Localization needle assembly

Claim 2

A localization needle assembly for locating 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 terminating in a distal tip portion and a proximal end, said needle structure having anchoring means including a first barb located at the distal tip portion and a second barb located proximal of said distal tip portion, said inner needle structure being slidably mounted for movement within said outer cannula member between first and second positions, said second 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 second 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, and both of said barbs being deployed to engage body tissue with subsequent movement of said cannula member relative to said inner needle structure in a direction toward the proximal end of said inner needle structure.

Claim 3

A localization needle assembly according to claim 1, wherein said anchoring means further comprises a hollow generally cylindrical inner cannula secured to said distal end of said needle structure and adapted to be received within said outer cannula member for sliding movement therewithin, said second 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 4

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

Claim 5

A localization needle assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first and second barbs are spaced apart circumferentially approximately 180°.

Claim 6

A localization needle assembly for locating 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 having a distal tip and a proximal end, with a linear portion at its distal end and a flexible reinforced portion intermediate its proximal and distal ends, said linear portion of said needle structure having anchoring means including a first barb and a second barb, said first barb being located at the distal tip of said needle structure and said second barb being located proximal of said distal tip, said inner needle structure being slidably mounted for movement within said outer cannula member between first and second positions, said second 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 second 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, and both of said barbs being deployed to engage body tissue with subsequent movement of said cannula member relative to said inner needle structure in a direction toward the proximal end of said inner needle structure.

Claim 7

A localization needle assembly for locating 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 having a distal tip and a proximal end, with a linear portion at its distal end and a flexible reinforced portion intermediate its proximal and distal ends, said linear portion of said needle structure having anchoring means including a first barb and a second barb, said first barb being located at the distal tip of said needle structure and said second barb being located proximal of said distal tip, said inner needle structure being slidably mounted for movement within said outer cannula member between first and second positions, said second 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 second 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, and both of said barbs being deployed to engage body tissue with subsequent movement of said cannula member relative to said inner needle structure in a direction toward the proximal end of said inner needle structure.

Claim 8

A localization needle assembly according to claim 5, wherein said anchoring means further comprises a hollow generally cylindrical inner cannula secured to said distal end of said needle structure and adapted to be received within said outer cannula member for sliding movement therewithin, said second 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 9

A localization needle assembly according to claim 5 wherein the distal end of said linear portion of said needle structure extends through said inner cannula axially thereof with its distal tip portion located beyond the distal end of said inner cannula, and said distal tip portion of said needle structure being folded over upon itself with its tip portion projecting rearwardly, defining said first barb.

Claim 10

A needle assembly 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 portion and a proximal end portion, said needle structure having anchoring means including a first barb means positioned at said distal end portion adapted to engage body tissue to anchor the needle structure to body tissue and a second barb means located proximal of said distal end portion, and an outer cannula member having an opening predeterminedly located from the distal end of said outer cannula member, with said second barb means cooperating with said opening predeterminedly located from the distal end of said outer cannula member to extend therethrough to anchor the needle to the body tissue.

Claim 11

A needle assembly 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 portion and a proximal end portion, said needle structure having anchoring means including a first barb means positioned at said distal end portion adapted to engage body tissue to anchor the needle structure to body tissue and a second barb means located proximal of said distal end portion, and an outer cannula member having an opening predeterminedly located from the distal end of said outer cannula member, with said second barb means cooperating with said opening predeterminedly located from the distal end of said outer cannula member to extend therethrough to anchor the needle to the body tissue.

Claim 12

A surgical needle comprising: an elongated wire having a proximal end and a distal end and anchoring means including a first fixed barb means positioned at said distal end and adapted to engage body tissue to anchor the needle to body tissue and a second retractable barb means located proximal of said distal end and adapted to engage body tissue.

Claim 13

A surgical needle comprising: an elongated wire having a proximal end and a distal end and anchoring means including a first fixed barb means positioned at said distal end and adapted to engage body tissue to anchor the needle to body tissue and a second retractable barb means located proximal of said distal end and adapted to engage body tissue.

Claim 14

A surgical needle according to claim 9, wherein said anchoring means further comprises a hollow generally cylindrical inner cannula secured to said distal end of said wire.

Claim 15

A surgical needle according to claim 10 wherein the distal end of said wire extends through said inner cannula axially thereof with its distal tip portion located beyond the distal end of said inner cannula, and said distal tip portion of said wire being folded over upon itself with its tip portion projecting rearwardly, defining said first barb.

Claim 16

A surgical needle according to claim 10 wherein said second barb means comprises a segment of wire having a fixed end secured to said inner cannula and a free end projecting outwardly from said inner cannula.

Claim 17

A surgical needle according to claim 9 wherein said wire has a distal tip folded over upon itself with a portion thereof projecting rearwardly defining said first barb means.

Claim 18

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 reinforced portion intermediate its proximal and distal ends, said linear portion of said needle structure having anchoring means including a first fixed barb means positioned at said distal end and adapted to engage body tissue to anchor the needle structure to body tissue and a second retractable barb means located proximal of said distal end.

Claim 19

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 reinforced portion intermediate its proximal and distal ends, said linear portion of said needle structure having anchoring means including a first fixed barb means positioned at said distal end and adapted to engage body tissue to anchor the needle structure to body tissue and a second retractable barb means located proximal of said distal end.

Claim 20

A surgical needle according to claim 14, wherein said anchoring means comprises a hollow generally cylindrical inner cannula secured to said linear portion of said needle structure, and wherein said second barb means comprises a segment of wire having a fixed end secured to said inner cannula and a free end projecting outwardly from said inner cannula.

Claim 21

A surgical needle according to claim 14, wherein the tip of said linear portion is folded over upon itself with its tip portion projecting rearwardly defining said first barb means.

Claim 22

A surgical needle according to claim 14, wherein a plurality of wires are helically wound together to provide said reinforced portion.