Patent ID: 7727224

Claim:
A method of administering a nerve block to a patient with reduced risk of intraneuronal injection, said method comprising (a) providing a system for administration of the nerve block in the patient with reduced risk of intraneuronal injection, said system comprising (1) an anesthetic delivery device having an anesthetic storage compartment and an output end; (2) a nerve block needle having an input end and an output end wherein the output end can be inserted into the patient for delivery of anesthetic to the patent in the vicinity of a nerve to be blocked; (3) a tube having an anesthetic passageway connecting the output end of the anesthetic delivery device and the input end of the nerve block needle, whereby anesthetic from the anesthetic storage compartment can be delivered via the output end of the nerve block needle to the patient; and (4) a first pressure sensing device located along, and in pressure sensing communication with, the anesthetic passageway, whereby the pressure of the anesthetic can be continuously monitored and controlled during anesthetic delivery to the patient so as to reduce the risk of intraneuronal injection, wherein the first pressure sensing device is capable of measuring pressures of at least 25 psi; (b) inserting the output end of the nerve block needle into the vicinity of the nerve to be blocked; (c) starting delivery of the anesthetic; (d) monitoring the pressure of the anesthetic during delivery of the anesthetic; (e) continuing delivery of the anesthetic so long as the pressure remains within a normal range based on the nerve to be blocked; (f) if the pressure increases to an abnormal range based on the nerve to be blocked, interrupting delivery of the anesthetic so that appropriate corrective action can be taken; (g) if the delivery of the anesthetic is interrupted in step (f), taking the appropriate corrective action and then continuing delivery of the anesthetic; and (h) repeating steps (d) through (g) until delivery of the anesthetic is complete or delivery of anesthetic is terminated, wherein the appropriate corrective action comprises repositioning the output end of the nerve block needle such that the output end remains within the vicinity of the nerve to be blocked but does not penetrate the nerve to be blocked.