US5758655A — Needle device with improved handle

Claim 1

Independent Claim 225 words

A biopsy needle assembly having a handle with a distal surface from which a needle extends distally and a proximal surface for engagement of the handle by the palm of a user, said proximal surface having a concave curved proximal extremity having a first end and a second end, said first end being narrow relative to said second end, the second, wide end being curved to conform to the shape of a user's palm, and the narrow first end forming a surface to limit lateral slippage in the direction of the user's forefinger, said concave surface having a center which is displaced from said needle toward said wide end, the distal surface having a receiving opening; a cannula having a central lumen, the cannula having a first end extending into said receiving opening and being connected to said distal surface of said handle toward said relatively narrow end and having a second end extending distally from said handle opening; and a removable stylet adapted to be fitted within said lumen, said stylet having first and second ends, said first end of stylet having a knob which forms a proximal grasping means, said proximal knob adapted to be carried by said handle and conforming to an indentation in said handle, said stylet, in use, being positioned within and extending through the length of said cannula lumen.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 225 words

A biopsy needle assembly having a handle with a distal surface from which a needle extends distally and a proximal surface for engagement of the handle by the palm of a user, said proximal surface having a concave curved proximal extremity having a first end and a second end, said first end being narrow relative to said second end, the second, wide end being curved to conform to the shape of a user's palm, and the narrow first end forming a surface to limit lateral slippage in the direction of the user's forefinger, said concave surface having a center which is displaced from said needle toward said wide end, the distal surface having a receiving opening; a cannula having a central lumen, the cannula having a first end extending into said receiving opening and being connected to said distal surface of said handle toward said relatively narrow end and having a second end extending distally from said handle opening; and a removable stylet adapted to be fitted within said lumen, said stylet having first and second ends, said first end of stylet having a knob which forms a proximal grasping means, said proximal knob adapted to be carried by said handle and conforming to an indentation in said handle, said stylet, in use, being positioned within and extending through the length of said cannula lumen.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 25 words

A needle assembly according to claim 1 wherein said distal surface is of a generally convex shape and said opening extends through said distal surface.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 15 words

An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said handle comprises a hollow molded polymeric material.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 16 words

An assembly according to claim 3 wherein said stylet knob is positioned within said hollow handle.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 22 words

An assembly according to claim 3 wherein said stylet knob is received in an indentation in said proximal surface of said handle.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 23 words

An assembly according to claim 5 wherein said indentation includes a portion wider than said knob, which facilitates manual grasping of said knob.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 20 words

An assembly according to claim 3 wherein said hollow handle is formed of two parts that are snap fitted together.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 186 words

A biopsy needle assembly, comprising: a handle having a proximal concave curved surface having first and second raised ends on opposite sites of a depressed center which is displaced toward one end of said handle thus forming a first relatively narrow end and a second end which is relatively wide relative to said first end, the wide end being curved to conform to the shape of a user's palm, and the narrow end forming a surface to limit lateral slippage in the direction of the user's forefinger, the handle also having a distal surface, the distal surface having a receiving opening; a cannula having a central lumen, the cannula having a first end extending into said receiving opening and being connected to said distal surface of said handle toward said relatively narrow end and having a second end extending distally from said handle; and a removable stylet to be fitted within said lumen having first and second ends, said stylet having a proximal knob positioned within a hollow part of said handle and a shaft positioned within and extending through the length of said cannula lumen.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 186 words

A biopsy needle assembly, comprising: a handle having a proximal concave curved surface having first and second raised ends on opposite sites of a depressed center which is displaced toward one end of said handle thus forming a first relatively narrow end and a second end which is relatively wide relative to said first end, the wide end being curved to conform to the shape of a user's palm, and the narrow end forming a surface to limit lateral slippage in the direction of the user's forefinger, the handle also having a distal surface, the distal surface having a receiving opening; a cannula having a central lumen, the cannula having a first end extending into said receiving opening and being connected to said distal surface of said handle toward said relatively narrow end and having a second end extending distally from said handle; and a removable stylet to be fitted within said lumen having first and second ends, said stylet having a proximal knob positioned within a hollow part of said handle and a shaft positioned within and extending through the length of said cannula lumen.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 15 words

An assembly according to claim 8 wherein said handle comprises a hollow molded polymeric shape.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 209 words

A biopsy needle assembly having a handle with a distal surface from which a biopsy aspiration needle extends distally and a proximal surface for engagement of the handle by the palm of a user, said proximal surface having a concave curved proximal extremity having a first raised relatively narrow end and a second raised relatively wide end relative to said first end, the wide end being curved to conform to the shape of a user's palm, and the narrow end forming a surface to limit lateral slippage in the direction of the user's forefinger, said concave surface having a center which is displaced from said needle toward said wide end and having a stylet knob receiving indentation, the distal surface having a cannula receiving opening; a cannula having a central lumen, the cannula having a first end extending into said receiving opening and being connected to said distal surface of said handle toward said relatively narrow end and having a second end extending distally from said handle; and a removable stylet fitted within said lumen having first and second ends, said stylet having a proximal knob carried by said handle, being fitted in said indentation and a shaft positioned within and extending through the length of said cannula lumen.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 209 words

A biopsy needle assembly having a handle with a distal surface from which a biopsy aspiration needle extends distally and a proximal surface for engagement of the handle by the palm of a user, said proximal surface having a concave curved proximal extremity having a first raised relatively narrow end and a second raised relatively wide end relative to said first end, the wide end being curved to conform to the shape of a user's palm, and the narrow end forming a surface to limit lateral slippage in the direction of the user's forefinger, said concave surface having a center which is displaced from said needle toward said wide end and having a stylet knob receiving indentation, the distal surface having a cannula receiving opening; a cannula having a central lumen, the cannula having a first end extending into said receiving opening and being connected to said distal surface of said handle toward said relatively narrow end and having a second end extending distally from said handle; and a removable stylet fitted within said lumen having first and second ends, said stylet having a proximal knob carried by said handle, being fitted in said indentation and a shaft positioned within and extending through the length of said cannula lumen.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 23 words

An assembly according to claim 10 wherein said knob is provided with means to prevent relative rotation between said knob and said handle.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 33 words

An assembly according to claim 11 wherein said means to prevent rotation comprises a pin integral with said knob, and the proximal surface of said handle comprises an opening for receiving said pin.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 14 words

An assembly according to claim 10 wherein said knob has a saddle-shaped proximal surface.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 23 words

An assembly according to claim 10 wherein said stylet has a sharpened end that is flush with said distal end of said cannula.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 30 words

An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said stylet, when assembled in said cannula, is provided with a sharpened end that extends distally beyond the distal end of said cannula.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 34 words

An assembly according to claim 9 wherein said handle comprises at least two parts that snap fit together and wherein internal alignment posts are provided for guiding said parts into alignment with each other.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 21 words

An assembly according to claim 16 wherein said snap fitting is provided by interfitting projections and recesses on said two parts.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 37 words

An assembly according to claim 17 wherein said projections on one of said parts include at least one laterally extending tine on at least one of said projections which interlocks with the other one of said parts.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 22 words

An assembly according to claim 10 wherein said stylet comprises a hub molded thereon and said knob is fitted over said hub.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2001-06-01	2001-12-01	2002-06-02	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2005-06-01	2005-12-01	2006-06-02	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2009-06-01	2009-12-01	2010-06-02	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Needle device with improved handle

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