Patent ID: 9044216
Filing Date: 2015-06-02
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A needle assembly for biopsying tissue of a patient, the needle assembly comprising: a flexible biopsy needle having a proximal end, a tissue piercing distal end, a sampling section proximal of said tissue piercing distal end of said needle, said sampling section having a non-circular cross section, a bending section proximal of said sampling section, said bending section having a first circular cross-section, and a body portion proximal of said bending section, said body portion having a second circular cross-section larger than said first circular cross-section; and a cannula having a proximal end, a tissue piercing distal end, and an elongate body extending between said proximal end and said tissue piercing distal end of said cannula, said elongate body including a bendable portion adjacent said tissue piercing distal end of said cannula, said cannula defining a lumen through said elongate body and said tissue piercing distal end of said cannula, said biopsy needle insertable through said lumen of said cannula, wherein said needle assembly is configurable to an initial straight configuration in which said tissue piercing distal ends of said needle and said cannula are disposed adjacent each other, said bending section of said needle is disposed within said bendable portion of said cannula, and said bending section of said needle, said body portion of said needle, and said elongate body of said cannula are substantially straight and substantially symmetrical about a longitudinal axis extending through said needle assembly, and wherein said needle assembly is configurable to a bent configuration in which said tissue piercing distal ends of said needle and said cannula are disposed adjacent each other, said bending section of said needle is disposed within said bendable portion of said cannula, and said bending section of said needle and said bendable portion of said cannula extend through an angle of at least forty degrees.