Patent ID: 8333734

Claim:
A needle apparatus for administering a peripheral nerve block, said needle apparatus comprising: a hollow needle having a plurality of fenestrations proximate a distal end of said hollow needle, structured to allow location of multiple fenestrations within a fascial compartment during injection to achieve an even distribution of local anesthetic within a fascial compartment, wherein the fenestrations are arranged in two columns on opposing sides of the hollow needle, wherein the fenestrations in each column are spaced at intervals within one to two millimeters within the column, and wherein the fenestrations of one column are offset in an alternating pattern with respect to the fenestrations of the other column so as to increase the likelihood that at least one fenestration is positioned within a fascial compartment when the hollow needle is injected to administer a greater efflux of local anesthetic inside the fascial compartment through the at least one fenestration positioned within the fascial compartment than through fenestrations located intramuscularly outside the boundaries of the fascial compartment; a needle hub having a hollow interior disposed about a proximate end of said hollow needle; and a stylet cap coupled to a proximate end of a stylet, wherein said stylet is freely slidable inside said hollow needle and needle hub, such that selectively withdrawing the stylet from the needle hub enables a back flow of fluid into the needle hub from which proper localization of the apparatus may be verified prior to administering the local anesthetic and wherein said stylet cap creates a releasably secure pressure fit with said needle hub upon full insertion of said stylet into said hollow needle.