Patent attributes
A biopsy system is discloses that includes a percutaneous biopsy needle and an inner cannula. The percutaneous biopsy needle includes an internal passageway. At a distal end, the percutaneous biopsy needle includes an expandable section. A distal section of the internal passageway of the percutaneous biopsy needle, which corresponds to the expandable section, is tapered to enable the expandable section to expand and collapse as the inner cannula is positioned within and/or moves through the tapered distal section. The inner cannula may be configured to aspirate a sample from a location of interest within a subject's body and, in some embodiments, may cooperate with the distal end of the percutaneous biopsy needle in a manner that facilitates removal of the sample from the subject's body. Biopsy methods are also disclosed.
