Needle and related methods

Abstract

An optical spectroscopic injection needle assembly. According to one embodiment, the assembly may include an injection needle, a light source, a spectrometer, a computer and an indicator. The injection needle, in turn, may include a hollow outer needle, a hollow inner needle, a pair of optical fibers, an inner catheter, an outer catheter, an inner hub and an outer hub. The proximal end of the outer needle may be fixedly mounted within the distal end of the inner catheter. The distal end of the inner hub may be fixedly mounted on the proximal end of the inner catheter, the proximal end of the inner hub being suited for connection to a syringe. The inner needle, as well as the distal ends of the optical fibers, may be positioned within the outer needle and may be held in place by an optical bonding material. The proximal ends of the optical fibers may extend from a side arm of the inner hub, one fiber may be coupled to the light source, the other fiber may be coupled to the spectrometer. The inner catheter and the outer needle may be slidably mounted within the outer catheter to permit the outer needle to be selectively extended or retracted from the distal end of the outer catheter. The outer hub may be fixedly mounted on the proximal end of the outer catheter. In use, as the outer needle may be inserted into a tissue, the tissue may be illuminated and the reflected light may be detected and compared to standards for various tissue types. The results of the comparison may then be indicated.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A method of evaluating a tissue, the method comprising the steps of:
 inserting a first hollow needle into an insertion site of a body part to a first depth, the first hollow needle extending distally from the distal end of a first catheter and having a sharp distal end adapted for insertion into the body part, the first hollow needle including a tubular member disposed within a lumen of the first hollow needle, the tubular member having a longitudinal bore, wherein each of the first catheter and the tubular member is configured to directly contact and allow fluid to flow from the longitudinal bore of the first catheter to the longitudinal bore of the tubular member; and   injecting a material through the tubular member and into the body part.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the first hollow needle is axially fixed relative to the tubular member. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the tubular member is a second hollow needle. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the second hollow needle has a distal-facing distal end face, the distal-facing distal end face of the second hollow needle and a distal-facing distal end face of the first hollow needle lying along a common plane. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein a bonding material is disposed within the first hollow needle. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the bonding material includes epoxy. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein a distal end of the bonding material includes a distal face configured to lie flush with the distal end of the needle. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the first hollow needle has a proximal end, the proximal end being fixedly mounted within the longitudinal bore of the first catheter. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein a second catheter includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal bore, the first catheter being slidably mounted in the second catheter. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising:
 extending the first needle and the first catheter relative to and distally of the second catheter.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising:
 placing a syringe in fluid communication with the tubular member, wherein the syringe includes material.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein inserting a first hollow needle includes inserting a first hollow needle transorally. 
     
     
         38 . A method of evaluating a tissue, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) inserting a hollow needle into an insertion site of a body part to a first depth, the first hollow needle extending distally from the distal end of a first catheter and including a tubular member disposed within a lumen of the first hollow needle, the tubular member having a longitudinal bore, wherein a proximal end of the tubular member is positioned to allow fluid to flow from the first catheter to the longitudinal bore of the tubular member;   (b) illuminating the body part at the first depth; and   (c) detecting the light reflected from the illuminated body part at the first depth.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising:
 repeating steps (a) through (c) for other depths or other insertions sites.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the body part is illuminated using light transmitted through fiber optics located radially outward from the tubular member. 
     
     
         41 . A method of treating a tissue, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) inserting a needle into an insertion site of a body part within a digestive tract to a first depth;   (b) illuminating the body part at the first depth;   (c) detecting the light reflected from the illuminated body part;   (d) comparing the detected light to a standard of a known composition; and   (e) indicating the results of the comparison.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising:
 repeating steps (a) through (e) for other depths or other insertions sites until a predetermined type of tissue is located.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising:
 injecting a material through the tubular member and into the predetermined type of tissue.   
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein step (b) is performed using light transmitted through fiber optics disposed within the needle, and step (c) is performed using a light detector operatively coupled to the fiber optical fibers. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the first hollow needle including a tubular member disposed within a lumen of the first hollow needle, the first hollow needle including fiber optics disposed within the first hollow needle and radially outward from the tubular member, for transmitting light to an object and for collecting light reflected from the object.