Patent ID: 8882714

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a needle providing a hollow core, an insertion tip interacting with the hollow core, and a fluid transfer aperture adjacent to said insertion tip, said aperture in fluidic communication with said hollow core, wherein the insertion tip is a portion of the needle, wherein the insertion tip is a pointed, flesh-piercing tip of the needle, said insertion tip of the needle is the first structural portion of the apparatus to engage a patient's tissue when the apparatus is inserted into the tissue of the patient, wherein the needle comprises a fluid reservoir as part of the needle; and a stylet disposed within the hollow core, cooperating with said fluid transfer aperture to preclude fluid flow through said fluid transfer aperture when said stylet is in a first position, and to promote fluid flow through said transfer aperture when the stylet is in a second position adjacent the insertion tip, wherein the stylet and the needle are two separate components, wherein the stylet comprises a plug portion at its distal end, a cap portion at its proximal end, and a hollow cylindrical body portion disposed between the plug portion and the cap portion, wherein said plug portion precludes fluid flow through said fluid transfer aperture when said stylet is in the first position, and said plug portion promotes fluid flow through said transfer aperture when the stylet is in the second position adjacent said insertion tip, and further wherein the hollow cylindrical body portion comprises a first fluid transfer aperture, and a second fluid transfer aperture, the first fluid transfer aperture and second fluid transfer aperture being disposed through an outer surface of the hollow cylindrical body portion, and the first fluid transfer aperture of the stylet is adjacent to said insertion tip and the second fluid transfer aperture of the stylet is adjacent to said cap portion, wherein the stylet is removably disposed in the needle.