Flexible biopsy needle

Abstract

An endoscopic tissue-sampling needle includes an elongate needle shaft having a proximal and a distal shaft portion. The proximal shaft portion includes an inner tubular core that may be constructed of a same material as the distal shaft potion, having a longer length and a smaller outer diameter than the distal shaft portion. The distal shaft portion extends into and is fixedly attached to an inner diameter of a distal shaft portion lumen. The distal shaft portion lumen is configured for collection of patient tissue, with a distal penetrating tip and/or a side aperture with a cutting edge configured to excise tissue from a target site in a patient body. The proximal shaft portion includes polymer coating around the inner tubular core, which is configured to provide an outer diameter for the proximal shaft portion that may be substantially the same as the outer diameter of the distal shaft portion.

1 . An endoscopic tissue-sampling needle, comprising:
 an elongate tubular needle shaft having a proximal shaft portion and a distal shaft portion;   wherein the distal shaft portion comprises a shorter length than the proximal shaft portion;   wherein a length of the proximal shaft portion comprises a non-metallic polymeric material length disposed immediately proximally adjacent of and securely fixed to the distal shaft portion, said non-metallic polymeric material length comprising a greater flexibility than the distal shaft portion;   wherein the distal shaft portion
 comprises a metallic material; 
 is configured for collection of patient tissue; and 
 comprises at least one surface feature configured to enhance echogenicity; and 
   wherein the elongate tubular needle shaft is configured and dimensioned for passage through a working channel of an endoscope to a target site within a patient body.   
     
     
         2 . The needle of  claim 1 , further comprising a metallic tube length disposed immediately proximally adjacent of and securely fixed to the non-metallic polymeric material length. 
     
     
         3 . The needle of  claim 2 , wherein the non-metallic polymeric material length comprises a substantially uniform outer diameter that is larger than the outer diameter of the distal shaft portion and that tapers proximally-to-distally to an outer diameter that is about the same as the distal shaft portion outer diameter, which distal shaft outer diameter is substantially uniform along an entire length of the distal shaft portion. 
     
     
         4 . The needle of  claim 2 , wherein the non-metallic polymeric material length comprises an outer diameter that is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the distal shaft portion, such that the elongate tubular needle shaft comprises a substantially uniform outer diameter along an entire length thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The needle of  claim 1 , wherein the distal shaft portion comprises a tissue-penetrating distal end tip. 
     
     
         6 . The needle of  claim 1 , wherein the distal shaft portion comprises a notched aperture in at least one side. 
     
     
         7 . The needle of  claim 6 , wherein the notched aperture comprises at least one cutting edge configured to enhance collection of sample material from a patient body. 
     
     
         8 . The needle of  claim 1 , wherein the distal shaft portion is about 20 mm to about 100 mm in length. 
     
     
         9 . The needle of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal shaft portion includes a proximal shaft lumen, the distal shaft portion includes a distal shaft lumen, and the proximal and distal shaft lumens together provide a continuous shaft lumen. 
     
     
         10 . The needle of  claim 9 , further comprising a stylet disposed through at least a portion of the continuous shaft lumen, wherein the stylet comprises a proximal length having a first outer diameter and a distal length having a second outer diameter that is less than the first outer diameter. 
     
     
         11 . The needle of  claim 10 , wherein the stylet further comprises a third outer diameter length that is disposed distal of the second outer diameter distal length, where the third outer diameter is greater than the second outer diameter. 
     
     
         12 . The needle of  claim 1 , wherein a proximal shaft core portion measures not larger than about 22 gauge, and the distal shaft portion measures no less than about 19 gauge. 
     
     
         13 . The needle of  claim 1 , wherein a proximal shaft core portion measures about 22 gauge, and the distal shaft portion measures about 19 gauge. 
     
     
         14 . The needle of  claim 1 , wherein a distal cutting tip of the distal shaft portion comprises a titanium nitride coating. 
     
     
         15 . The needle of  claim 14 , wherein the distal cutting tip comprises a generally circular, non-beveled cross-sectional geometry. 
     
     
         16 . The needle of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal shaft portion and the distal shaft portion are each comprised of essentially the same construction material. 
     
     
         17 . The needle of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the proximal shaft portion or the distal shaft portion comprises a selected one of a metal alloy or a polymer. 
     
     
         18 . The needle of  claim 1 , wherein a combined length of the proximal shaft portion and the distal shaft portion is configured to access tissue via passage through at least a patient esophagus and stomach. 
     
     
         19 . An endoscopic tissue-sampling needle, comprising:
 an elongate needle shaft having a proximal shaft portion and a distal shaft portion;   wherein the proximal shaft portion comprises an inner tubular core constructed of a same material as the distal shaft potion, but including a longer length and a smaller outer diameter than the distal shaft portion;   wherein the distal shaft portion extends into and is fixedly attached to an inner diameter of a distal shaft portion lumen;   wherein the distal shaft portion lumen is configured for collection of patient tissue; and   wherein the proximal shaft portion comprises a polymer coating coaxially disposed around the inner tubular core, which polymer coating is configured to provide an outer diameter for the proximal shaft portion that is substantially the same as or is greater than the outer diameter of the distal shaft portion.   
     
     
         20 . An endoscopic tissue-sampling needle, comprising:
 an elongate needle shaft having a proximal shaft portion and a distal shaft portion;   wherein the proximal shaft portion comprises an inner tubular core including a longer length and a smaller outer diameter than the distal shaft portion;   wherein the distal shaft portion extends into and is fixedly attached to an inner diameter of a distal shaft portion lumen;   wherein the distal shaft portion lumen is configured for collection of patient tissue, including a distal penetrating tip and a side aperture both configured to contact and excise patient tissue; and   wherein the proximal shaft portion comprises a polymer coating around the inner tubular core, which polymer coating is configured to provide an outer diameter for the proximal shaft portion that is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the distal shaft portion.