BACKGROUND

The present disclosure is directed to devices for facilitating performance of a medical procedure. More particularly, it relates to devices for tracking a travel distance of an elongated medical device during insertion thereof into a patient, such as an epidural catheter as part of an epidural anesthesia administration procedure.

Many medical procedures involve the insertion of an elongated medical device through the patient's skin. In most instances, the clinician benefits from knowing a location of a distal end of the so-inserted medical device relative to the patient's anatomy. While imaging or other related technology is utilized with certain procedures to visualize features of an inserted device, such equipment can be highly expensive, can significantly increase the overall procedure time, and requires a trained specialist to operate. As such, clinicians are oftentimes asked to rely on their experience to estimate a location of a medical device inserted through the skin.

For example, epidural anesthesia procedures are performed to administer or inject a local anesthetic agent (and perhaps other substances) into the epidural space around the spinal cord. The epidural anesthesia procedure normally includes the insertion of a spinal needle (e.g., a Tuohy needle) at the patient's back, between targeted spinous processes (e.g., midline or paramedian approach), locating the needle tip at the epidural space. Various techniques can be employed to confirm that the needle tip is satisfactorily positioned. An epidural catheter is then advanced through the needle and into the patient until a length of the catheter extends beyond the needle tip and into the epidural space. The needle is then withdrawn over the catheter. Anesthetics are then injected into the epidural space via the catheter. The clinician cannot see the distal end of the catheter as it is being advanced beyond the needle tip, and it can be important to ensure that the distal end has achieved, but not progressed beyond, a desired location/distance from the needle tip. Some epidural catheters have graduated markings along their exterior; by visually monitoring the markings that are otherwise visible proximal the needle, the clinician can attempt to deduce or calculate a distance the catheter has been advanced. This can be a difficult task and may not be reliable. More often, the clinician is left to grossly estimate the length of catheter that is in the epidural space by feel and experience.

Other medical procedures involving the blind insertion of the distal end of an elongated medical device into a patient's body raise similar concerns. For example, absent visualization equipment, it can be difficult at best for a clinician to gauge the extent to which a guidewire has been advanced.

SUMMARY

The inventor of the present disclosure has recognized a need to address one or more of the above-mentioned problems.

Some aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a counter device for use with an elongated medical device. The counter device includes a housing assembly and a tracking and display unit. The housing assembly defines an entrance opening, an exit opening, and a passageway. The passageway is open to and extends between the entrance and exit openings. The tracking and display unit is carried by the housing assembly and is configured to selectively interface with an elongated medical device disposed along the passageway. The counter device is configured to provide a tracking state in which the tracking and display unit generates information indicative of a distance of travel of an elongated medical device traveling along the passageway. In some embodiments, the tracking and display unit includes an engagement assembly that is configured to selectively engage an elongated medical device disposed along the passageway and that is rotatably coupled to the housing assembly. In related embodiments, the engagement assembly provides a toothed engagement face. In some embodiments, the tracking and display unit includes indicia disposed on an engagement assembly and a window formed in the housing assembly; portions of the indicia are selectively visible in the window to convey a distance of travel value. In some embodiments, the counter device further includes an actuator assembly configured to selectively bring an elongated medical device disposes along the passageway into engagement with the tracking and display unit.

Other aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a kit for performing a medical procedure. The kit include an elongated medical device and a counter device. The counter device includes a housing assembly and a tracking and display unit. The housing assembly defines an entrance opening, an exit opening, and a passageway. The passageway is open to and extends between the entrance and exit openings. The tracking and display unit is carried by the housing assembly and is configured to selectively interface with an elongated medical device disposed along the passageway. The counter device is configured to slidably receive the elongated medical device along the passageway. The counter device is further configured to provide a tracking state in which the tracking and display unit generates information indicative of a distance of travel of the elongated medical device traveling along the passageway. In some embodiments, the elongated medical device is an epidural catheter and the kit further includes packaging sealed about the counter device and the epidural catheter.

Yet other aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a method of performing a medical procedure on a patient. The method includes receiving a counter device. The counter device comprises a housing assembly and a tracking and display unit. The housing assembly defines an entrance opening, an exit opening, and a passageway. The passageway is open to and extends between the entrance and exit openings. The tracking and display unit is carried by the housing assembly. An elongated medical device is inserted into the passageway such that a first portion of the elongated medical device extends proximally from the entrance opening and a second portion extends distally from the exit opening. The counter device is transitioned to a tracking state. The elongated medical device is distally advanced relative to the counter device and into the patient. During the step of distally advancing, the tracking and display unit generates and displays information indicative of a distance of travel of the elongated medical device into the patient. In some embodiments, the elongated medical device is an epidural catheter, and the method further includes delivering a liquid into the patient via the epidural catheter.

