MEDICAL/SURGICAL TOOL FOR BOTH IDENTIFYING SUBCUTANEOUS TARGET TISSUE BY MEANS OF EMITTING AN INTERROGATION SIGNAL AND POSITIONING A CATHETER AT THE TARGET

摘要

A tool (10) for introducing a catheter or wire into subcutaneous tissue including a housing (11). A needle extends forward from the housing so as to serve as the member through which the catheter or wire is introduced. An introducer assembly (40, 240) attached to the housing allows the practitioner to, with the hand the holds the housing advance/retract the catheter or wire. Other control members (62a, 62b) on the housing allow the practitioner to, with the same hand, regulate the level of the stimulating signal sourced to the needle, catheter or wire and to select to which component the needle or the conductor associated with the catheter or wire, to which the stimulating signal is applied.