# US 10,441,254 B2 · Biopsy sample retention mechanism > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,441,254 B2 - Document ID: US10441254B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/552,570 - Filed: 2016-03-22 - Published: 2018-02-22 - Granted: 2019-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2015-03-26 - Assignees: Spiration, Inc. - Applicants: Spiration, Inc. - Inventors: Brandon J. Shuman; David H. Dillard - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441254B2 ## CPC - A61B 10/04: Endoscopic instruments, e.g. catheter-type instruments - A61B 1/018: for receiving instruments - A61B 1/2676: {Bronchoscopes} - A61B 10/0266: {means for severing sample} - A61B 17/3478: {Endoscopic needles, e.g. for infusion (biopsy needles A61B10/0233; catheters with injection needles A61M25/0067)} - A61B 2010/045: {Needles (pointed biopsy devices with vacuum aspiration A61B10/0283)} - A61B 2017/0034: {adapted to be inserted through a working channel of an endoscope} - A61B 2017/00867: {shape memory effect} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract An apparatus, comprising: a biopsy needle having a distal end and a proximal end, all or a portion of the biopsy needle being movable between a collapsed state and an expanded state; a sheath having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the biopsy needle in the collapsed state is contained within the sheath, and in the expanded state at least the distal end of the biopsy needle extends from the distal end of the sheath; wherein the biopsy needle is provided with two or more sleeves, which at least partially overlap in the collapsed configuration and which cylindrically expand to provide an increased radius, relative to a radius in the collapsed state, for sampling in the expanded configuration, and wherein a cross section of the distal end of the biopsy needle in the expanded state is a substantially circular cross section. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising: a biopsy needle having a distal end and a proximal end, all or a portion of the biopsy needle being movable between a collapsed state and an expanded state; a sheath having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the biopsy needle in the collapsed state is contained within the sheath, and in the expanded state at least the distal end of the biopsy needle extends from the distal end of the sheath; wherein the biopsy needle is provided with two or more sleeves, which at least partially overlap in the collapsed state and which cylindrically expand to provide an increased radius, relative to a radius in the collapsed state, for sampling in the expanded state; wherein a cross section of the distal end of the biopsy needle in the expanded state is a substantially circular cross section; and wherein an entire length of the needle is the two or more sleeves. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a distal most edge of the needle is a chamfered edge. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the two or more sleeves are the distal end of the needle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the two or more sleeves are the distal end of the needle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the two or more sleeves are connected to a shaft of the needle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the two or more sleeves are generally cone shaped when in the expanded state. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a sample core which is collected becomes elongated when the biopsy needle is returned to a collapsed state within the sheath. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the two or more sleeves are generally cone shaped when in the expanded state. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an inside surface of the two or more sleeves is provided with retaining mechanisms which extend toward a center of the biopsy needle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an inside surface of the two or more sleeves is provided with retaining mechanisms which extend toward the proximal end of the biopsy needle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a rotating mechanism rotates about the rotational axis as the biopsy needle extends from the proximal end towards the distal end and from the distal end towards the proximal end. ### Claim 12 An apparatus comprising: a biopsy needle having a distal end and a proximal end, all or a portion of the biopsy needle being movable between a collapsed state and an expanded state; a sheath having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the biopsy needle in the collapsed state is contained within the sheath, and in the expanded state at least the distal end of the biopsy needle extends from the distal end of the sheath; wherein the biopsy needle is provided with two or more sleeves, which at least partially overlap in the collapsed state and which cylindrically expand to provide an increased radius, relative to a radius in the collapsed state, for sampling in the expanded state, wherein a cross section of the distal end of the biopsy needle in the expanded state is a substantially circular cross section; and wherein the two or more sleeves are connected to a shaft of the needle, and an entire length of the needle is the two or more sleeves. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein a distal most edge of the needle is a chamfered edge. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the two or more sleeves are made of nitinol. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the two or more sleeves are generally cone shaped when in the expanded state. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein a sample core which is collected becomes elongated when the biopsy needle is returned to a collapsed state within the sheath; an inside surface of the two or more sleeves are provided with retaining mechanisms which extend toward the center of the biopsy needle; and a rotating mechanism in communication with the biopsy needle and the sheath that rotates the biopsy needle about a rotational axis of the biopsy needle as the biopsy needle moves along a longitudinal axis of the sheath. ### Claim 17 An apparatus comprising: a biopsy needle having a distal end and a proximal end, all or a portion of the biopsy needle being movable between a collapsed state and an expanded state; a sheath having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the biopsy needle in the collapsed state is contained within the sheath, and in the expanded state at least the distal end of the biopsy needle extends from the distal end of the sheath; wherein the biopsy needle is provided with two or more sleeves, which at least partially overlap in the collapsed state and which cylindrically expand to provide an increased radius, relative to a radius in the collapsed state, for sampling in the expanded state, wherein a cross section of the distal end of the biopsy needle in the expanded state is a substantially circular cross section; and wherein the two or more sleeves are made of nitinol and an entire length of the needle is the two or more sleeves. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein a distal most edge of the needle is a chamfered edge. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the two or more sleeves are generally cone shaped when in the expanded state. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein a sample core which is collected becomes elongated when the biopsy needle is returned to a collapsed state within the sheath; an inside surface of the two or more sleeves are provided with retaining mechanisms which extend toward the center of the biopsy needle; and a rotating mechanism in communication with the biopsy needle and the sheath that rotates the biopsy needle about a rotational axis of the biopsy needle as the biopsy needle moves along a longitudinal axis of the sheath.