Adductor Canal Block Introducer

Abstract

An adductor canal block introducer for introducing a catheter and also administering an initial dose of local anesthetic. The adductor canal block introducer generally includes a cannula having an elongated body with a distal end, a proximal end, and a slot extending along the elongated body, the slot having two sides and a lower surface. It also includes a cannulated trocar positioned in the slot of the cannula, the cannulated trocar having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the trocar includes a discharge proximate to the distal end, wherein an inlet and the discharge are in fluid communication with each other. The introducer also includes a catheter positioned in the slot, held in place by the cannulated trocar. The catheter may also be positioned by a grasper introducer that holds the catheter and also includes a discharge at its distal end through which an anesthetic can be administered.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A nerve block introducer system, comprising:
 a cannula having an elongated body with a distal end, a proximal end, and a slot extending along the elongated body, the slot having two sides and a lower surface;   a cannulated trocar positioned in the slot of the cannula between the two sides, the cannulated trocar having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the distal end of the cannulated trocar is near the distal end of the cannula, the proximal end comprising an inlet and the distal end comprising at least one discharge proximate to the distal end, wherein the inlet and the at least one discharge are in fluid communication with each other; and   a catheter positioned in the slot of the cannula and held in place by the cannulated trocar, the two sides of the slot, and the lower surface of the slot, the catheter comprising a proximal end and a distal end near the distal end of the cannula.   
     
     
         2 . The nerve block introducer system of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet is adapted for attachment of a syringe such that the syringe can be used to introduce an anesthetic agent into the inlet. 
     
     
         3 . The nerve block introducer system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one discharge comprises a plurality of openings. 
     
     
         4 . The nerve block introducer system of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of openings are located laterally on an outer surface of the cannulated trocar. 
     
     
         5 . The nerve block introducer system of  claim 1 , wherein the cannulated trocar is removably positioned in the slot, such that the cannulated trocar can be removed by sliding lengthwise along the slot. 
     
     
         6 . The nerve block introducer system of  claim 1 , wherein the cannulated trocar is sized and positioned such that the catheter is held in place in the slot by an interference fit. 
     
     
         7 . A method of using the system of  claim 1 , comprising:
 inserting the distal end of the cannula into a body cavity;   attaching a fluid source to the inlet of the cannulated trocar such that the fluid source is in fluid communication with the inlet;   using the fluid source to infuse an anesthetic agent into the body cavity via the at least one discharge;   removing the cannulated trocar from the cannula by sliding it out of the slot and away from the body cavity; and   removing the cannula from the body cavity, such that the catheter is left in the body cavity with its distal end near a nerve.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the body cavity is an adductor canal and wherein the distal end of the catheter extends beyond the distal end of the cannula, the method further comprising rotating the cannula so that the catheter can be held in place against the femur when the cannula is removed. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the fluid source is a syringe. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the cannula is inserted into the body cavity such that the distal end of the cannula and the distal end of the catheter are positioned near a selected location in the body cavity. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one discharge comprises a plurality of openings. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the distal end and the plurality of openings of the cannulated trocar are located beyond the distal end of the cannula when the cannulated trocar is in an initial position. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of openings are located laterally on an outer surface of the cannulated trocar. 
     
     
         14 . The nerve block introducer system of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the cannulated trocar extends beyond the distal end of the cannula. 
     
     
         15 . The nerve block introducer system of  claim 14 , wherein the cannulated trocar is removably positioned in the slot, such that the cannulated trocar can be removed by sliding lengthwise along the slot. 
     
     
         16 . The nerve block introducer system of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one discharge comprises a plurality of openings, and wherein the plurality of openings are located beyond the distal end of the cannula. 
     
     
         17 . The nerve block introducer system of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of openings are located laterally on an outer surface of the cannulated trocar. 
     
     
         18 . The nerve block introducer system of  claim 1 , wherein the slot comprises a first slot portion and a second slot portion, such that the first slot portion has a larger opening between the two sides than the second slot portion, the second slot portion being positioned below the first slot portion, wherein the cannulated trocar has a larger diameter than the catheter, and wherein the cannulated trocar fits in the first slot portion and holds the catheter securely in the second slot portion. 
     
     
         19 . The nerve block introducer system of  claim 18 , wherein the cannulated trocar is sized and positioned such that the catheter is held in place in the second slot portion by an interference fit. 
     
     
         20 . A nerve block introducer system, comprising:
 a cannula having an elongated body with a distal end, a proximal end, and a slot extending along the elongated body, the slot having two sides and a lower surface, wherein the slot comprises a first slot portion and a second slot portion, such that the first slot portion has a larger opening between the two sides than the second slot portion, the second slot portion being positioned below the first slot portion;   a cannulated trocar removably positioned in the first slot portion of the cannula between the two sides such that the cannulated trocar can be removed by sliding lengthwise along the slot, the cannulated trocar having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the distal end of the cannulated trocar is near the distal end of the cannula and extends beyond it, the proximal end comprising an inlet and the distal end comprising a plurality of openings proximate to the distal end and located laterally on an outer surface of the cannulated trocar beyond the distal end of the cannula, wherein the inlet and the a plurality of openings are in fluid communication with each other, and wherein the inlet is adapted for attachment of a syringe such that the syringe can be used to introduce an anesthetic agent into the inlet and out through the plurality of openings; and   a catheter positioned in the second slot portion of the cannula and held in place by an interference fit with the cannulated trocar, and by the two sides and the lower surface of the slot, the catheter comprising a proximal end and a distal end near the distal end of the cannula.   
     
     
         21 . A kit for use in performing a nerve block procedure, the kit comprising:
 a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, the catheter usable to provide local anesthetic to a target nerve;   a nerve block introducer comprising an inlet and a discharge in fluid communication with each other, the introducer usable for positioning the distal end of the catheter near the target nerve;   an introducer needle;   a syringe containing a nerve blocking agent, the syringe adapted for attachment to the inlet;   a surgical glue; and   a plurality of surgical strips.   
     
     
         22 . A method of administering a local anesthetic during a surgical procedure, comprising:
 using a nerve block introducer to hold a catheter, the nerve block introducer having a proximal end comprising an inlet and a distal end comprising at least one discharge, the inlet and the at least one discharge being in fluid communication with each other;   advancing the distal end of the nerve block introducer into a body cavity such that a distal end of the catheter is near a target nerve;   attaching a fluid source to the inlet such that the fluid source is in fluid communication with the inlet;   using the fluid source to infuse an anesthetic agent into the body cavity via the at least one discharge;   releasing the catheter from the nerve block introducer such that the distal end of the catheter remains positioned near the target nerve; and   withdrawing the nerve block introducer from the body cavity.