Patent ID: 7641638

Claim:
A surgical needle, comprising: an elongate biliary needle having a length from about 100 centimeters to about 250 centimeters, the biliary needle comprising a proximal end and an intermediate section comprising traditional biliary biopsy needle material and having a distal end portion; a flexible tissue engaging section having a length from about 1 centimeter to about 8 centimeters and comprising a tubular proximal lengthwise region and a tubular distal lengthwise region, the tubular proximal lengthwise region being formed from a first material comprising treated super-elastic alloy and the distal lengthwise region being formed from a second material comprising untreated super-elastic alloy, the tubular proximal lengthwise region having a proximal end abutting a distal end of the distal end portion of the biliary needle intermediate section; a butt joint that operatively couples the proximal end of the tubular proximal lengthwise region of the tissue engaging section and the distal end of the distal end portion of the biliary needle intermediate section; and a crimp sleeve comprising at least one or more of a glue, adhesive, resin, and chemical bonding material attached to an outer surface of the tubular proximal lengthwise region and to an outer surface of the distal end portion of the biliary needle at the butt joint, wherein the first material of the tissue engaging section has greater flexibility than the traditional biliary biopsy needle material of the biliary needle intermediate section, wherein the first material of the tissue engaging section proximal lengthwise region has greater flexibility than the second material of the tissue engaging section distal lengthwise region, and wherein the needle is suitable for delivery of one of medication and aspiration biopsy.