摘要 |
A stylet assembly is provided for inserting a catheter into a brain ventricle and providing a cerebrospinal fluid flashback indicia of proper catheter positioning. The stylet assembly includes an elongated, generally cylindrical rigid hollow stylet having an open distal end, a rounded blunt proximal end, and an internal fluid passageway extending the length of the stylet. A relatively large single aperture is provided through the stylet adjacent to its proximal end, for permitting fluid flow into the internal fluid passageway. The aperture is configured to underlie a plurality of catheter inlet apertures and has a width generally corresponding with the diameter of the internal fluid passageway. An elastomeric hub surrounds a portion of the stylet adjacent to the distal end. The hub is configured to permit the flow of cerebrospinal fluid through the open distal end, and allows the open distal end of the stylet to be selectively manually occluded with a finger to prevent the flow of cerebrospinal fluid therethrough.
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