Patent ID: 6973346

Claim:
A method for delivery of an anaesthetic drug into a fascia sheath of a nerve, comprising the steps of: a. providing a needle assembly comprising a needle capable of conveying a first electrical impulse from a proximal end to a distal tip of the needle and an electrically insulating coating over a portion of an outer surface of the needle between the proximal end and the distal tip; b. inserting the distal tip of the needle to a position proximate the nerve; c. applying the first electrical impulse to the proximal end of the needle which first impulse is conveyed to the distal tip of the needle to confirm the appropriate placement of the distal tip; d. piercing the fascia sheath of the nerve with the distal tip of the needle; e. providing a wire located within a catheter, the wire capable of conveying a second electrical impulse from the proximal end of the catheter to the distal end of the catheter, a distal end of the wire terminating at an electrically conducting tip that extends beyond the distal end of the catheter, a proximal end of the wire accessible for application of the second electrical impulse; f. inserting the distal end of the catheter into the proximal end of the needle assembly and advancing the catheter until electrically conducting tip extends distally of the distal tip of the needle, into a space adjacent the nerve and providing a catheter adapter on the proximal end of the catheter, the catheter adapter comprising an electrical contact which allows a source of electrical impulse to be attached through the catheter adapter to the proximal end of the catheter; g. applying the second electrical impulse through the electrical contact of the catheter adapter to the proximal end of the wire which second impulse is conveyed to the electrically conducting tip and manipulating the location of the electrically conducting tip proximate the nerve to achieve the desired placement of the electrically conducting tip; and h. administering an anaesthetic through the catheter to the nerve.