CATHETER/NEEDLE ASSEMBLY, KIT AND METHOD FOR ADMINISTERING THERAPEUTIC AGENTS TO THE SUBARACHNOID SPACE

摘要

The invention is a catheter/needle assembly for delivery of a medicament to the subarachnoid space of a patient which includes an elongate flexible tube portion sized to fit within the bore of an epidural needle. The flexible tube portion includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a hollow bore therethrough. The assembly further includes an elongate needle portion having a distal point and a passageway therethrough. The needle portion is fit within, fixedly attached to and fluidly sealed to the bore of the tube. The needle point projects distally a distance beyond the distal end of the tube so that the distal end of the tube forms a shoulder projecting radially outwardly at the needle portion. The invention also includes a method of using the instantly invented assembly to deliver a medicament into the subarachnoid space of a patient. The invention further includes a kit for practicing the instantly invented method of introducing a medicament into the subarachnoid space of a patient using the instantly invented assembly described hereinabove. The kit includes an epidural needle and the assembly described hereinabove. The kit may further include stylets, adapters and other accessories to allow introduction of the epidural needle, the instantly invented assembly and to facilitate attachment of a delivery device to the assembly for delivery of a medicament into the subarachnoid space of a patient.