Superelastic medical instrument
First Claim
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1. A biopsy needle assembly, comprising:
- a needle formed from a superelastic alloy, the needle including;
a body portion extending from a distal end of the needle to a proximal end of the needle, andan inner surface of the needle forming a lumen extending through at least a portion of the body portion to an opening in the distal end, wherein the lumen and the opening are configured to acquire a tissue biopsy;
an elongate member attached at the proximal end of the needle; and
a tubular jacket including an interior channel, wherein;
in a first configuration, the distal end of the needle is positioned within the interior channel, andin a second configuration, in response to distal movement of the elongate member through the interior channel, the distal end of the needle is extended beyond a distal end of the tubular jacket;
wherein the elongate member comprises a polymer tube reflowed around an overlap region located at the proximal end of the needle; and
wherein the needle further comprises a plurality of surface features formed on the needle at the overlap region, wherein the polymer tube is reflowed around the surface features.
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Abstract
Certain aspects relate to a superelastic medical instrument that of bending elastically through the tortuous pathways of an endoscope, returning to a straight shape upon deployment from the endoscope, and deploying straight along the axis of the end of the bronchoscope (within a tolerated margin) to distances of 2 cm or more.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A biopsy needle assembly, comprising:
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a needle formed from a superelastic alloy, the needle including; a body portion extending from a distal end of the needle to a proximal end of the needle, and an inner surface of the needle forming a lumen extending through at least a portion of the body portion to an opening in the distal end, wherein the lumen and the opening are configured to acquire a tissue biopsy; an elongate member attached at the proximal end of the needle; and a tubular jacket including an interior channel, wherein; in a first configuration, the distal end of the needle is positioned within the interior channel, and in a second configuration, in response to distal movement of the elongate member through the interior channel, the distal end of the needle is extended beyond a distal end of the tubular jacket; wherein the elongate member comprises a polymer tube reflowed around an overlap region located at the proximal end of the needle; and wherein the needle further comprises a plurality of surface features formed on the needle at the overlap region, wherein the polymer tube is reflowed around the surface features. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification