Patent ID: 7470249

Claim:
An oocyte retrieval aspiration and flushing needle assembly comprising; a handle and outer needle assembly, the handle and outer needle assembly comprising a handle and an outer needle, the handle comprising a handle lumen therein, the outer needle extending from the handle, the outer needle having a needle lumen in fluid communication with the handle lumen; the outer needle comprising a bevelled sharpened tip at its distal end, a side port in the handle, the side port having a side port lumen in fluid communication with the handle lumen and being connectable with a source of flushing liquid, a connector portion on the handle, the connector portion having a connector lumen in fluid communication with the handle lumen, the connector portion being axially aligned with the outer needle, the connector portion having a first connector thereon, an oocyte aspiration cannula assembly having an oocyte aspiration cannula extending proximally and distally from a grip to define a proximal portion and a distal portion of the aspiration cannula, the proximal portion of the aspiration cannula being connectable to an aspiration assembly, the distal portion of the aspiration cannula in use extending into the handle lumen via the connector lumen and to extend into the outer needle lumen to the distal end thereof, and a second connector on the grip adapted to connect to the first connector on the connector portion to join the aspiration cannula assembly to the handle for use, wherein when assembled the distal end of the aspiration cannula terminates just within the bevelled sharpened tip of the outer needle and the needle lumen extends between aspiration cannula and the outer needle whereby flushing fluid can be supplied through the needle lumen and further including a tapered extension on the grip surrounding the cannula which extends into connector portion in use and alignment detents on the tapered extension which engage with corresponding recesses on the connector portion wherein the alignment detents on the tapered extension and the recess on the connector portion provide a depth setting on the recess in the connector portion to ensure the distal tip of the aspiration cannula is in a desired position within the distal tip of the outer needle.