Spinal needle abstract
A spinal needle for performing medical treatment is inserted into
the vertebral pulp, a laser probe is inserted into the spinal needle,
and then laser rays are radiated onto the vertebral pulp. An air-escape
tube is unitarily provided parallel to the spinal needle or a flow-passage
connected with the interior of the spinal needle is provided in
the vicinity of the handle portion of the spinal needle.
Spinal needle claims
I claim:
1. A spinal needle insertable into the vertebral pulp to a treatment
site comprising a hollow first cylinder means having an open distal
end disposable at said treatment site, a second cylinder means disposed
within said first cylinder means, said first cylinder means having
an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of said second
cylinder means to thereby define a first flow passage between said
first and second cylinder means, optical fiber means disposed within
said second cylinder means for radiating a laser beam through said
open distal end of said first cylinder means to said treatment site,
said second cylinder means having an inner diameter greater than
the outer diameter of said optical fiber means to thereby define
a second flow passage between said second cylinder means and said
optical fiber means, fluid introduction means on said second cylinder
means for introducing a fluid into said second flow passage, said
second cylinder means having an open distal end terminating within
said first cylinder means juxtaposed to said open distal end of
said first cylinder means such that said fluid passes from said
open distal end of said second cylinder means into said first cylinder
means and is evacuated through said first passage means, said open
distal end of said first cylinder means receiving gas generated
at said treatment site when the vertebral pulp is evaporated by
radiating said laser beam onto said treatment site, said generated
gas being evacuated through said first flow passage, said distal
end of said first cylinder means having a converging section which
converges radially inwardly to define a taper to facilitate insertion
and penetration of said spinal needle into a person's body to said
treatment site.
2. A spinal needle according to claim 1 wherein said distal end
of said first cylinder means has a terminating end part, said converging
section converging radially inwardly as said terminating end part
is approached.
3. A spinal needle according to claim 2 wherein said distal end
of said first cylinder means has an outer wall, said outer wall
having said converging section.
4. A spinal needle according to claim 1 wherein said distal end
of said first cylinder means has converging inner and outer walls
which define said converging section.
5. A spinal needle according to claim 1 wherein said distal end
of said first cylinder means has a terminating end part, said distal
end of said second cylinder means having a terminating end part
which is disposed within said first cylinder means to thereby define
a space within said first cylinder means between said terminating
end parts of said first and second cylinder means such that fluid
in said second cylinder means exits said open distal end of said
second cylinder means and passes into said space to make a directional
turn in said space and then flow into said first flow passage.
6. A spinal needle according to claim 5 wherein said optical fiber
means has a distal end having a terminating end part which is disposed
within said second cylinder means to thereby define a space within
said second cylinder means between said terminating end part of
said second cylinder means and said terminating end part of said
optical fiber means.
7. A spinal needle according to claim 6 wherein said optical fiber
means radiates said laser beam through said open distal ends of
said first and second cylinder means.
8. A spinal needle according to claim 1 wherein said open distal
end of said first cylinder means defines an end opening for receiving
said gas generated at said treatment site, said end opening having
a diameter less than the internal diameter of said outer cylinder
means such that said converging section defines a constriction at
the end of said first cylinder means.
9. A spinal needle according to claim 1 wherein said first cylinder
means, said second cylinder means, and said optical fiber means
each have a common longitudinal axis.
10. A spinal needle according to claim 1 further comprising evacuating
means on said first cylinder means for evacuating fluid from said
second flow passage.
11. A spinal needle insertable into the vertebral pulp to a treatment
site comprising a hollow first cylinder means having an inner longitudinal
end disposable at said treatment site, a second cylinder means disposed
within said first cylinder means, said first cylinder means having
an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of said second
cylinder means to thereby define a first flow passage between said
first and second cylinder means, optical fiber means disposed within
said second cylinder means for radiating a laser beam, said second
cylinder means having an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter
of said optical fiber means to thereby define a second flow passage
between said second cylinder means and said optical fiber means,
irrigation fluid introduction means on said second cylinder means
for introducing an irrigation fluid into said second flow passage
such that said irrigation fluid passes from said second flow passage
to said first flow passage, said inner longitudinal end of said
first cylinder means receiving gas generated at said treatment site
when the vertebral pulp is evaporated by radiating said laser beam
onto said treatment site, said generated gas being evacuated through
said first flow passage, said first cylinder means having an inner
wall and an outer wall radially spaced from one another, said inner
wall and said outer wall having longitudinal end portions which
converge radially inwardly to thereby define a tapered end at said
inner longitudinal end of said first cylinder means to facilitate
insertion and penetration of said needle into a person's body to
said treatment site.
12. A spinal needle according to claim 11 wherein said second
cylinder means has an inner longitudinal end which terminates at
a position juxtaposed to said tapered end of said first cylinder
means such that irrigation fluid in said second flow passage exits
from said inner longitudinal end of said second cylinder means to
effect irrigation and then flows into said first flow passage for
evacuation.
13. A spinal needle according to claim 11 wherein said second
cylinder means has an inner longitudinal end which terminates within
said first cylinder means such that said first cylinder means is
longer than said inner longitudinal end of said second cylinder
means.
14. A spinal needle according to claim 13 wherein said optical
fiber means has an inner longitudinal end which terminates within
said second cylinder means such that said second cylinder means
is longer than said inner longitudinal end of said optical fiber
means.
15. A spinal needle according to claim 14 wherein said inner longitudinal
end of said first cylinder means and said inner longitudinal end
of said second cylinder means are open, said inner longitudinal
end of said optical fiber means transmitting a laser beam through
said open inner longitudinal ends of said first cylinder means and
said second cylinder means onto said treatment site.
Spinal needle description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a spinal needle, in particular,
a spinal needle employed for evaporating the vertebral pulp in the
intervertebral disk by utilizing the evaporating action of laser
beams with the intention of decreasing the inner pressure of the
intervertebral disk.
Hernia of an intervertebral disk occurs with the result that the
bone marrow surrounding in the intervertebral disk breaks or possibly
destroys the fibrous ring and prolapses into the vertebral canal.
One of the methods of treatment, already proposed is that the bone
vertebral pulp in the intervertebral disk is evaporated by utilizing
the evaporating action of laser rays and thereby the inner pressure
of the intervertebral disk is decreased.
In the laser medical treatment according to the prior art technology
as mentioned above, at first, the puncturing needle is inserted
into the spinal needle, and then the spinal needle is thrust into
the intervertebral disk. Next, the puncturing needle is drawn out
therefrom. After confirming the position of the spinal needle by
use of an X ray apparatus, the laser probe is inserted into the
spinal needle and laser rays are radiated on the vertebral pulp
in order to evaporate said vertebral pulp. At this time, gas is
generated when the vertebral pulp is evaporated, and therefore it
is necessary to draw the generated gas out of the human body.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a spinal needle
capable of effectively drawing out the gas which is generated when
the vertebral pulp is evaporated by radiating thereon laser rays.
It is another object of the present invention to provide as spinal
needle capable of thrusting easily and decreasing the extent of
damage to the skin of the human body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1 through 3 are views for explaining the performing of medical
treatment to the vertebral pulp by means of laser beams according
to prior art technology;
FIG. 4 is an outline view showing an embodiment of a spinal needle
having an air-escape tube according to the present invention;
FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) are outline views showing another embodiment
of the present invention; and
FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view of the portion VI shown in
FIG. 5(b).
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIGS. 1 through 3 are views for explaining an example of the laser
medical treatment according to the prior art technology as mentioned
above. In FIGS. 1 through 3 the reference numeral 1 designates
a spinal needle, 2 a vertebral pulp, 3 a puncturing needle, and
4 a laser probe. At first, as shown in FIG. 1 the puncturing needle
3 is inserted into the spinal needle 1 and then the spinal needle
1 is thrust into the intervertebral disk. Next, the puncturing needle
3 is drawn out therefrom. After confirming the position of the spinal
needle 1 by use of an X ray apparatus, the laser probe 4 is inserted
into the spinal needle 1 and laser rays are radiated on the vertebral
pulp 2 in order to evaporate said vertebral pulp. At this time,
gas is generated when the vertebral pulp 2 is evaporated, and therefore
it is necessary to draw the generated gas out of the human body.
The present invention was made in consideration of the situation
as described above. In particular, it is the object of the present
invention to provide a spinal needle capable of effectively drawing
out the gas which is generated when the vertebral pulp is evaporated
by radiating thereon laser rays.
FIG. 4 is a construction view for explaining an embodiment of a
spinal needle having an air-escape tube according to the present
invention. In FIG. 4 the reference numeral 1 designates a spinal
needle exerting such an action on the vertebral, pulp as mentioned
above. The numeral 5 designates an air-escape tube. In the present
embodiment, the air-escape tube 5 is provided parallel to the spinal
needle 1 outside thereof and unitarily combined with the spinal
needle 1.
At first, a puncturing needle 3 is inserted, respectively, into
the spinal needle 1 and the air-escape tube 5. Then the combined
needle assembly is thrust into the vertebral pulp. After thrusting
it thereinto, each of the puncturing needles 3 are respectively
drawn out of the spinal needle 1 and the air-escape tube 5 and
then the laser probe 4 is inserted into the spinal needle 1 in place
of the puncturing needle 3 in order to cause the evaporation of
the vertebral pulp as mentioned above. In such a construction, when
the laser beams are radiated onto the vertebral pulp, the latter
is evaporated and the gas generated at the time of the spinal core's
evaporation can be effectively drawn out through the air-escape
tube 5 into the atmosphere.
Moreover, in the case of plating the inner wall portion of the
spinal needle 1 with metal, for instance, with gold or the like,
the laser beams radiated into the spinal needle 1 are effectively
reflected therein and radiated from the tip end portion thereof.
Furthermore, since there is a chance of heating in the spinal needle
1 resulting from the loss of laser rays, etc., it may be preferable
to cover the spinal needle 1 with a heat-proof coat of ceramic,
silicone, teflon or the like.
However, in the spinal needle shown in FIG. 4 since the spinal
needle 1 and the air-escape tube 5 are unitarily formed and the
thrusting surface thereof is formed in a complex shape, as for instance,
in the cross-section shape of the letter "8", there remains
such a problem to be solved that the thrusting surface of the unitarily
combined needle assembly may damage the skin of a patient more extensively
than is necessary.
Therefore, it is another object of the invention to provide a spinal
needle capable of thrusting easily and decreasing the extent of
damage to the skin of the human body.
The spinal needle shown in FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) overcome the defect
as mentioned above. This spinal needle is constructed such that
the spinal needle itself 1 has the function of drawing out the gas
generated therein. FIG. 5(a) shows a condition in which the puncturing
needle 3 is inserted into the spinal needle 1 while FIG. 5(b) shows
another situation in which puncturing needle 3 is drawn out from
the spinal needle 1 and the laser probe 4 is inserted therein instead.
An optical fiber 6 for transmitting the laser beams therethrough
and radiating laser beams therefrom onto a desired place is inserted
into the laser probe 4. The laser light rays are transmitted to
the optical fiber 6 through an end portion not shown in FIGS. 5(a)
and 5(b) and radiated from its tip end portion 6a onto a desired
part of a human body, as for instance the vertebral pulp. In such
a way, evaporation of the vertebral pulp is accomplished.
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a gas drawing-out flow-passage
1a connected with the interior of the spinal needle is unitarily
combined with the spinal needle 1 in the vicinity of the handle
portion thereof. In such a construction, the laser probe 4 is inserted
into the spinal needle 1 in order to evaporate the vertebral pulp
as shown in FIG. 5(b). On that occasion, the generated gas is discharged
outside of the human body through the gas drawing-out flow-passage
1a after passing through the gap formed between the spinal needle
1 and the laser probe 4.
And further, as shown in FIG. 5(b), when a flow-passage 4a, communicating
with the interior of the laser probe 4 is provided in the vicinity
of the handle portion of the laser probe 4 it may be possible to
introduce, for instance, a physiological salt solution into the
interior of the laser probe 4 and draw out such solution outside
of the spinal needle assembly through the gas drawing-out flow-passage
1a. In such a way, dirt from the optical fiber 6 can be removed
and the interior of the spinal needle 1 can be cleaned.
Furthermore, the gas generated in the interior of the vertebral
pulp can be drawn out by sucking the gas through the gas drawing-out
flow-passage 1a. At this time, since air flows therein through the
flow-passage 4a, the generated gas can be drawn out still more effectively.
However, in the case of simply letting atmospheric air flow in through
the flow-passage 4a, it turns out to be very unsanitary. On this
occasion, it is necessary to install a membrane filter or the like
at the flow-in passage 4a in order to prevent various bacteria contained
in the atmosphere from entering the vertebral pulp. Namely, in FIG.
5(b), the reference numeral 7 designates a membrane filter. When
the gas is sucked out, the spinal needle assembly is employed by
installing the filter 7 at the flow-in passage 4a. On the other
hand, at the time of flushing, the assembly is used after removing
the filter 7 therefrom. And further, it may be possible that the
optical fiber 6 is inserted into the laser probe needle 4 so as
to be positioned at a predetermined location, or that, after inserting
the laser probe needle 4 into a desired place, the optical fiber
6 is inserted into the laser probe needle 4. On this occasion, the
length (depth) of its insertion is determined beforehand by use
of a stopper or the like.
FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view of the portion VI shown in
FIG. 5(b). Concerning the relationship of the spinal needle 1 laser
probe needle 4 and the optical fiber 6 the tip end of the laser
probe needle 4 is adjusted so as to be positioned at the location
shown in FIG. 6 on the inner side of the spinal needle 1 and the
tip end of the optical fiber 6 is adjusted so as to be positioned
also at another location shown in FIG. 6. in the inner side of the
laser probe needle 4. In such a way, the drawing-out of the gas
can be facilitated. In addition, burn-out damage of the human body's
tissues, dirt of the optical fiber's tip end, etc. can be prevented.
Moreover, in FIG. 6 the arrow mark A represents a flow-passage
communicating with the flow-passage 1a and the arrow mark B represents
another flow-passage communicating with the flow-passage 4a. At
the time of flushing, a physiological salt solution flowing in via
the flow-passage 4a passes through the flow-passages B and A and
flows out through the flow-passage 1a outside of the spinal needle
assembly. Furthermore, a tapered portion 1b is provided at the tip
of the spinal needle 1. In such a construction, the spinal needle
1 can be thrust easily and decrease the extent of damage to the
skin of a human body. Furthermore, the outer circumferential portion
of the spinal needle 1 excluding the afore-mentioned tapered portion
is coated with a material 1c such as ceramic, silicone, teflon etc.
It may also be possible to prevent heat from escaping from the living
body's tissues through the spinal needle 1. |