Patent ID: 7722550
Filing Date: 2010-05-25
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A biopsy needle assembly, comprising: a biopsy needle having a forward needle opening, said forward needle opening having a top surface being substantially flat transversely to a longitudinal direction of said needle and said forward needle opening having a given circumscribed cross-sectional shape; a trap door having a flat end portion pivotally mounted, hinged and connected to said substantially flat top surface inside said forward needle opening, for pivoting about a pivot axis extending transversely to said longitudinal direction of said needle between an open position caused by insertion of said needle into tissue and a closed position caused by extraction of said needle while cutting a tissue sample; said trap door being configured to match a contour of said flat top surface and an adjacent curve of said needle opening to maintain the needle substantially open when said trap door is in the open position, and to substantially close the forward needle opening when said trap door is in the closed position.