Patent ID: 7713257

Claim:
A catheter and introducer needle assembly for use in delivering anesthesia to human tissue including: a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, which catheter is formed of a material that is an electrical insulator; a catheter adapter in fluid communication with the catheter and having a proximal end and a distal end connected to the proximal end of the catheter, the catheter adapter including a side port in fluid communication with the catheter adapter; an introducer needle having a proximal end and an open distal end disposed inside the catheter, the introducer needle defining a notch and a central bore therein, wherein the catheter sealingly engages the introducer needle near the distal end thereof, thereby defining an annular space between the introducer needle and the catheter and directing fluid flow in the annular space through the notch rather than out the distal end of the catheter; a source of anesthesia selectively engaged to the side port, wherein anesthesia fluid passes from the source through the side port into the annular space through the notch and out the central bore of the introducer needle; a needle hub having a proximal end and a distal end connected to the proximal end of needle; an electrical lead connected to the needle; and an elastomeric septum disposed in the catheter adapter and located proximal of the side port, the septum being equal to or longer than the distance between a proximal end of the notch and the open distal end of the introducer needle.