Dual action aspiration biopsy needle

Claim 1

An aspiration biopsy needle, comprising: a needle of elongate, hollow construction having a proximal end and a beveled distal end; said needle having a uniform diameter along an extent of said needle; said beveled distal end being open and therefore forming a first sharp edge adapted to scrape cellular material when said needle is inserted into tissue, said needle being displaced from a proximal position to a distal position during insertion; a slot formed in said needle near said beveled distal end; said slot being transversely disposed relative to a longitudinal axis of said needle; said slot also being angled relative to a transverse axis of said needle such that a bottom of said slot is positioned distal to an opening of said slot; said opening of said slot being in open communication with an exterior surface of said needle; said slot including a second sharp edge adapted to scrape tissue of cellular size when said needle is displaced from a distal position to a proximal position; and means for communicating a vacuum to said proximal end of said needle so that cellular material removed by said first sharp edge during proximal-to-distal travel of said needle is pulled into a lumen of said needle and so that cellular material removed by said second sharp edge during distal-to-proximal travel of said needle is also pulled into said lumen; whereby said cellular material is deposited from said lumen onto a slide, stained, and subjected to microscopic inspection in the absence of any need to mechanically slice said cellular material.