Biopsy needle

• US 4,256,119 A
• Filed: 09/17/1979
• Issued: 03/17/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gauthier Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gauthier Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Gauthier, Thomas E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US06/076,069
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 128/751-754, 128/310, 128/347, 128/DIG. 9, 128/218 C
• US Class Current: 600/567
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0283 with vacuum aspiration, e.g. caused by retractable plunger or by connected syringe A61B10/025, A61B10/0266 take precedence

Abstract

A new improved biopsy needle for collecting animal specimens for examination. The biopsy needle includes an elongated hollow needle body having a handle secured to one end and a removable elongated stylet adapted to be positioned within the needle body and having a knob secured to one end adapted to be locked within the needle handle. The handle is characterized by an open loop or "C" configuration with the needle secured in the center of the closed side of the loop and with the stylet knob positioned between the free ends of the open side. The stylet is spring biased relative to the needle and handle and has projecting locking pins engageable with the free ends of the handle loop. The smooth top palm-engaging surface of the instrument makes the needle easier and more comfortable to use. The design permits attachment of a syringe to the needle body. The needle body and handle are secured together in a rigid joint in a unique manner.

Claims

1. A biopsy needle comprising:

(A) an elongated hollow needle body having proximal and distal ends, said body being open at each end, and the distal end defining a cutting edge,

(B) an elongated stylet having proximal and distal ends positioned within said needle body with distal ends adjacent,

(1) the distal end of said stylet defining a penetrating edge, and

(2) a knob having proximal side and distal side surfaces rigidly attached to the proximal end of the stylet,

(C) an open loop handle rigidly attached to the proximal end of said needle body, said handle comprising;

(1) a transverse bar disposed generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said needle body and stylet,

(2) a pair of spaced apart side bars extending upwardly in the proximal direction from the ends of said transverse bar, and

(3) a pair of upper bar segments having proximal side and distal side surfaces extending inwardly from the upper ends of said side bars toward the longitudinal axis extending through the needle body, the inner ends of said bar segments being spaced apart to receive the knob of the stylet, and

(D) locking means for securing said stylet within the needle body and handle and comprising;

(1) a pair of locking elements extending radially from the opposite sides of the stylet knob, and

(2) a pair of recesses in the inside distal side surfaces of the spaced apart ends of the upper handle bar segments engageable with said locking elements.

2. A biopsy needle according to claim 1 wherein said needle body is of generally uniform hollow cylindrical configuration throughout a major portion of its length and the distal end portion is tapered toward the tip.

3. A biopsy needle according to claim 1 wherein said stylet is of generally uniform cylindrical configuration.

4. A biopsy needle according to claim 1 wherein the distal end of said stylet protrudes a short distance beyond the distal end of the needle body.

5. A biopsy needle according to claim 1 wherein said stylet knob is of generally uniform cylindrical configuration with a large radius smooth convex palm-engaging proximal side surface protruding above the proximal side surfaces of said upper handle bar segments.

6. A biopsy needle according to claim 1 wherein:

(A) the proximal end of said needle body extends through a central opening in the transverse bar of the handle, and

(B) a hollow hub having proximal and distal ends engages said proximal end of the needle body and said opening to rigidly secure the needle body therein.

7. A biopsy needle according to claim 6 wherein:

(A) the distal end of said hub has a circular recess therein coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the needle body, having a diameter greater than the diameter of the needle body and an opening of substantially the same diameter as the outside diameter of the needle body, and

(B) the proximal end of the needle body is expanded into engagement with the wall of said recess.

8. A biopsy needle according to claim 6 wherein the proximal end of said needle body hub has a tapered coaxial channel therein adapted for engagement with a syringe.

9. A biopsy needle according to claim 8 wherein said channel is a Luer taper and said hub is provided with a Luer lock connection.

10. A biopsy needle according to claim 6 wherein:

(A) said stylet knob has a central opening in its distal side surface,

(B) said stylet has a hub at its proximal end, said hub having proximal and distal ends,

(1) the proximal end of said hub engaging said central knob opening,

(2) the distal end of said hub being of reduced diameter and projecting beyond the distal side surface of the knob,

(C) an annular recess in the knob central opening around the distal end of the stylet hub, and

(D) a coil spring within said annular recess,

(1) said spring having proximal and distal ends, and

(2) the distal end of said spring being engageable with the proximal end of the needle body hub to spring bias the stylet for engagement and disengagement of the locking means.

11. A biopsy needle according to claim 1 wherein said locking elements are pins.