress and intrauterine death. Fetal pneumothorax and cord hematomas have occurred. Prior to this invention, there was no safe needle specifically de¬ signed for this procedure. The medical literature is replete with documented cases substantiating the prior-art problems, to wit: fetal bleeding and death from puncture of the umbilical cord; free flow of blood from needle puncture of the umbilical cord wrapped around the baby's neck with puncture of the nuchal cord; punture through a ve ssel on the fetal surface of the placenta; thoracic punc ¬ ture re sulting in pneumothorax; laceration of the fetal spleen with rupture of the membrane s; surgical emphysema and pneumothorax; puncture of the eye requiring its subsequent surgical removal; spon¬ taneous abortion resulting from leakage of amniotic fluid ; gangrene of fetal limb as a re sult of the subclavian artery being punctured; amputations of the fetal limbs within the mother 's womb; blindne s s re sulting from ocular puncture ; puncture of the fetal peritoneal cavity causing ileal atresia and ileocutaneous fistula; ob struction of the small bowel; scars all over the fetal bodies from needle laceration and needle scratchings ; laceration of the spleen, cardiac tamponade, subdural hematoma, arteriovenous fistula; rupture of fetal mem- branes; the complications of needle -tract endometriosis; respiratory difficulties, major orthopaedic deformities, premature ruptures of the membranes, hemorrhage ; needle injury to the myocardium, lung, liver, spleen and brain; fetal exsanguination. The problems with utilizing such spinal needle with its sharp - cutting tip are the potential and actual injuries to the fetus . This susceptibility for causing injuries arises from the fact that the needle must be manipulated and otherwise moved while in the uterus to ob ¬ tain the required quantity of amniotic fluid along with some fetal de ¬ bris for diagnostic purposes . The needle further must be appropri- ately manipulated and moved in the uterus to free the tip of the spinal needle from any clogging debris . . Accordingly, the object of the invention is to contribute to the solution of the discussed problems of the prior art by providing a safe amniocentesis needle specifically de signed and constructed for such diagnostic procedure with the po ssibility of any injury to the fetus minimized and with any clogging of the needle likewise mini¬ mized . The hollow needle of this invention is specificallv de signed and U J o. ~ ?ι constructed to aspirate fluid with a maximum of suction but with a minimum of negative (suction) pressure. The four side holes within 1 cm of the needle tip minimize disturbance of the environment in the amniotic cavity and fetus. The five holes, i.e. , the lumen of the hollow needle and four side holes cooperate to equalize suction. The external diameter of the hollow needle is kept to a minimum to minimize unnecessary trauma to the mother, her uterus and tissue. Tissue damage occurs in the prior art due to the larger puncture hole along with the leakage of fluid. Since the four side holes are within 1 cm of the needle tip, the sampling of amniotic fluid is uncon- taminated because the effective aspiration area of the hollow needle is minimal. Hence, pure and uncontaminated amniotic fluid can be aspirated. In the prior art, contaminated fluid is drawn from the amniotic cavity when blood from the placenta or afterbirth blood from the mother's blood vessel or tissue is drawn-. If such proce¬ dure is contaminated, then the procedure must be repeated with the risk of injury and trauma. The hollow needle has a blunt, round and non-cutting tip in order that it can be manipulated and otherwise moved while it is in the womb. Hence, needle injury to the fetus upon penetration or subsequent movement of the needle tip hardly presents a problem because any potential fetal injury is minimal. In accordance with the invention, there is provided an amniocen¬ tesis needle comprising a hollow needle having a blunt, round, non- cutting tip and multiple communicating side holes at its distal por- tion. The lumen of such hollow needle removably and complemen¬ tally receives therein in close-fitting relationship, a solid stylet having a sharp-cutting tip for penetration through the skin, fascia and uterine muscle. After such penetration and introduction of the needle into the amniotic cavity of the uterus, the stylet is removed entirely from suchbollow needle. Accordingly, since such needle has a blunt, round and non-cutting tip, it can be manipulated and otherwise moved while in the uterus with any potential injury to the fetus kept to a minimum. The multiple side holes at the portion of such hollow needle provide for easy aspiration and re ¬ moval, for diagnostic purposes , of not only amniotic fluid , but also removal of fetal debris without clogging. Brief Des cription of Drawings The object of the invention and other obje cts of the invention should be dis cerned and appreciated by reference to the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views, in which: Fig. 1 is a view of the assembled hollow needle and stylet; Fig. 2 is a view of the hollow needle; Fig. 3 is a view of the stylet; and Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the as sembled hollow needle and stylet. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention In Fig. 1 of the drawings , reference numeral 1 generally refers to the invention of the amnio centesis needle comprising a hollow nee- die 3 having a blunt, round, non-cutting tip 5 at its distal end, a lumen 7 and four side holes 9 at the distal portion of needle 3 com¬ municating with lumen 7, and with the two side holes 9 stacked on one side being symmetrical with the two side holes 9 stacked on the other side, or otherwise described as two longitudinally aligned side holes 9 on one side of hollow needle 3 being in symmetrical arrange ¬ ment radially with two longitudinally aligned side holes 9 on the other side of hollow needle 3. The diameter of each of the side holes 9 is slightly le ss than the diameter of lumen 7. The side hole s 9 are within 1 cm of the tip 5 of hollow needle 3 . Such side holes 9 are disposed, arranged and constructed, as des cribed, to be consistent with the material strength of the stainles s -steel hollow needle with¬ out weakening same . The hollow needle 3 is designed with the opti¬ mal internal and external diameters suited for the procedure in that the internal diameter is the minimum lumen 7 ne ces sary for the satisfactory passage of amniotic fluid and fetal debris while the ex¬ ternal diameter of the hollow needle 3 is reduced to the smallest size feasible to reduce maternal tis sue damage and also reduce the leakage of amniotic fluid through the needle tract. The diameter of the lumen 7 is 0.66 mm while the external diameter of the hollow needle can range from 0.91 to 0.96 mm. With reference to the maternal complications from the larger needle tract of the prior art, the medical literature reports endo e- triosis of the uterine wall, along the needle tract, following amnio¬ centesis. The small needle tract of this invention obviates this com¬ plication. Endometriosis is a condition where the tissue lining of the uterus is implanted in the uterine wall and behaves like a tumor. Since the side holes 9 are confined to the distal 1 cm of the needle tip 5, the sample from the amniotic fluid will be free of contamina¬ tion. And inasmuch as determination of the chemistry and enzyme level of the amniotic fluid is microscopic, any contamination with material from maternal blood vessels or the placenta will nullify the study, necessitating repitition of the procedure. Moreover, in pre-caesarean section studies to determine fetal lung maturity, a contaminated specimen will give abnormally high enzyme reading and, therefore, a false reading that the baby is ready for delivery. If so delivered, the baby may die from suffoca¬ tion due to immature lungs unable to absorb atmospheric oxygen. The uppermost or proximal portion 11 of hollow needle 3 is suita¬ bly fixed to the lowermost or distal portion 13 of female adapter or needle hub 15. Female adapter 15 is of open-cylindrical configura¬ tion and has an interior portion 17 tapered divergingly from the lowermost portion 13. The lumen 7 of hollow needle 3 removably and complementally receives therein in close-fitting relationship, solid stylet 19 of stainless-steel material, having a beveled, sharp-cutting tip 21. When properly assembled, the distal cutting tip 21 of stylet 19 ex¬ tends slightly beyond the blunt, round, non-cutting tip 5 of hollow needle 3; however, such distal cutting tip 21 should not project more than 1 millimeter beyond such blunt, non-cutting tip 5. The stylet head or hub 23 has a male body portion 25, a cylin¬ drical cavity 27 and reduced shoulder portion of a cylindrical cavity 29 having four symmetrically disposed and raised webs 31 to present externally thereby a somewhat square configuration to fa¬ cilitate manipulation thereof. One of the raised webs 31 has a pro¬ je cting nub 33 which is received by a re ces s 35 in flange 37 of female * - ' adapter 15 to thereby prevent relative rotation therebetween. Such cylindrical cavity 27 and reduced shoulder portion of cylin¬ drical cavity 29 complementally receive in suitably fixed relationship an integral plug 39 having a cylindrical portion 41 and reduced cylin¬ drical portion 43 , respectively. 10 The upper end or proximal portion 45 of solid stylet 19 is concen¬ tric with and is fixedly carried by the male body portion 25 , and re ¬ duced cylindrical portion 43 of plug 39 - In using the amniocentesis needle 1 of this invention, the physi¬ cian can obtain the amniotic fluid by either transabdominal or supra- 15 pubic amnio centesis . The physician utilizes sonography to locate and thereby enable himself to visualize the fetus, placenta and an adequate pocket of fluid, and to determine the location and depth to which the needle will be inserted . Women are of different weight, height and build. Accordingly, from the outer skin through the 20 fas cia and uterine mus cle to the amniotic cavity varies from 2 to 3 inches ; and the fluid in the amniotic cavity likewise varies from 250 cc to 1, 500 cc . With hollow needle 3 and stylet 19 assembled, and with nub 33 in reces s 35, the physician appropriately manipulates the exterior of 25 female adapter 15 and the raised webs 31 of stylet head 23 , and in¬ serts , at such determined location, such as sembled needle through the skin, fas cia and uterine mus cle and into the amniotic cavity of the uterus to the depth as certained to be sufficient by such prior diagnostic sonography in order that amniotic fluid may be aspirated 30 therefrom along with fetal debris. Thereupon, stylet 19 is removed from hollow needle 3, the male distal portion of a syringe is appro ¬ priately disposed in female adapter 15 and amniotic fluid and fetal debris are aspirated through lumen 7 and side holes 9 which communicate with lumen 7. Sometimes hollow needle 3 must be moved by adjusting same up or down in order that amniotic fluid can be located for aspiration. Upon moving hollow needle 3 in the amniotic cavity, the part of the hollow needle 3 that can both make conta ct with the fetus , placenta or umblilical cord and cause injury from such contact is tip 5. How¬ ever, since tip 5 is blunt, round and non-cutting, the likelihood of any injury from such contact by tip 5 is remote and minimal. It should further be appre ciated that lumen 7 along with commu- nicating side hole s 9 contribute to and make po ssible the uninterrupt¬ ed aspiration of amniotic fluid along with such fetal debris that can be aspirated .

Claims: Claims 1. An amniocentesis needle for use in performing amniocentesis, to obtain amniotic fluid and fetal debris from a pregnant woman' s uterus for diagnostic purposes; said amniocentesis needle compris ¬ ing a needle hub, hollow needle, stylet hub and stylet, said hollow 5 needle having a distal end and a proximal portion, said needle hub receiving and carrying said hollow needle at said hollow needle 's said proximal portion, said stylet hub having a proximal portion, said stylet hub receiving and carrying said stylet at said stylet 's said nroximal portion, said hollow needle having a lumen, said needle 10 hub being of open cylindrical configuration, and, in assembled rela¬ tionship for use preparatory to performing amniocentesis: said lumen removably and complementally receiving said stylet therein in close fitting relationship and said needle hub receiving said stylet hub in mounting relationship with said stylet hub facilitating manipula- ' 15 tion thereof in performing amniocente sis , said stylet having a sharp- cutting tip at its distal end to penetrate the skin, fascia and uterine muscle of the pregnant woman to allow said hollow needle, after re ¬ moval of said stylet from said hollow needle, to be disposed into the amniotic cavity for aspiration therefrom of amniotic fluid and fetal 20 debris; said amniocentesis needle having means on its said distal end cooperating to permit said hollow needle to be manipulated and otherwise moved while in the uterus without injury to the fetus ; said amniocentesis needle being of such size to obviate trauma to the pregnant woman, her uterus and tissue, the leakage of amniotic 25 fluid through the needle tract, and to obviate endomentriosis ; said amniocente sis needle having means, axially spaced from Its said distal end, cooperating to minimize suction pres sure in the uterine cavity and thereby to obviate disturbance of the fetal environment, to equalize suction of amniotic fluid, to aspirate pure and uncon- 30 taminated amniotic fluid and fetal debris without clogsins. 2 . An amniocente sis needle in accordance with claim 1, wherein said hollow needle has a blunt, round and non- cutting tip constituting ' said means cooperating to permit said hollow needle to be manipu¬ lated and otherwise moved while in the uterus without injury to the fetus. 3. An amniocentesis needle in accordance with claim 1, wherein said hollow needle has side holes constituting said means cooperating to minimize suction pressure in the uterine cavity and thereby to ob¬ viate disturbance of the fetal environment. 4. An amniocentesis needle in accordance with claim 3, wherein said side holes comprise two longitudinally aligned side holes on one side of said hollow needle that are in symmetrical arrangement ra¬ dially with two longitudinally aligned side holes on the other side of said hollow .needle. 5. An amniocentesis needle in accordance with claim 4, wherein the diameter of each of said side holes is slightly less than the diam- eter of said lumen, wherein said hollow needle has a tip and wherein said side holes are within 1 cm of said hollow needle's tip. 6. An amniocentesis needle in accordance with claim 3, wherein said side holes and said lumen cooperate to equalize suction of amni¬ otic fluid, to aspirate pure and uncontaminated amniotic fluid and fetal debris without clogging. OMPI

Inventors: YOUNG RUPERTO S
Applicants: YOUNG RUPERTO S
Application year: 1981
Main classification: A61B10
IPC codes: A61B10, A61B17