Localization needle assembly with reinforced needle assembly

Claim 2

A localization needle assembly for pinpointing lesions within body tissue, including in combination: an outer tubular cannula member having a distal end and a proximal end with said cannula member having an opening predeterminedly located from said distal end, an elongated inner needle structure having a distal end and a proximal end, with a linear portion at its distal end and a flexible reinforced portion extending proximal from said linear portion towards its proximal end, said needle structure comprising an elongated wire core means and said flexible reinforced portion comprising multiple wire strands wound on said wire core means over a portion of its length, said reinforced potion terminating short of the distal end of said wire needle structure, defining said linear portion of said wire needle structure, said linear portion of said needle structure having anchoring means including an extendable and retractable barb, said inner needle structure being slidably mounted for movement within said outer cannula member between a first position and a second position, said barb being contained within said outer cannula member, extending towards said opening in said outer cannula member when said needle structure is in said first position and said barb being moved outward of said outer cannula member through said opening predeterminedly located from the distal end of said outer cannula member to engage body tissue when said needle structure is moved to said second position to anchor the localization needle assembly to body tissue.

Claim 3

A localization needle assembly according to claim 1, wherein said wire core means of said needle structure comprises an elongated single core wire, said multiple wire strands being wound on said core wire over a portion of its length to form a unitary wire needle structure.

Claim 4

A localization needle assembly according to claim 2, wherein said multiple wire strands comprise a first layer of wires helically wound on said core wire and a second layer of wires helically wound on said first layer of wires.

Claim 5

A localization needle assembly according to claim 2, wherein each of said wire strands comprises a core wire having a plurality of wires helically wound therein.

Claim 6

A localization needle assembly according to claim 1, wherein said anchoring means comprises a hollow generally cylindrical inner cannula secured to said linear portion of said needle structure and adapted to be received within said outer cannula member for sliding movement therewithin, said barb comprising a segment of wire having a fixed end secured to said inner cannula and a free end projecting rearwardly of the distal end of said outer cannula member.

Claim 7

A localization needle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the tip of said linear portion is folded over upon itself with its tip portion projecting rearwardly defining said barb.

Claim 8

A localization needle assembly for pinpointing lesions within body tissue, including in combination: an outer tubular cannula member having a distal end and a proximal end with said cannula member having an opening predeterminedly located from said distal end, an elongated single wire needle with multiple wire strands wound thereon over a portion of its length to form a unitary wire needle structure having a distal end and a proximal end with a flexible reinforced portion, said reinforced portion terminating short of said distal end of said needle structure defining a linear portion for said needle wire structure at its distal end, said needle structure having anchoring means including an extendable and retractable barb portion at its distal end, said needle structure being slidably mounted for movement within said outer cannula member between a first position and a second position, said barb portion extending towards said opening in said outer cannula member when said needle structure is in said first position and said barb portion being moved outward of said outer cannula member through said opening predeterminedly located from the distal end of said outer cannula member to engage body tissue when said needle structure is moved to said second position to anchor the localization needle assembly to body tissue.

Claim 9

A localization needle assembly for pinpointing lesions within body tissue, including in combination: an outer tubular cannula member having a distal end and a proximal end with said cannula member having an opening predeterminedly located from said distal end, an elongated single wire needle with multiple wire strands wound thereon over a portion of its length to form a unitary wire needle structure having a distal end and a proximal end with a flexible reinforced portion, said reinforced portion terminating short of said distal end of said needle structure defining a linear portion for said needle wire structure at its distal end, said needle structure having anchoring means including an extendable and retractable barb portion at its distal end, said needle structure being slidably mounted for movement within said outer cannula member between a first position and a second position, said barb portion extending towards said opening in said outer cannula member when said needle structure is in said first position and said barb portion being moved outward of said outer cannula member through said opening predeterminedly located from the distal end of said outer cannula member to engage body tissue when said needle structure is moved to said second position to anchor the localization needle assembly to body tissue.

Claim 10

A localization needle assembly according to claim 7, wherein needle structure comprises a core wire and a plurality of outer wires helically wound around said core wire.

Claim 11

A localization needle assembly according to claim 8, wherein said plurality of outer wires comprise a first layer of wires helically wound on said core wire and a second layer of wires helically wound on said first layer of wires.

Claim 12

A localization needle assembly according to claim 8, wherein each of said outer wires comprise a stranded wire including a core wire having a plurality of wires helically wound thereon.

Claim 13

A localization needle assembly according to claim 8, wherein the tip of said core wire is folded over upon itself with its pointed tip portion projecting rearwardly defining said barb portion.

Claim 14

A localization needle assembly according to claim 11, wherein said folded over portion defines a blunt forward end for said needle structure, and includes means securing said folded over portion.

Claim 15

A localization needle assembly according to claim 7, wherein said needle structure comprises a stranded core wire including a plurality of wires wound together to form a unitary core wire structure and a plurality of outer wires helically wound around said stranded core wire.

Claim 16

A localization needle assembly for pinpointing lesions within body tissue, including in combination: an outer tubular cannula member having a distal end and a proximal end with said cannula member having an opening predeterminedly located from said distal end, an elongated needle structure including a wire core means reinforced over a portion of its length with multiple wire strands to form a unitary wire needle structure having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, said needle structure having anchoring means at its distal end portion, said needle being slidably mounted for movement within said outer cannula member between an extended position and a retracted position, and said anchoring means having a mounting portion secured to said distal end portion of said needle structure and a barb portion carried by said mounting portion and extending towards said opening in said outer cannula member when said needle structure is in its extended position and said barb portion being moved outward of said outer cannula member through said opening predeterminedly located from the distal end of said outer cannula member to engage body tissue when said needle structure is moved to its retracted position to anchor the localization needle assembly to body tissue.

Claim 17

A localization needle assembly for pinpointing lesions within body tissue, including in combination: an outer tubular cannula member having a distal end and a proximal end with said cannula member having an opening predeterminedly located from said distal end, an elongated needle structure including a wire core means reinforced over a portion of its length with multiple wire strands to form a unitary wire needle structure having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, said needle structure having anchoring means at its distal end portion, said needle being slidably mounted for movement within said outer cannula member between an extended position and a retracted position, and said anchoring means having a mounting portion secured to said distal end portion of said needle structure and a barb portion carried by said mounting portion and extending towards said opening in said outer cannula member when said needle structure is in its extended position and said barb portion being moved outward of said outer cannula member through said opening predeterminedly located from the distal end of said outer cannula member to engage body tissue when said needle structure is moved to its retracted position to anchor the localization needle assembly to body tissue.

Claim 18

A localization needle assembly according to claim 14, wherein said wire core means of said needle structure comprises an elongated single core wire and wherein said multiple wire strands are wound on said core wire over a portion of its length to form said unitary wire needle structure.

Claim 19

A localization needle assembly according to claim 15 wherein said multiple wire strands comprise a first layer of wires helically wound on said core wire and a second layer of wires helically wound on said first layer of wires.

Claim 20

A localization needle assembly according to claim 13, wherein each of said wire strands comprises a core wire having a plurality of wires helically wound therein.

Claim 21

A localization needle assembly for pinpointing lesions within body tissue, including in combination: an outer tubular cannula member having a distal end and a proximal end with said cannula member having an opening predeterminedly located from said distal end, an elongated needle structure including a core wire with multiple wire strands wound thereon over a portion of its length to form a unitary wire needle structure having a distal end and a proximal end with a flexible reinforced portion, said flexible reinforced portion terminating short of said distal end of said needle structure defining a linear portion for said wire needle structure at its distal end, said core wire having a sharp tip portion which is folded over defining a blunt nose portion and a sharp extendable and retractable barb portion which extends rearwardly from the blunt nose portion at the distal end of said needle structure, the length of said needle structure being greater than the length of said outer cannula member and a portion of the flexible reinforced portion of the proximal end of said needle structure extending beyond the proximal end of said outer cannula member, said needle structure being slidably mounted for movement within said outer cannula member between a first position and a second position, and said barb portion extending towards said opening in said outer cannula member when said needle structure is in said first position and said barb portion being moved outward of said outer cannula member through said opening predeterminedly located from the distal end of said outer cannula member to engage body tissue when said needle structure is moved to said second position to anchor the localization needle assembly to body tissue.

Claim 22

A localization needle assembly for pinpointing lesions within body tissue, including in combination: an outer tubular cannula member having a distal end and a proximal end with said cannula member having an opening predeterminedly located from said distal end, an elongated needle structure including a core wire with multiple wire strands wound thereon over a portion of its length to form a unitary wire needle structure having a distal end and a proximal end with a flexible reinforced portion, said flexible reinforced portion terminating short of said distal end of said needle structure defining a linear portion for said wire needle structure at its distal end, said core wire having a sharp tip portion which is folded over defining a blunt nose portion and a sharp extendable and retractable barb portion which extends rearwardly from the blunt nose portion at the distal end of said needle structure, the length of said needle structure being greater than the length of said outer cannula member and a portion of the flexible reinforced portion of the proximal end of said needle structure extending beyond the proximal end of said outer cannula member, said needle structure being slidably mounted for movement within said outer cannula member between a first position and a second position, and said barb portion extending towards said opening in said outer cannula member when said needle structure is in said first position and said barb portion being moved outward of said outer cannula member through said opening predeterminedly located from the distal end of said outer cannula member to engage body tissue when said needle structure is moved to said second position to anchor the localization needle assembly to body tissue.

Claim 23

A surgical needle comprising: an elongated needle structure having a distal end and a proximal end, with a linear portion at its distal end and a flexible reinforced portion extending from said linear portion towards its proximal end, said needle structure comprising an elongated wire core means and said flexible reinforced portion comprising multiple wire strands wound on said wire core means over a portion of its length defining said flexible reinforced portion, said reinforced portion terminating short of said distal end, defining said linear portion of said wire needle structure, said linear portion of said needle structure having anchoring means including a barb adapted to engage body tissue to anchor the needle structure to body tissue.

Claim 24

A surgical needle comprising: an elongated needle structure having a distal end and a proximal end, with a linear portion at its distal end and a flexible reinforced portion extending from said linear portion towards its proximal end, said needle structure comprising an elongated wire core means and said flexible reinforced portion comprising multiple wire strands wound on said wire core means over a portion of its length defining said flexible reinforced portion, said reinforced portion terminating short of said distal end, defining said linear portion of said wire needle structure, said linear portion of said needle structure having anchoring means including a barb adapted to engage body tissue to anchor the needle structure to body tissue.

Claim 25

A surgical needle according to claim 19, wherein said multiple wire strands comprise a first layer of wires helically wound on said wire core means and a second layer of wires helically wound on said first layer of wires.

Claim 26

A surgical needle according to claim 19, wherein each of said wire strands comprises a core wire having a plurality of wires helically wound therein.

Claim 27

A surgical needle according to claim 19, wherein said anchoring means comprises a hollow generally cylindrical cannula secured to said linear portion of said needle structure, and whereas said barb comprises a segment of wire having a fixed end secured to said cannula and a free end projecting outwardly from said cannula.

Claim 28

A surgical needle according to claim 19, wherein the tip of said linear portion is folded over upon itself with its tip portion projecting rearwardly defining said barb.

Claim 29

A surgical needle comprising: an elongated single wire needle reinforced over a portion of its length with multiple wire strands to form a unitary wire needle structure having a distal end and a proximal end with a flexible reinforced portion, said reinforced portion terminating short of said distal end, defining a linear portion for said needle structure at its distal end, said linear portion of said needle structure having anchoring means including a barb portion adapted to engage body tissue to anchor the needle structure to body tissue.

Claim 30

A surgical needle comprising: an elongated single wire needle reinforced over a portion of its length with multiple wire strands to form a unitary wire needle structure having a distal end and a proximal end with a flexible reinforced portion, said reinforced portion terminating short of said distal end, defining a linear portion for said needle structure at its distal end, said linear portion of said needle structure having anchoring means including a barb portion adapted to engage body tissue to anchor the needle structure to body tissue.

Claim 31

A localization needle assembly for pinpointing lesions within body tissue, including in combination: an outer tubular cannula member having a distal end and a proximal end with said cannula member having an opening predeterminedly located from said distal end, an elongated single wire needle reinforced over a portion of its length with multiple wire strands to form a unitary wire needle structure having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, and anchoring means including a hollow generally cylindrical inner cannula secured to said distal end portion of said needle structure and adapted to be received within said outer cannula member, and a barb portion comprising a segment of wire having a fixed end secured to said inner cannula and a free end projecting rearwardly of the distal end of said outer cannula member, said needle structure and said anchoring means being mounted within said outer cannula member for sliding movement therewithin between a first position and a second position, said barb portion extending towards said opening in said outer cannula member when said needle structure is in said first position and said barb portion being moved outward of said outer cannula member through said opening predeterminedly located from the distal end of said outer cannula member to engage body tissue when said needle structure is moved to said second position to anchor the localization needle assembly to body tissue.

Claim 32

A localization needle assembly for pinpointing lesions within body tissue, including in combination: an outer tubular cannula member having a distal end and a proximal end with said cannula member having an opening predeterminedly located from said distal end, an elongated single wire needle reinforced over a portion of its length with multiple wire strands to form a unitary wire needle structure having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, and anchoring means including a hollow generally cylindrical inner cannula secured to said distal end portion of said needle structure and adapted to be received within said outer cannula member, and a barb portion comprising a segment of wire having a fixed end secured to said inner cannula and a free end projecting rearwardly of the distal end of said outer cannula member, said needle structure and said anchoring means being mounted within said outer cannula member for sliding movement therewithin between a first position and a second position, said barb portion extending towards said opening in said outer cannula member when said needle structure is in said first position and said barb portion being moved outward of said outer cannula member through said opening predeterminedly located from the distal end of said outer cannula member to engage body tissue when said needle structure is moved to said second position to anchor the localization needle assembly to body tissue.

Claim 33

A localization needle assembly according to claim 25, wherein said inner cannula has a proximal end and a distal end with an axial passageway therethrough, said needle structure having a core portion secured to the proximal end of said inner cannula and said inner cannula having a sidewall with an aperture therethrough, said wire segment having its fixed end located in said passageway and secured to said inner cannula therewithin and having its free end extending through said aperture.

Claim 34

A localization needle assembly for pinpointing lesions within body tissue, including in combination: an outer tubular cannula member having a distal end and a proximal end with said cannula member having an opening predeterminedly located from said distal end, an elongated inner needle having a distal end and a proximal end, with a linear portion at its distal end and a flexible reinforced portion extending from said linear portion toward its proximal end, said needle including a single monofilament which is helically coiled along a portion of its length, defining said flexible reinforced portion, and straight at its distal end, defining said linear portion, said linear portion of said inner needle having anchoring means including an extendable and retractable barb, said inner needle being slidably mounted for movement within said outer cannula member between a first position and a second position, said barb being contained within said outer cannula member, extending towards said opening in said outer cannula member when said inner needle is in said first position and said barb being moved outward of said outer cannula member through said opening predeterminedly located from the distal end of said outer cannula member to engage body tissue when said inner needle is moved to said second position to anchor the localization needle assembly to body tissue.

Claim 35

A localization needle assembly for pinpointing lesions within body tissue, including in combination: an outer tubular cannula member having a distal end and a proximal end with said cannula member having an opening predeterminedly located from said distal end, an elongated inner needle having a distal end and a proximal end, with a linear portion at its distal end and a flexible reinforced portion extending from said linear portion toward its proximal end, said needle including a single monofilament which is helically coiled along a portion of its length, defining said flexible reinforced portion, and straight at its distal end, defining said linear portion, said linear portion of said inner needle having anchoring means including an extendable and retractable barb, said inner needle being slidably mounted for movement within said outer cannula member between a first position and a second position, said barb being contained within said outer cannula member, extending towards said opening in said outer cannula member when said inner needle is in said first position and said barb being moved outward of said outer cannula member through said opening predeterminedly located from the distal end of said outer cannula member to engage body tissue when said inner needle is moved to said second position to anchor the localization needle assembly to body tissue.

Claim 36

A surgical needle comprising: an elongated single monofilament having a distal end and a proximal end, with a linear portion at its distal end and a flexible reinforced portion extending from said linear portion toward its proximal end, said monofilament being helically coiled along a portion of its length defining said flexible reinforced portion, and straight at its distal end defining said linear portion, said linear portion having anchoring means including a barb adapted to engage body tissue to anchor said monofilament to body tissue.

Claim 37

A surgical needle comprising: an elongated single monofilament having a distal end and a proximal end, with a linear portion at its distal end and a flexible reinforced portion extending from said linear portion toward its proximal end, said monofilament being helically coiled along a portion of its length defining said flexible reinforced portion, and straight at its distal end defining said linear portion, said linear portion having anchoring means including a barb adapted to engage body tissue to anchor said monofilament to body tissue.