Patent ID: 6846292

Claim:
A biopsy needle for obtaining a sample of tissue within the pleural cavity of a patient, said biopsy needle comprising an outer tube having a closed distal end, a proximal end and a central canal therethrough, said distal end having a pair of oppositely disposed peripheral openings formed in said outer tube proximate the distal end thereof, an inner movable member interfitted within said outer tube, said inner movable member having a distal end adapted to be located at about the distal end of said outer tube and a proximal end accessible to a user at the proximal end of said outer tube, said inner movable member being axially movable within said outer tube, a pair of articulating members affixed to the distal end of said inner movable member, said articulating members being movable between a retracted position within said outer tube and an extended position where said articulating members extend outwardly through said peripheral openings in said outer tube, said pair of articulating members each having an operative surface facing the proximal end of said biopsy needle when in said extended position, wherein said operative surface of one of said articulating members has a brush edge thereon, whereby manipulation of said biopsy needle causes said operative surfaces to contact the pleural cavity of a patient to obtain tissue samples therefrom.