Biopsy needles

Abstract

A biopsy needle for collecting a tissue specimen includes a handle including a handle body that defines a hollow interior that includes a hollow inner housing member and a cannula assembly including an inner cannula, an outer cannula and a snarecoil coil at a distal end that is attached to the outer cannula. The biopsy needle also includes a first biasing element that is coupled to the cannula assembly and is configured to apply a force thereto when stored energy of the first biasing element is released to cause forward projection of the cannula assembly. A first mechanism of the needle has a first component associated with a proximal end of the inner cannula that is received within the inner housing member and a second component associated with the inner housing to cause controlled rotation of the inner cannula relative to the outer cannula after the cannula assembly is projected a predetermined distance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A biopsy needle for collecting a tissue specimen comprising:
 a handle including a handle body that defines a hollow interior that includes a hollow inner housing member;   a cannula assembly including an inner cannula and an outer cannula that surrounds at least a portion of the inner cannula, the inner cannula having a snarecoil coil at a distal end that is attached to the outer cannula, the inner cannula and outer cannula being coupled to one another so that the two cannulas move together in a longitudinal direction, at least a portion of the cannula assembly being received in the handle body;   a first biasing element that is coupled to the cannula assembly for applying a force thereto when stored energy of the first biasing element is released to cause forward projection of the cannula assembly;   a first mechanism having a first component associated with a proximal end of the inner cannula that is received within the inner housing member and a second component associated with the inner housing to cause controlled rotation of the inner cannula relative to the outer cannula after the cannula assembly is projected a predetermined distance; and   an actuator operably coupled to the cannula assembly to selectively release the energy stored in the first biasing element and cause the forward projection of the cannula assembly and the subsequent rotation of the inner cannula relative to the outer cannula to cause activation of the snarecoil.   
     
     
         2 . The needle of  claim 1 , wherein the inner housing member comprises a hollow cylindrical member that is open at a first end that receives a proximal end of the inner cannula. 
     
     
         3 . The needle of  claim 1 , wherein the first biasing element is attached at one end to the handle body and at an opposite end to the outer cannula such that the first biasing element releases its stored energy as a force applied to the outer cannula. 
     
     
         4 . The needle of  claim 1 , wherein the first end is attached to a flange that is integrally connected to the handle body and the second end is attached to a flange that is integrally connected to the outer cannula. 
     
     
         5 . The needle of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes a lever and a claw member that engages the flange of the outer cannula in a locked position when the cannula assembly is locked in place and energy is stored in the first biasing element. 
     
     
         6 . The needle of  claim 1 , wherein the inner cannula includes a first connector member and the outer cannula includes a complementary second connector that mates with the first connector so that the two cannulas move together in a longitudinal direction outwardly from the handle body. 
     
     
         7 . The needle of  claim 1 , wherein the first component of the first mechanism comprises a groove formed in a surface of the inner cannula and the second component comprises a projection that protrudes inwardly into an interior of the inner housing member and is received within the groove such that when the inner cannula is projected forward and the projection travels within the groove, the inner cannula is rotated relative to the outer cannula. 
     
     
         8 . The needle of  claim 7 , wherein the groove includes an initial longitudinal section which does not cause rotation of the inner cannula relative to the outer cannula when the projection travels therein as the cannula assembly is advanced in the longitudinal direction and a helical portion which causes rotation of the inner cannula when the projection enters and travels along the helical portion. 
     
     
         9 . The needle of  claim 1 , wherein the first component of the first mechanism comprises a projection that protrudes outwardly from a surface of the inner cannula and the second component comprises a groove formed in a surface of the inner housing member and is received within the groove such that when the inner cannula is projected forward and the projection travels within the groove, the inner cannula is rotated relative to the outer cannula. 
     
     
         10 . The needle of  claim 1 , further including a second mechanism to cause rotation of the inner cannula and the second cannula, the second mechanism having a first component associated with the outer cannula and a second component associated with the handle body to cause controlled rotation of the inner cannula and the outer cannula. 
     
     
         11 . The needle of  claim 1 , wherein the first component of the first mechanism includes a groove formed in a surface of the inner cannula and the second component comprises a pin that projects inwardly into an interior of the inner housing member and is received within the groove, the groove of the first mechanism having a first helical section that is complementary to a helical section of the groove of the second mechanism and a second helical section that is different than the helical section of the groove such that once the projection enters and travels in the second helical section, the inner cannula is rotated relative to the outer cannula. 
     
     
         12 . The needle of  claim 11 , wherein the spacing between helices of the second helical section is less than spacing between helices of the first helical section of the first mechanism and the helical section of the groove of the second mechanism. 
     
     
         13 . The needle of  claim 1 , wherein the first biasing element is disposed around the inner housing member, with a first end thereof attached to the handle body and a second end thereof attached to the inner cannula. 
     
     
         14 . The needle of  claim 13 , wherein the second end of the first biasing element is attached to a flange that protrudes outwardly from the inner cannula. 
     
     
         15 . The needle of  claim 1 , wherein the outer cannula includes an outward protrusion that is received within a channel formed in the handle body to prevent rotation of the outer cannula as the cannula assembly is projected forward. 
     
     
         16 . A biopsy needle for collecting a tissue specimen comprising:
 a handle including a handle body that defines a hollow interior and includes a hollow sleeve member;   a cannula assembly including an inner cannula and an outer cannula that surrounds at least a portion of the inner cannula, the inner cannula having a snarecoil coil at a distal end that is attached to the outer cannula, the inner cannula and outer cannula being coupled to one another so that the two cannulas move together in a longitudinal direction, at least a portion of the inner cannula being received within the sleeve member;   a first biasing element that is coupled to the inner cannula for applying a force thereto when stored energy of the first biasing element is released to cause forward projection of the cannula assembly;   a first mechanism having a first component associated with a proximal end of the inner cannula that is received within the sleeve member and a second component associated with the sleeve member to cause controlled rotation of the inner cannula relative to the outer cannula after the cannula assembly is projected a predetermined distance; and   an actuator operably coupled to the cannula assembly to selectively release the energy stored in the first biasing element and cause the forward projection of the cannula assembly and the subsequent rotation of the inner cannula relative to the outer cannula to cause activation of the snarecoil.   
     
     
         17 . The needle of clam  16 , wherein the sleeve member comprises an open ended cylindrical tube and a proximal end of the inner cannula includes an end flange, one end of the first biasing element being attached to the end flange while an opposite end of the first biasing element being attached to a wall of the handle body. 
     
     
         18 . The needle of  claim 16 , wherein the actuator engages the end flange when the cannula assembly is in a locked position and energy is stored in the first biasing element. 
     
     
         19 . The needle of  claim 16 , wherein the first component of the first mechanism comprises a groove formed in a surface of the inner cannula and the second component comprises a projection that protrudes inwardly into an interior of the sleeve member and is received within the groove such that when the inner cannula is projected forward and the projection travels within the groove, the inner cannula is rotated relative to the outer cannula. 
     
     
         20 . The needle of  claim 19 , wherein the groove includes an initial longitudinal section which does not cause rotation of the inner cannula relative to the outer cannula when the projection travels therein as the cannula assembly is advanced in the longitudinal direction and a helical portion which causes rotation of the inner cannula when the projection enters and travels along the helical portion. 
     
     
         21 . The needle of  claim 16 , wherein the first component of the first mechanism comprises a projection that protrudes outwardly from a surface of the inner cannula and the second component comprises a groove formed in a surface of the inner housing member and is received within the groove such that when the inner cannula is projected forward and the projection travels within the groove, the inner cannula is rotated relative to the outer cannula. 
     
     
         22 . The needle of  claim 16 , wherein the outer cannula includes an outward protrusion that is received within a channel formed in the handle body to prevent rotation of the outer cannula as the cannula assembly is projected forward. 
     
     
         23 . A biopsy needle for collecting a tissue specimen comprising:
 a handle including a handle body that defines a hollow interior and includes a moveable, hollow sleeve member;   a cannula assembly including an inner cannula and an outer cannula that surrounds at least a portion of the inner cannula, the inner cannula having a snarecoil coil at a distal end that is attached to the outer cannula, the inner cannula and outer cannula being coupled to one another so that the two cannulas move together in a longitudinal direction, at least a portion of the inner cannula being received within the sleeve member;   a first biasing element that is coupled to the sleeve member for applying a force thereto when stored energy of the first biasing element is released to cause forward projection of the sleeve member;   a first mechanism having a first component associated with a proximal end of the inner cannula that is received within the sleeve member and a second component associated with the sleeve member to cause controlled rotation of the inner cannula relative to the outer cannula after the sleeve member is projected a predetermined distance; and   an actuator operably coupled to the sleeve member to selectively release the energy stored in the first biasing element and cause the forward projection of the sleeve member and the cannula assembly and the subsequent rotation of the inner cannula relative to the outer cannula to cause activation of the snarecoil.   
     
     
         24 . The needle of  claim 23 , wherein a proximal end of the sleeve member includes a flange, a first end of the first biasing element being attached to the flange of the sleeve member while an opposite end of the first biasing element is attached to a wall of the handle body. 
     
     
         25 . The needle of  claim 23 , wherein the first component of the first mechanism comprises a projection that protrudes outwardly from the inner cannula and the second component comprises a groove formed in a surface of the sleeve member, the projection being received within the groove such that when the sleeve member is projected forward and the projection travels within the groove, the inner cannula is rotated relative to the outer cannula, thereby causing activation of the snarecoil. 
     
     
         26 . The needle of  claim 25 , wherein the groove includes a distal section that is formed perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cannula assembly to prevent rotation of the inner cannula relative to the outer cannula when the projection travels therein as the sleeve member is advanced in the longitudinal direction and a helical portion which causes rotation of the inner cannula when the projection enters and travels along the helical portion of the groove. 
     
     
         27 . The needle of  claim 23 , wherein the second component of the first mechanism comprises a projection that protrudes outwardly from a surface of the sleeve member and the first component comprises a groove formed in a surface of the inner cannula and is received within the groove such that when the sleeve member is projected forward and the projection travels within the groove, the inner cannula is rotated relative to the outer cannula. 
     
     
         28 . The needle of  claim 23 , wherein the inner cannula includes a flange that extends radially outward therefrom and is positioned so that when the sleeve member is projected, one end of the sleeve member contacts the flange to cause the cannula assembly to be projected in the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         29 . The needle of  claim 23 , wherein the sleeve member includes a protrusion that extends radially outward therefrom and is received within a longitudinal channel formed in the handle body for preventing rotation of the sleeve member as it is advanced in the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         30 . The needle of  claim 29 , wherein the protrusion is formed at a distal end of the sleeve member. 
     
     
         31 . A biopsy needle for collecting a tissue specimen comprising:
 a handle including a handle body that defines a hollow interior and includes a moveable, hollow activation member;   a cannula assembly including an inner cannula and an outer cannula that surrounds at least a portion of the inner cannula, the inner cannula having a snarecoil coil at a distal end that is attached to the outer cannula, the inner cannula and outer cannula being coupled to one another so that the two cannulas move together in a longitudinal direction, at least a portion of the inner cannula being received within the activation member;   a first biasing element that is coupled to the activation member for applying a force thereto when stored energy of the first biasing element is released to cause forward projection of the activation member;   a first mechanism having a first component associated with a proximal end of the inner cannula that is received within the activation member and a second component associated with the inner cannula to cause controlled rotation of the inner cannula relative to the outer cannula after the activation member is projected a predetermined distance; and   an actuator operably coupled to the activation member to selectively release the energy stored in the first biasing element and cause the forward projection of the activation member and the cannula assembly and the subsequent rotation of the inner cannula relative to the outer cannula to cause activation of the snarecoil.   
     
     
         32 . The needle of  claim 31 , wherein the activation member comprises a hollow cylindrical tubular structure that surrounds the inner cannula and the first component of the first mechanism comprises a groove formed in a surface of the inner cannula and the second component comprises a projection that protrudes inwardly from the activation member, the projection being received within the groove such that when the activation member is projected forward and the projection travels within the groove, the inner cannula is rotated relative to the outer cannula, thereby causing activation of the snarecoil. 
     
     
         33 . The needle of  claim 32 , wherein the groove includes a proximal section facing the first biasing element that is formed perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cannula assembly to prevent rotation of the inner cannula relative to the outer cannula when the projection travels therein as the activation member is advanced in the longitudinal direction and a helical portion which causes rotation of the inner cannula when the projection enters and travels along the helical portion of the groove.