Mandibular Anesthesia Curved Dental Needle

Abstract

The present invention provides a curved needle design which deflects to an advantageous angle when inserted within the medial posterior soft tissue of the patient lower jaw. The deflected needle tip is more perpendicular to the vertical wall of the posterior ramus and promotes the needle tip contacting bone proximate to the inferior alveolar nerve prior to injection of anesthetic. The needle design also improves the tactile feedback to the dental practitioner as the needle penetrates tissue and contacts bone.

Claims

1. A needle assembly used in dental procedures upon a patient, the needle assembly being affixed to a syringe barrel for use, the syringe barrel housing a carpule containing a pharmaceutical compound, the needle assembly comprising: a shaft, the shaft comprising a central bore therein for passing pharmaceutical chemicals there thru; a tip on one end, the tip in fluid interconnection with the central bore; a hub and a syringe adaptor, adjacent the other end of the needle shaft opposing the tip, the needle shaft passing thru the hub and syringe adaptor, the syringe adaptor configured to engage the syringe barrel; the needle shaft extending beyond the syringe adaptor and configured to pierce the carpule upon engagement with the syringe barrel, the central bore of the needle shaft and the tip thereby in fluid interconnection with the pharmaceutical compound contained in the carpule; the shaft comprising a curve therein such that the centerline axis of the shaft at the tip is at an angle when compared to the centerline axis of the shaft at the hub; wherein, as the needle tip is inserted into an injection site in the patient and an axial force is applied to the syringe barrel, the centerline axis of the shaft at the tip deflects to a more advantageous angle for injection of the pharmaceutical compound proximate to the intended injection site.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein the pharmaceutical compound is an anesthetic.

3. The invention of claim 1, wherein the dental procedure is an inferior alveolar nerve block.

4. The invention of claim 1, wherein the angled tip of the needle assembly facilitates access to the injection site by avoiding physical obstacles presented by the patient anatomy to the needle assembly and syringe.

5. The invention of claim 1, wherein the angle between the centerline axis of the shaft at the tip when compared to the centerline axis of the shaft at the hub is between 15 and 45 degrees.

6. The invention of claim 1, wherein the angle between the centerline axis of the shaft at the tip when compared to the centerline axis of the shaft at the hub is substantially 30 degrees.

7. The invention of claim 1, wherein the shaft has an internal gauge between 20 and 32.

8. The invention of claim 1, wherein the shaft has an internal gauge between 25 to 27.

9. The invention of claim 1, wherein the shaft has a length between 20 millimeters to 40 millimeters from tip to hub measured along the shaft centerline.

10. The invention of claim 1, wherein the shaft has a length of thirty-five millimeters from tip to hub measured along the shaft centerline.

11. The invention of claim 1, wherein the needle tip further comprises a single axial hole and angled tip.

12. The invention of claim 1, wherein the needle tip further comprises at least one port in fluid interconnection with the needle fluid passage for delivery of the chemical compound.

13. A dental procedure for injection of anesthetic into a patient's jaw in an inferior alveolar nerve block, the procedure utilizing a needle assembly affixed to a syringe, the syringe comprising a syringe barrel, the procedure comprising; the needle assembly comprising a shaft with a central bore therein for passing pharmaceutical chemicals there thru; the needle assembly comprising a tip on one end, the tip in fluid interconnection with the central bore; the needle assembly comprising a hub and a syringe adaptor adjacent the other end of the needle shaft opposing the tip, the needle shaft passing thru the hub and syringe adaptor, the syringe adaptor configured to engage the syringe barrel; the needle assembly comprising the needle shaft extending beyond the syringe adaptor and configured to pierce the carpule upon engagement with the syringe barrel, the central bore of the needle shaft and the tip thereby in fluid interconnection with the pharmaceutical compound contained in the carpule; the needle shaft comprising a curve therein such that the centerline axis of the shaft at the tip is at an angle when compared to the centerline axis of the shaft at the hub; wherein, during the procedure as the needle tip is inserted into an injection site in the patient and an axial force is applied to the syringe barrel, the centerline axis of the shaft at the tip deflects to a more advantageous angle for injection of the pharmaceutical compound proximate to the intended injection site.

14. The dental procedure of claim 13, wherein the angled tip of the needle assembly facilitates access to the injection site by avoiding physical obstacles presented by the patient anatomy to the needle assembly and syringe.

15. The dental procedure of claim 13, wherein the angle between the centerline axis of the shaft at the tip when compared to the centerline axis of the shaft at the hub is between 15 and 45 degrees.

16. The dental procedure of claim 13, wherein, wherein the angle between the centerline axis of the shaft at the tip when compared to the centerline axis of the shaft at the hub is substantially 30 degrees.

17. The dental procedure of claim 13, wherein the shaft has a length between 20 millimeters to 40 millimeters from tip to hub measured along the shaft centerline.

18. The dental procedure of claim 13, wherein the shaft comprises a central bore between 25 and 27 therein for passing pharmaceutical chemicals there thru.

19. The dental procedure of claim 13, wherein the needle tip further comprises at least one port in fluid interconnection with the needle fluid passage for delivery of the chemical compound.

20. A needle assembly used in a dental procedure upon a patient, the dental procedure being an inferior alveolar nerve block, the needle assembly being affixed to a syringe barrel for use, the syringe barrel housing a carpule containing a pharmaceutical compound, the needle assembly comprising: a shaft comprising a central bore between 25 or 27 gauge therein for passing pharmaceutical chemicals there thru; a tip on one end of the shaft, the tip in fluid interconnection with the central bore; a hub and a syringe adaptor, adjacent the other end of the needle shaft opposing the tip, the needle shaft passing thru the hub and syringe adaptor, the syringe adaptor configured to engage the syringe barrel; the needle shaft extending beyond the syringe adaptor and configured to pierce the carpule upon engagement with the syringe barrel, the central bore of the needle shaft and the tip thereby in fluid interconnection with the pharmaceutical compound contained in the carpule; the shaft comprising a curve therein such that the centerline axis of the shaft at the tip is at a 30 degree angle when compared to the centerline axis of the shaft at the hub; wherein, as the needle tip is inserted into an injection site in the patient and an axial force is applied to the syringe barrel, the centerline axis of the shaft at the tip deflects to a more advantageous angle for injection of the pharmaceutical compound proximate to the intended injection site.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] FIG. 1 is a side-perspective view of the human lower jaw.

[0039] FIG. 2A is a side view of the human mouth with landmarks used in the injection of anesthesia.

[0040] FIG. 2B is a cutaway depiction of the lower jaw with anesthesia injection needle.

[0041] FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of one side of the lower jaw.

[0042] FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C are perspective views of the lower jaw depicting anesthesia injection by a prior art needle.

[0043] FIG. 5 is a side view of the components of the angled needle of the present invention.

[0044] FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C are perspective views of the lower jaw depicting anesthesia injection by the needle of the present invention.

[0045] FIG. 7 is a top perspective depiction of anesthesia injection using the angled needle of the present invention.

[0046] FIG. 8A is a side perspective view of the human mouth with landmarks used in the injection of anesthesia with the present invention.

[0047] FIG. 8B is a side perspective view of the human mouth with anesthesia injection by the needle of the present invention.

[0048] FIG. 9A is a side perspective view of a prior art needle tip.

[0049] FIGS. 9B, 9C, and 9D are side perspective views of embodiments of the needle tip of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0050] The present invention provides a curved needle design which deflects to an advantageous angle when inserted within the medial posterior soft tissue of the patient's lower jaw. The deflected needle tip is more perpendicular to the vertical wall of the posterior ramus and promotes the needle tip contacting bone proximate to the inferior alveolar nerve prior to injection of anesthetic. The needle design also improves the tactile feedback to the dental practitioner as the needle penetrates tissue and contacts bone.

[0051] As depicted in FIG. 5, the dental anesthetic needle assembly of the present invention is composed of a continuous length of stainless steel. There are five key features/components of the needle assembly 100 of the present invention. The needle assembly includes the tip 110, the shaft 120, the hub 130, syringe adaptor 140 and, the diaphragm penetrating area 150.

[0052] As further depicted in FIG. 5, the portion of the shaft 120 proximate to the tip 110 that will penetrate soft tissue is curved to a preferable 30 degree angle. The curve of the shaft 120 may be continuous along the shaft between the hub 130 and tip 110 to end in a tip angled in relation to the centerline of the shaft at the hub, or the curve may be formed by a more abrupt small radius bend along the length of the shaft 120, or any combination thereof. The curve in the needle shaft 120 is accomplished without collapsing or substantially reducing the internal bore of the needle thru which anesthesia or other pharmaceutical compounds are passed. In a first embodiment depicted in FIGS. 5-6, the shaft 120 has a substantially straight portion adjacent the hub 130, and a substantially straight portion adjacent the tip 110, with a curve there-between to form an angle between the centerline axis of the shaft at the tip, and the centerline axis of the shaft at the hub. In other alternative embodiments, the angle formed between the centerline axis of the shaft 120 at the tip 110, and the centerline axis of the shaft 120 at the hub 130 may be between 15 and 45 degrees.

[0053] In the first embodiment, the shaft measures a length of thirty-five millimeters from tip 110 to hub 130 measured along the shaft 120 centerline. The shaft 120 has a twenty-five or twenty-seven gauge internal diameter and 0.4 to 0.5 millimeter outer diameter. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, thirty and thirty two millimeter shafts are also considered long needles, whereas twenty and twenty-five millimeter shafts are also considered short needles. In alternative embodiments, the shaft may be between 20 millimeters to 40 millimeters in length, and the shaft may have a 20 to 32 internal gauge. In other alternative embodiments, the internal needle gauge and/or the needle outer diameter may vary along the needle length.

[0054] The hub 130 is the component that connects the shaft 120 to the syringe adaptor 140 via adhesive or a press fit in the plastic hub. The plastic syringe adaptor 140 has an internal thread pattern to affix the needle to the syringe barrel. Through the syringe adaptor continues the remaining twenty-five millimeters of the stainless steel needle shaft 150 that penetrates the diaphragm of the anesthetic carpule. As appreciated by those skilled in the art, in other applications of the present invention the carpule may be filled with other pharmaceutical compounds. As further appreciated by those skilled in the art, the curved needle design of the present invention may be used with other syringe designs, for example single use disposable syringes. The needle assembly may also engage the syringe via a press fit.

[0055] The dental procedure technique of using the needle assembly of the present invention differs over the prior art Halstead technique. As depicted in FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C, the 30 degree curvature at the tissue penetrating end, tip 110, of the curved needle 100 is incorporated to exploit the concept of needle deflection. The curved or angled needle shaft 120 reduces the variability of anatomical differences between patients, particularly as it relates to mandibular ramus flare, i.e. the external rotation of the posterior vertical wall of the lower jaw. Once the physical landmarks in the patients mouth are identified, the syringe barrel 40 is oriented over the opposite side premolars 34 (teeth between molar and canine teeth) at an angle parallel to and above the mandibular molar occlusal plane (imaginary plane formed by the chewing surfaces of adjacent teeth), and the beveled tip 110 of the curved needle 100 of the present invention is inserted in the mucous membrane lateral (next to, away from the midline, the pterygomandibular raphe) to the pterygomandibular raphe until it contacts bone proximate to the nerve as it enters the mandibular foramen (opening of the lower jaw bone for the primary nerve of the lower jaw), at injection site 24 (7-10). As depicted in FIG. 6C, the curved needle shaft 120 biases the needle tip 110 deflection towards the lingula and mandibular foramen. The curved needle 120 design of the present invention also improves the tactile feedback to the practitioner as the needle penetrates tissue and contacts bone. Referring back to prior art FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C, a straight needle 42 is more likely to miss the anesthesia target area either anteriorly or posteriorly.

[0056] As depicted in FIG. 7, the curved needle design 100 of the present invention deflects the tip 110 of the needle shaft 120 to be more perpendicular to the posterior vertical wall 710. As pressure is applied axially to the syringe body in the direction of Arrow “A”, the centerline axis at the tip 110 of the curved needle shaft 120 is deflected to be more perpendicular to the posterior vertical wall 710 as depicted by curved Arrow “B”. Stated another way, the insertion force axially down the center of the syringe body supplied by the dental practitioner is opposed by the offset needle tip 110 and results in a bending moment applied to the needle shaft 120. The bending moment deflects the centerline axis of the needle shaft 120 at the needle tip 110 to be more perpendicular to the posterior vertical wall 710.

[0057] The preferred technique for using the curved needle design 100 is depicted in FIGS. 8A and 8B. The patient is asked to open wide and the pterygomandibular raphe 22 and internal oblique ridge 20 are identified. The internal oblique ridge 20 is depicted by a dashed line in FIGS. 8A and 8B. The wider the patient opens the tighter the tissues covering the internal oblique ridge 20 are stretched. The tight tissues over boney landmarks allow for better manual palpation of landmarks. Once the border of the internal oblique ridge 20 is identified, the clinician palpates the most medial aspect (surface closest to the midline or middle of body) where it begins to transition to the posterior surface (surface facing the back). This step alone eliminates the premature contact of the prior art needle tip 44 with bone as depicted in prior art FIG. 4A. The technique also provides a smaller, more definitive area of where needle insertion site 810 should be to hit the preferred anesthesia injection site 24.

[0058] As further depicted in FIG. 8B, in the technique of the present invention the needle tip 110 is inserted at the location 810 medial (towards the midline or middle of body) to the palpated area but lateral (away from the midline or middle of the body) to the pterygomandibular raphe 22 and is simply advanced to contact bone at the medial surface of the ramus. Stated another way, the needle insertion point is lateral to the raphe 22 and medial to the internal oblique ridge 20. No adjustment of the syringe barrel 40 is necessary. The curvature or angle at the needle shaft 120 deflects the needle tip 110 to the area of the mandibular foramen 14 where the anesthetic is deposited adjacent the inferior alveolar nerve 12 at the injection site 24. This step of the technique ultimately eliminates the concern of failing to contact bone due to ramus flare as depicted by the prior art needle tip 44 in prior art FIGS. 4B and 4C.

[0059] The present invention provides improvements in the design of the tip 110 of the needle shaft 120. In the prior art needle as depicted in FIG. 9A, the tip 110 is formed by a ground surface angled with respect to the centerline 910 of the needle shaft 120 to form a sharp point. The anesthetic or other pharmaceutical compound used in the procedure passes thru the needle bore 920 running the length of the needle shaft 120 at the central axis 910 of the shaft 120. The pharmaceutical compound passing thru the needle assembly is depicted as arrows 930 leaving the needle bore 920.

[0060] In an embodiment of the present invention depicted in FIG. 9B, a hole or port 940 is formed proximate to the tip 120 and passing thru both the angled surface of the tip 120 and the central bore 920 along an axis depicted as 950. The axis 950 of the hole 940 may substantially bisect the angle between the ground surface of the angled tip 110 and the central axis 910 and passes thru both side walls of the needle shaft 120 and is in fluid connection with the needle bore 920. At least one additional port is formed as the hole 940 passes thru the sidewall of the needle shaft 120. As depicted in FIG. 9B in another alternative embodiment, a second port is partially formed as the hole 940 intersects the angled face of the needle tip 110 effectively increasing the cross sectional area of the central bore 920 proximate to the hole. The ports or holes 940 are in fluid interconnection with the central bore 920 and anesthetic or other pharmaceutical compound used in the procedure passes thru the needle bore 920 and leaves the needle out both the central bore 920 and the ports 940 and is depicted as arrows 930. In other alternative embodiments, the hole or bore 940 may be offset from the needle tip 110 and not intersect the angled face of the tip 110.

[0061] In another alternative embodiment depicted in FIG. 9C, a hole or port 960 is formed proximate to the tip 120 and passing thru the central bore 920 along the axis depicted as 970. The axis 970 of the hole 960 is perpendicular to the axis 910 of the central bore 920, and is parallel with the ground surface of the angled tip 110. The hole 960 intersects central bore 920 and passes thru both sidewalls of the needle shaft 120 to form two new holes or ports 960. The ports or holes 960 are in fluid interconnection with the central bore 920 and anesthetic or other pharmaceutical compound used in the procedure passes thru the needle bore 920 and leaves the needle out the central bore 920, the ports 940, and the ports 960 and is depicted as arrows 930. As depicted in FIG. 9C, this embodiment may incorporate the hole 940 of the embodiment of FIG. 9B. In an alternative embodiment, the hole 940 of the embodiment of FIG. 9B is not present.

[0062] In yet another alternative embodiment depicted in FIG. 9D, the tip 110 of the needle shaft 120 is angled to a closed, but centered point. That tip 110 is preferably 3 mm in length. Where the tip ends and the shaft begins, a plurality of ports 940 and 960, or openings, for expulsion of anesthetic are formed into the tip 110 and shaft 120 junction. Each port is located at 90 degrees increments around the centerline of the needle. The tip 110 is continuous with the shaft 120 that extends to the hub 130. The central bore 920 of the shaft 120 and ports 940, 960 are in fluid interconnection and allow anesthetic to pass thru the shaft and out the ports at the injection site. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the tip 110 may be between 1 mm and 5 mm in length. The tip may contain an additional axial opening for passing anesthetic thru the central bore 920 and out the tip 110 as in a conventional needle. The number of ports 940, 960 are preferably 4, but a single axial opening as in a conventional needle may be used, or a single or plurality of ports may be employed, or any combination thereof.

[0063] The design and location of the needle tip openings, or ports, of the embodiments of FIGS. 9B, 9C, and 9D allow for a “cloud” of anesthetic to be released radially from the axis of the needle tip at multiple locations in angles instead of a “stream” at a single angle primarily directed towards the intended anesthetic site. The anesthetic deposited in multiple radial directions provides a larger area for anesthetic deposition than a stream. The larger area of anesthetic deposition also compensates for anatomic variations between patients including the anterior/posterior location of the lingula as well as the lingula's inferior/superior location. The design also allows for a larger volume of anesthetic in the intended area of deposition as anesthetic is not deposited until after bone is contacted.

[0064] The curvature of the needle maximizes the effects of needle deflection to advantage to compensate for mandibular ramus flare and technique proficiency. Ultimately, the use of 3 landmarks, the curvature of the needle and the multiple ports at the needle tip work in tandem to dramatically reduce the learning curve and makes the inferior alveolar nerve block a predictable and reliable technique for mandibular anesthesia. The curved needle shaft 120 design of the present invention also improves the tactile feedback to the practitioner as the needle penetrates tissue and contacts bone.

[0065] While there has been shown a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood that certain changes may be made in the forms and arrangement of the elements of the curved dental needle without departing from the underlying spirit, scope, and essential characteristics of the invention. The present embodiment is therefore, to be considered as merely illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the claims rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalence of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.