# US 10,499,887 B2 · Biopsy needle and photoacoustic measurement apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,499,887 B2 - Document ID: US10499887B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/711,239 - Filed: 2017-09-21 - Published: 2018-01-11 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2015-03-30 - Assignees: FUJIFILM Corporation - Applicants: FUJIFILM Corporation - Inventors: Kaku Irisawa; Dai Murakoshi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10499887B2 ## CPC - A61B 10/0233: {Pointed or sharp biopsy instruments} - A61B 5/0095: {by applying light and detecting acoustic waves, i.e. photoacoustic measurements} - A61B 5/145: Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration or pH-value {; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid or cerebral tissue} (non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06) - A61B 5/6848: {Needles} - A61B 5/6851: {Guide wires} - A61B 10/0275: {with sample notch, e.g. on the side of inner stylet} - A61B 17/3403: {Needle locating or guiding means} - G01N 29/22: Details {, e.g. general constructional or apparatus details} - G01N 29/2418: {using optoacoustic interaction with the material, e.g. laser radiation, photoacoustics (photoacoustic cells G01N21/1702; measuring characteristics of vibrations by using radiation-sensitive means G01H9/00; acousto-optical conversion techniques for short-range imaging G01S15/8965; sound-producing devices using laser bundle G10K15/046)} - A61B 5/0035: {adapted for acquisition of images from more than one imaging mode, e.g. combining MRI and optical tomography} - A61B 5/06: Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies {; Determining position of diagnostic devices within or on the body of the patient} - A61B 8/12: in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters - A61B 8/4416: {related to combined acquisition of different diagnostic modalities, e.g. combination of ultrasound and X-ray acquisitions} - A61B 2017/00057: {Light} - A61B 2017/3413: {guided by ultrasound} - G01N 2291/02475: Tissue characterisation - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract In a biopsy needle having a hollow tubular outer needle, an inner needle that is disposed in a hollow portion of the outer needle so as to be movable in the tube axis direction relative to the outer needle, and a recessed sample collection portion that is cut inward from a circumferential surface of the inner needle, an inner hole that extends in the longitudinal direction of the inner needle on each of the inner needle distal end side and the inner needle rear end side of the sample collection portion and are opened to the sample collection portion is provided in the inner needle, and a light guide member is disposed in the inner holes. At least a part of the light guide member is fixed by filler filled in the inner holes. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A biopsy needle, comprising: a hollow tubular outer needle; an inner needle that is movable in a tube axis direction relative to the outer needle and that is disposed in a hollow tube of the outer needle; a sample collection portion that has a recessed shape and that is provided on a circumferential surface of the inner needle; an inner hole that is provided on each of a distal end side and a rear end side of the sample collection portion in the inner needle and that extends in the tube axis direction of the inner needle; a first light guide member that is disposed in the inner hole and that is disposed from the rear end side of the inner needle to vicinity of the distal end of the inner needle; a first light absorber that absorbs light emitted from a distal end of the first light guide member and emits a photoacoustic wave; and a filler that is filled in the inner hole to fix at least a part of the first light guide member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The biopsy needle according to claim 1, wherein the first light guide member is fixed to a bottom surface of the sample collection portion by a fixing member that covers at least a part of the first light guide member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The biopsy needle according to claim 1, wherein a bottom surface of the inner hole and a bottom surface of the sample collection portion are located at the same height position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The biopsy needle according to claim 2, wherein a bottom surface of the inner hole and the bottom surface of the sample collection portion are located at the same height position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The biopsy needle according to claim 1, wherein a bottom surface of the sample collection portion is located at a position lower than a bottom surface of the inner hole. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The biopsy needle according to claim 2, wherein the bottom surface of the sample collection portion is located at a position lower than a bottom surface of the inner hole. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The biopsy needle according to claim 5, wherein at least one of an end portion of the bottom surface of the sample collection portion on an inner needle distal end side or an end portion of the bottom surface of the sample collection portion on an inner needle rear end side has an inclined surface whose height changes continuously. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The biopsy needle according to claim 6, wherein at least one of an end portion of the bottom surface of the sample collection portion on an inner needle distal end side or an end portion of the bottom surface of the sample collection portion on an inner needle rear end side has an inclined surface whose height changes continuously. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The biopsy needle according to claim 1, wherein the filler filled in the inner hole provided on the distal end side of the sample collection portion in the inner needle also serves as the first light absorber. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The biopsy needle according to claim 2, wherein the filler filled in the inner hole provided on the distal end side of the inner needle the sample collection portion in the inner needle also serves as the first light absorber. ### Claim 11 (depends on 3) The biopsy needle according to claim 3, wherein the filler filled in the inner hole provided on the distal end side of the inner needle the sample collection portion in the inner needle also serves as the first light absorber. ### Claim 12 (depends on 4) The biopsy needle according to claim 4, wherein the filler filled in the inner hole provided on the distal end side of the inner needle the sample collection portion in the inner needle also serves as the first light absorber. ### Claim 13 (depends on 5) The biopsy needle according to claim 5, wherein the filler filled in the inner hole provided on the distal end side of the inner needle the sample collection portion in the inner needle also serves as the first light absorber. ### Claim 14 (depends on 6) The biopsy needle according to claim 6, wherein the filler filled in the inner hole provided on the distal end side of the inner needle the sample collection portion in the inner needle also serves as the first light absorber. ### Claim 15 (depends on 7) The biopsy needle according to claim 7, wherein the filler filled in the inner hole provided on the distal end side of the inner needle the sample collection portion in the inner needle also serves as the first light absorber. ### Claim 16 (depends on 8) The biopsy needle according to claim 8, wherein the filler filled in the inner hole provided on the distal end side of the inner needle the sample collection portion in the inner needle also serves as the first light absorber. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The biopsy needle according to claim 1, further comprising: a second light guide member that is disposed in the inner hole provided on the rear end side of the sample collection portion in the inner needle and that has a distal end located in the sample collection portion; and a second light absorber that absorbs light emitted from the distal end of the second light guide member and emits a photoacoustic wave. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The biopsy needle according to claim 17, wherein the second light guide member is fixed to a bottom surface of the sample collection portion by a fixing member that covers at least a part of the second light guide member. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The biopsy needle according to claim 18, wherein the fixing member also serves as the second light absorber. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) A photoacoustic measurement apparatus, comprising: the biopsy needle according to claim 1.