Biopsy needle for accessing peripheral lung nodules

Abstract

Medical devices and methods for making and using medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device may include a pulmonary biopsy needle having a proximal end, a distal end, and an elongated body extending between the proximal end and the distal end. The needle may be configured to access a periphery of a patient's lungs and the elongated portion may have a first portion, a second portion, and a piercing tip. The first portion may have a first flexibility and the second portion may have a second flexibility that is more flexible than the first flexibility. The second portion may extend distally of the first portion and the second flexibility may be constant along a length of the second portion. The first portion of the needle may have a wall-thickness different than a wall-thickness of the second portion of the needle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A biopsy needle comprising:
 a monolithically-formed elongated body including:   a first portion including a proximal end of the monolithically-formed elongated body, the first portion having a first flexibility, and   a second portion distal to the first portion, the second portion having a second flexibility different than the first portion.   
     
     
         2 . The biopsy needle of  claim 1 , wherein the monolithically-formed elongated body comprises a lumen with a constant diameter extending from the proximal end to the distal end. 
     
     
         3 . The biopsy needle of  claim 2 , wherein an outer diameter of the monolithically-formed elongated body changes between the proximal end and the distal end. 
     
     
         4 . The biopsy needle of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion has a first wall thickness and the second portion has a second wall thickness different than the first wall thickness. 
     
     
         5 . The biopsy needle of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion has a first outer diameter and the second portion has a second outer diameter different than the first outer diameter. 
     
     
         6 . The biopsy needle of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion has a central longitudinal axis that is coaxial with a central longitudinal axis of the second portion. 
     
     
         7 . The biopsy needle of  claim 1 , wherein a length of the second portion of the monolithically-formed elongated body is between five inches and ten inches. 
     
     
         8 . The biopsy needle of  claim 1 , wherein the monolithically-formed elongated body comprises a transition portion having a length extending between a distal end of the first portion and a proximal end of the second portion, and the length of the transition portion is between 0.1 inches and 1.0 inch. 
     
     
         9 . The biopsy needle of  claim 1 , wherein the first flexibility is between 3.0 lbf/in and 4.0 lbf/in and the second flexibility is between 0.1 lbf/in and 1.0 lbf/in. 
     
     
         10 . A biopsy needle comprising:
 a monolithically-formed elongated body including:   a first portion including a proximal end of the monolithically-formed elongated body, the first portion having a first wall thickness, and   a second portion distal to the first portion, the second portion having a second wall thickness different than the first wall thickness.   
     
     
         11 . The biopsy needle of  claim 1 , wherein the monolithically-formed elongated body comprises a lumen with a constant diameter extending from the proximal end to the distal end. 
     
     
         12 . The biopsy needle of  claim 2 , wherein an outer diameter of the monolithically-formed elongated body changes between the proximal end and the distal end. 
     
     
         13 . The biopsy needle of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion has a central longitudinal axis that is coaxial with a central longitudinal axis of the second portion. 
     
     
         14 . The biopsy needle of  claim 1 , wherein a length of the second portion of the monolithically-formed elongated body is between five inches and ten inches. 
     
     
         15 . The biopsy needle of  claim 1 , wherein the monolithically-formed elongated body comprises a transition portion having a length extending between a distal end of the first portion and a proximal end of the second portion, and the length of the transition portion is between 0.1 inches and 1.0 inch. 
     
     
         16 . A biopsy needle comprising:
 a monolithically-formed elongated body including:   a first portion including a proximal end of the monolithically-formed elongated body, the first portion having a first outer diameter, and   a second portion distal to the first portion, the second portion having a second outer diameter different than the first outer diameter.   
     
     
         17 . The biopsy needle of  claim 1 , wherein the monolithically-formed elongated body comprises a lumen with a constant diameter extending from the proximal end to the distal end. 
     
     
         18 . The biopsy needle of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion has a central longitudinal axis that is coaxial with a central longitudinal axis of the second portion. 
     
     
         19 . The biopsy needle of  claim 1 , wherein a length of the second portion of the monolithically-formed elongated body is between five inches and ten inches. 
     
     
         20 . The biopsy needle of  claim 1 , wherein the monolithically-formed elongated body comprises a transition portion having a length extending between a distal end of the first portion and a proximal end of the second portion, and the length of the transition portion is between 0.1 inches and 1.0 inch.