Benjamin B Chung

US Patent:

20110218485, Sep 8, 2011

Filed:

Mar 4, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/041284

Inventors:

Pelu Tran - Milpitas CA, US
Khang Trong Dinh - San Jose CA, US
Andrew Pipathsouk - Rockford IL, US
Benjamin Chung - Los Altos CA, US
Hongbin Li - Mountain View CA, US

Assignee:

STANFORD UNIVERSITY - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

A61M 13/00

US Classification:

604 26

Abstract:

A method and apparatus are provided for a fluid level insertion indicator that provides immediate feedback to a surgeon by draining when a tip of a needle has entered a body lumen, such as peritoneal cavity. An apparatus includes a handle connected to a hollow needle and a hollow stylet that extends through the hollow needle and has a blunt distal end that includes an opening for passing fluid. A spring biases the stylet to extend past the sharp distal end of the needle absent resistance by tissue against the stylet. An at least partially translucent pressure chamber configured to hold a quantity of fluid under pressure is connected to the proximal end of the stylet. The pressure chamber and stylet form a conduit for passing fluid through the opening in the blunt distal end when the stylet extends past the sharp distal end of the hollow needle.