Patent ID: 7022109

Claim:
A catheter system for diagnosis and treatment in an epidural space involving an epidural introducer assembly which comprises the following components: (a) a flexible outer sheath having distal and proximal ends wherein said proximal end terminates in a hub and a luer tapered end, said hub is connected to a flexible cannula rounded at its distal end and wherein a cylindrical bore defines the interior of said sheath; (b) an introducer needle having proximal and distal ends and an interior bore and finger engageable wings attached at said proximal end, said wings having a distal and proximal face, said wings also having locking means on the distal face and a luer tapered hub attached on the proximal face of the wings, said introducer needle having a predetermined length and being adapted to be inserted and fixed by locking means into the interior bore of said flexible outer sheath and having at its distal end a cutting tip adapted for percutaneous introduction; and (c) an inner stylet having a predetermined length and having proximal and distal ends and being adapted to be inserted within the interior bore of said introducer needle and wherein said proximal end is attached a lug having a luer fitting cap and at which distal end is a tip configured and dimensioned to fit between the contours of the cutting tip of the distal end of said introducer needle.