Automatic biopsy needle device

Claim 1

A biopsy needle device comprising a needle (2) having a stem (3) slidably inserted into a cannula (4); the stem (3) and the cannula (4) being slidably supported by a box-shaped case (5); said stem (3) being provided with a cavity (6) near a distal end thereof, said stem being fit to hold a sample of an organ to be examined, into which said needle (2) is inserted, after the sample has been cut by said cannula (4), said device (1) further comprising: a first movable assembly (7), having a proximal end of said cannula (4) fixed thereto, a first elastic element (8) being in contact with said first movable assembly (7), said first movable assembly (7) having first hooking means (9) for engaging a corresponding first stop (10) made on walls of the case (5), at a charging phase (C) of said device (1), wherein said first elastic element (8) is stressed so that it generates an elastic reaction force on said first movable assembly (7); a second movable assembly (11), having a proximal end of said stem (3) fixed thereto, a second elastic element (12) being in contact with said second movable assembly (11), said second movable assembly (11) having second hooking means (13) for engaging a corresponding second stop (14) made on walls of the case (5), at a charging phase (C) of said device (1) wherein said second elastic element (12) is stressed so that it generates an elastic reaction force on said second movable assembly (11); charging means (29) for charging said first movable assembly (7) and second movable assembly (11), said charging means (29) being operable from outside said case (5), wherein moving the charging means (29) between two extreme positions causes the respective first (7) and second (11) movable assemblies to be dragged, so that said device (1) switches from a discharging phase (S) to said charging phase (C), said first elastic element (8) and said second elastic element (12) being discharged during said discharging phase (S); an unlocking element (15) for releasing said first hooking means (9) and second hooking means (13) from the corresponding stops (10,14), respectively at said discharging phase (S) and at an intermediate phase (M) of said device (1) wherein said cavity (6) is not covered by said cannula (4) and said second elastic element (12) is discharged while said first elastic element (8) is charged; and enabling means (16), rotatably supported by said case (5), interposed between said case (5) and said unlocking element (15), for enabling axial movement of said unlocking element (15), in order to allow said device (1) to switch from said charging phase (C) to said intermediate phase (M) and then to said discharging phase (S), said enabling means being automatically operated by said charging means (29) at said charging phase (C).