The fifth and sixth issued patents entitled, ‘Anesthetic Injection System’ and ‘Imaging-Guided Anesthetic Injection Method’, cover the additional capability of the Navigator to automatically aspirate fluids, a common practice to ensure proper needle placement while delivering nerve blocks.
Prior patents relate to innovative technology for injecting therapeutics to joints or other targets, claims the company.
Carticept Medical president and chief executive officer Timothy Patrick said the new patents continue to broaden the company’s overall intellectual property portfolio and strengthen its patent position in the area of computer controlled injections.
"Specifically, these new patents will provide coverage for future use of the Navigator in delivering nerve blocks and other anesthesia procedures, which is currently under development," Patrick added.
"We believe our technology has the ability to improve significantly the efficiency of peripheral nerve block preparation, delivery and recordkeeping."
