Patent ID: 6358217
Filing Date: 2002-03-19
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A biopsy needle device comprising:a housing defining a cavity; extending from the housing, an axially elongated stylet having a distal end and a proximal end and defining a side-facing notch adjacent the distal end; a cannula coaxially disposed about the stylet, the cannula having a distal end and a proximal end; a stylet base attached to the proximal end of the stylet and disposed in the cavity, the stylet and the stylet base being mounted for axial movement relative to the housing and relative to the cannula between a first, retracted position and a second, extended position, the stylet base having a safety stylet latch means for retaining the stylet in the first, retracted position until released, a firing stylet latch means for retaining the stylet in the first, retracted position after the safety stylet latch means has been released, and a wedge portion; a cannula base attached to the proximal end of the cannula and disposed in the cavity, the cannula and the cannula base being mounted for axial movement relative to the housing and relative to the stylet between a first, retracted position and a second, extended position, the cannula base having a safety cannula latch means for retaining the cannula base in the first retracted position until released, and a firing cannula latch means for retaining the cannula base in the first retracted position until released; a means for biasing the stylet base distally toward the second, extended position; a means for biasing the cannula base distally toward the second, extended position; a stop pad having a finger biased towards a locked position but movable to an unlocked position upon contact with the wedge portion of the stylet base, the finger operating to retract the safety cannula latch means when positioned in the unlocked position, a cannula base contacting portion for contacting the cannula base once it reaches its extended position, and a means for adjusting the longitudinal position of the stop pad within the cavity; a means for retracting the stylet base from the second extended position to the first, retracted position for engagement of the safety stylet latch means and the firing stylet latch means, to retain the stylet in the retracted position against the means for biasing the stylet distally; a means for retracting the cannula base from the second, extended position to the first, retracted position for engagement of the safety cannula latch means and the firing cannula latch means, to retain the cannula base in the retracted position against the means for biasing the cannula distally; a means for releasing the safety stylet latch means; a means for releasing the firing stylet latch means to allow the stylet base to move from the first, retracted position to the second, extended position, thereby causing the finger of the stop pad to contact the wedge portion, the finger moving from the locked to the unlocked position and releasing the safety cannula latch means; and a means for releasing the firing cannula latch means to allow the cannula base to move from the first, retracted position to the second, extended position.