Patent ID: 8287496

Claim:
A flexible spinal needle assembly adapted for minimizing flow occlusion through a lumen of a flexible needle when inserted into a subject, the flexible spinal needle assembly comprising: a flexible needle comprising: a lumen; a distal end comprising a tip and an opening located proximate to the tip; and at least one radially reinforcing element to maintain structural integrity of the flexible needle during insertion into the subject; and a flow element adapted for use with the flexible needle previously inserted within the subject, the flow element comprising: a flow element body having an internal flow path adapted for conducting a fluid into the lumen of the flexible needle, the flow element body having structure adapted for coupling the flow element body to the flexible needle to position the internal flow path in fluid communication with the lumen; a conduit, secured to the flow element body and couplable to a supply of fluid, the conduit being in fluid communication with the internal flow path adapted for supplying a quantity of fluid to the internal flow path; and an anti-restriction member having an elongated body comprising at least one freely extending wire, a proximal end coupled to the flow element body within the internal flow path, and a distal end formed by a terminal end of the at least one wire adapted for inserting at least a portion of the elongated body within the flexible needle after the flexible needle has been inserted within the subject, the terminal end of the at least one wire being sized and adapted to extend freely to a location proximate to the distal end of the flexible needle when the anti-restriction member is disposed in the flexible needle, the anti-restriction member being adapted for placement within the lumen of the flexible needle to permit fluid flow through the lumen while the anti-restriction member is resident within the lumen, the anti-restriction member functioning to resist occlusion of the fluid flow through the lumen resulting from a kinkage of the flexible needle.