Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A needle biopsy instrument, comprising: an elongate rigid hollow needle having proximal and distal ends, said needle having an aspiration lumen and a biopsy lumen extending along the length of said needle, said aspiration lumen and said biopsy lumen each having openings at said proximal and distal ends; a first stylet slidably received within said biopsy lumen and extending from said proximal end to said distal end of said needle; and a second stylet slidably received within said aspiration lumen and extending from said proximal end to said distal end of said needle; one of said first and second stylets having an end extending from the distal end of said needle and having a sharp cutting edge adapted to pierce a body bone for bone marrow biopsy such that when said stylet having a sharp cutting edge is withdrawn after piercing a body bone and said needle is further advanced a slice of marrow extends within said needle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
A needle biopsy instrument, comprising: an elongate rigid hollow needle having proximal and distal ends, said needle having an aspiration lumen and a biopsy lumen extending along the length of said needle, said aspiration lumen and said biopsy lumen each having openings at said proximal and distal ends; a first stylet slidably received within said biopsy lumen and extending from said proximal end to said distal end of said needle; and a second stylet slidably received within said aspiration lumen and extending from said proximal end to said distal end of said needle; one of said first and second stylets having an end extending from the distal end of said needle and having a sharp cutting edge adapted to pierce a body bone for bone marrow biopsy such that when said stylet having a sharp cutting edge is withdrawn after piercing a body bone and said needle is further advanced a slice of marrow extends within said needle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The needle biopsy instrument of claim 1 and further comprising: an instrument stabilizing means for stabilizing the position of said instrument as it is advanced inside a bone, said instrument stabilizing means further for facilitating the transmission of advancement forces along said instrument provided by the hand of an operator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The needle biopsy instrument of claim 2 wherein said instrument stabilizing means includes a handle encasing the proximal end of said needle, said handle having a fusiform shape adapted to conform generally with the palm of the hand of an operator while being gripped between the thumb and fingers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The needle biopsy instrument of claim 3 wherein said handle includes a head portion and a cap, said cap encasing the proximal end of said needle and removable from said head portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The needle biopsy instrument of claim 1 wherein said first stylet having a sharp cutting edge extending from the distal end of said needle adapted to pierce a body bone for bone marrow biopsy.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The needle biopsy instrument of claim 1 wherein said needle and said first and second stylets each having locking means for locking the position of said first and second stylets within their respective lumens at the proximal end of said needle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The needle biopsy instrument of claim 6 wherein said locking means associated with said first and second stylets each have a head portion having a generally disk shape.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The needle biopsy instrument of claim 1 wherein said biopsy lumen having a circular cross section along its length and said aspiration lumen having a semilunar cross section along its length, said needle having a thin wall separating said biopsy lumen and said aspiration lumen.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The needle biopsy instrument of claim 1 wherein said aspiration lumen having a plurality of fenestrated openings extending laterally of said needle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The needle biopsy instrument of claim 1 wherein said second stylet having a distal tip formed to extend flush with the distal opening of said aspiration lumen and parallel to the cutting surface of said first stylet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The needle biopsy instrument of claim 1 wherein said stylets each having heads at the proximal ends thereof adapted to extend from the body portion of said handle with said stylets locked in position inside their respective needle lumens.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The needle biopsy instrument of claim 1 wherein said cap is provided with an inner surface which conforms closely around said stylet heads with said stylets in their locked positions relative to said needle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
The needle biopsy instrument of claim 1 and further comprising an elongate probe sized to be slidably advanced within said biopsy lumen through said opening at said distal end, said elongate probe having a blunt tip and having a proximal end formed as a spatula shaped handle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The needle biopsy instrument of claim 1 wherein said needle is marked with a plurality of graduated markings along its length.