Patent ID: 8372106

Claim:
A body piercing assembly, comprising: a coupling needle having a sharpened end for piercing a body part and a coupling end for coupling to an ornamental piece opposite the sharpened end; and a cartridge for carrying the coupling needle and for piercing the body part with the coupling needle, the cartridge including a coupling needle manipulator for engaging the sharpened end of the coupling needle after the body part is pierced such that the coupling needle manipulator then carries the coupling needle; wherein the coupling end of the coupling needle comprises a thread for coupling to the ornamental piece and the thread is duplicated on a coupling nut for replacing the coupling needle and closing out the piercing of the body part and wherein the sharpened end comprises an asymmetric shape that becomes embedded in the coupling needle manipulator such that the coupling needle is rotated to disengage the thread without the sharpened end slipping in the coupling needle manipulator.