Patent ID: 7867169

Claim:
An echogenic needle catheter, comprising: a) an elongated shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a needle lumen; b) a spherical distal tip at the distal end of the elongated shaft, having an outer surface with a circumference angle substantially greater than 180 degrees, having a rigid outer diameter wall with a curved outer surface formed at least in part of a rigid polymeric material, and having a lumen in communication with a proximal section of the needle lumen of the shaft and with a port at a distal end of the spherical distal tip, wherein the spherical distal tip is formed at least in part of an electrically conductive material, and the spherical distal tip is in continuous contact with the lumen; c) a needle in the needle lumen of the shaft, which extends distally from the spherical distal tip port in an extended configuration, and which has a lumen; and d) a conductor electrically connected to the spherical distal tip and extending through the shaft to the proximal end, so that the spherical distal tip is an electrode, the conductor including an elongated deflection member with a distal end secured to the shaft, configured for deflecting a distal section of the catheter shaft.