Pleural biopsy syringe-needles

A biopsy device comprising, in combination, a syringe barrel having fixed thereto a first elongated, hollow needle having a sharpened distal end and a first inner diameter, said first needle including means defining a first elongated opening in a side wall thereof leading into the lumen and extending along a predetermined axial length thereof for a distance greater than the diameter of the needle and for a predetermined partial circumferential extent thereabout, said first elongated opening including at least one tissue engaging edge, said first elongated opening being spaced axially toward a proximal end from the sharpened distal end, said first needle further including means defining an aperture extending through the side wall opposite from said first elongated opening and a syringe plunger, operative within said syringe barrel, having fixed thereto a second elongated, hollow needle having a distal end and an outer diameter that is smaller than said first inner diameter, said second needle being slidingly received within said first needle, said second needle having means defining an aperture leading into the lumen of said second needle, said aperture being positioned adjacent the distal end of said plunger, and further including means defining a second elongated opening in a side wall thereof leading into the lumen an extending along the axial length thereof for a distance greater than the diameter of the second needle and for a predetermined circumferential extent thereabout to form a tissue engaging edge, said second elongated opening being spaced proximally a predetermined distance from said distal end.