Biopsy needle with stylet and cannula orientation

Claim 1

An elongated hollow biopsy needle assembly with open distal and proximal ends, and with the distal end defining a cutting edge, said assembly including a cannula, an elongated stylet removably received within the bore of said cannula, a finger gripping means, and coupling means for orienting said stylet within said cannula and for releasably securing said cannula to said finger gripping means. (a) said cannula being of uniform hollow, cylindrical configuration throughout the major portion of its length and having an external distal end surface tapered generally uniformly, uninterrupted, toward the tip of the distal end, and an internal end surface defining an inner biopsy tissue receiving and retaining bore immediately adjacent the distal end and with the distal end of said cannula terminating along a plane disposed at a certain acute angle relative to the axis of said cannula; (b) a generally cylindrical hub having a bore extending axially therethrough and securing the proximal end of said cannula to the inner diameter thereof, and with the bore of said hub forming an extension of the hollow cannula, a conical syringe receiving counterbore formed within the proximal end of said hub, and a radially disposed asymmetrical orientation surface formed along an end of said hub; (c) said elongated stylet being positioned within said cannula and corresponding generally in length and shape to the bore formed in said cannula, and having a distal end terminating along a plane disposed at said certain acute angle relative to the axis thereof, said stylet further having a cap secured to the proximal end thereof with said cap having a radially disposed asymmetrical orientation surface formed along the outer surface thereof, and with said stylet having a groove formed along the proximal end thereof and with said cap having a tongue extending radially inwardly and arranged to mate with said groove for orienting said stylet relative to said cap; (d) said finger gripping means including a generally centrally disposed coupling means with an inner surface having a radially extending asymmetrical surface mating with the radially disposed asymmetrical orientation surfaces of each of said cylindrical hub and said stylet for orienting said cannula relative to said stylet cap to present a closed symmetrical end surface.