Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
246 words
A biopsy needle comprising: (A) an elongated hollow needle body having proximal and distal ends, said body being open at each end, and the distal end defining a cutting edge, (B) an elongated stylet having proximal and distal ends positioned within said needle body with distal ends adjacent, (1) the distal end of said stylet defining a penetrating edge, and (2) a knob having proximal side and distal side surfaces rigidly attached to the proximal end of the stylet, (C) an open loop handle rigidly attached to the proximal end of said needle body, said handle comprising: (1) a transverse bar disposed generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said needle body and stylet, (2) a pair of spaced apart side bars extending upwardly in the proximal direction from the ends of said transverse bar, and (3) a pair of upper bar segments having proximal side and distal side surfaces extending inwardly from the upper ends of said side bars toward the longitudinal axis extending through the needle body, the inner ends of said bar segments being spaced apart to receive the knob of the stylet, and (D) locking means for securing said stylet within the needle body and handle and comprising: (1) a pair of locking elements extending radially from the opposite sides of the stylet knob, and (2) a pair of recesses in the inside distal side surfaces of the spaced apart ends of the upper handle bar segments engageable with said locking elements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
246 words
A biopsy needle comprising: (A) an elongated hollow needle body having proximal and distal ends, said body being open at each end, and the distal end defining a cutting edge, (B) an elongated stylet having proximal and distal ends positioned within said needle body with distal ends adjacent, (1) the distal end of said stylet defining a penetrating edge, and (2) a knob having proximal side and distal side surfaces rigidly attached to the proximal end of the stylet, (C) an open loop handle rigidly attached to the proximal end of said needle body, said handle comprising: (1) a transverse bar disposed generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said needle body and stylet, (2) a pair of spaced apart side bars extending upwardly in the proximal direction from the ends of said transverse bar, and (3) a pair of upper bar segments having proximal side and distal side surfaces extending inwardly from the upper ends of said side bars toward the longitudinal axis extending through the needle body, the inner ends of said bar segments being spaced apart to receive the knob of the stylet, and (D) locking means for securing said stylet within the needle body and handle and comprising: (1) a pair of locking elements extending radially from the opposite sides of the stylet knob, and (2) a pair of recesses in the inside distal side surfaces of the spaced apart ends of the upper handle bar segments engageable with said locking elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A biopsy needle according to claim 1 wherein said needle body is of generally uniform hollow cylindrical configuration throughout a major portion of its length and the distal end portion is tapered toward the tip.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A biopsy needle according to claim 1 wherein said stylet is of generally uniform cylindrical configuration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A biopsy needle according to claim 1 wherein the distal end of said stylet protrudes a short distance beyond the distal end of the needle body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A biopsy needle according to claim 1 wherein said stylet knob is of generally uniform cylindrical configuration with a large radius smooth convex palm-engaging proximal side surface protruding above the proximal side surfaces of said upper handle bar segments.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
A biopsy needle according to claim 1 wherein: (A) the proximal end of said needle body extends through a central opening in the transverse bar of the handle, and (B) a hollow hub having proximal and distal ends engages said proximal end of the needle body and said opening to rigidly secure the needle body therein.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
75 words
A biopsy needle according to claim 6 wherein: (A) the distal end of said hub has a circular recess therein coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the needle body, having a diameter greater than the diameter of the needle body and an opening of substantially the same diameter as the outside diameter of the needle body, and (B) the proximal end of the needle body is expanded into engagement with the wall of said recess.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A biopsy needle according to claim 6 wherein the proximal end of said needle body hub has a tapered coaxial channel therein adapted for engagement with a syringe.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A biopsy needle according to claim 8 wherein said channel is a Luer taper and said hub is provided with a Luer lock connection.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
137 words
A biopsy needle according to claim 6 wherein: (A) said stylet knob has a central opening in its distal side surface, (B) said stylet has a hub at its proximal end, said hub having proximal and distal ends, (1) the proximal end of said hub engaging said central knob opening, (2) the distal end of said hub being of reduced diameter and projecting beyond the distal side surface of the knob, (C) an annular recess in the knob central opening around the distal end of the stylet hub, and (D) a coil spring within said annular recess, (1) said spring having proximal and distal ends, and (2) the distal end of said spring being engageable with the proximal end of the needle body hub to spring bias the stylet for engagement and disengagement of the locking means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
A biopsy needle according to claim 1 wherein said locking elements are pins.