Biopsy and sampling needle antennas for magnetic resonance imaging-guided biopsies

A sampling needle antenna, comprising:

• a cannula being formed at least in part of a conductive material and defining an outer shield;
• an obturator being formed at least in part of a conductive material and defining an inner conductor, the obturator being slideably displaceable relative to the cannula;
• and
• an insulator electrically insulating the cannula from the obturator;
• wherein the outer shield, the inner conductor, and the insulator form a magnetic resonance imaging antenna.

A method of obtaining a sample with magnetic resonance imaging guidance, comprising:

• providing a magnetic resonance imaging antenna, wherein the magnetic resonance imaging antenna comprises an outer shield and an inner conductor electrically insulated from the outer shield by a dielectric, and wherein a sampling needle is electrically connected to the inner conductor and electrically insulated from the outer shield by the dielectric;
• advancing the antenna to a structure from which the sample is to be taken;
• detecting magnetic resonance data by the antenna;
• and
• coupling the sample to the antenna and the sampling needle whereby the sample is obtained.

A method of obtaining a sample with magnetic resonance imaging guidance, comprising:

• providing a sampling needle magnetic resonance imaging antenna;
• advancing the antenna to a structure from which the sample is to be taken;
• detecting magnetic resonance data by the antenna;
• and
• coupling the sample to the antenna,
• wherein the antenna comprises a cannula including an outer shield, an obturator including an inner conductor, the obturator slideably displaceable relative to the cannula, and an insulator electrically insulating the outer shield from the inner conductor;
• and
• wherein the coupling includes trapping the sample between the cannula and the obturator.

A method of obtaining a magnetic resonance imaging-guided biopsy, comprising:

• providing a biopsy needle antenna, having:
• a magnetic resonance imaging antenna, including:
• an outer shield;
• and
• an inner conductor electrically insulated from the outer shield by a dielectric;
• and
• a biopsy needle electrically connected to the inner conductor and electrically insulated from the outer shield by the dielectric;
• advancing the needle to a lesion;
• imaging the lesion with the antenna;
• and
• taking a sample of the lesion with the needle.