Apparatus and method for tissue biopsy

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments of an apparatus can be provided for obtaining portions or samples of tissue from a target region of a biological tissue. One or more needles can be provided that have a small internal diameter, e.g., about 1 mm or less, and the needles can be configured to extract the tissue portions when the needles are inserted into and withdrawn from the tissue. Windows and/or markings can be provided on the wall of the needles to facilitate access to the sample. The needles can be provided in an enclosure, and an actuator can be provided to direct the needles into the tissue and/or withdraw them. A plurality of tissue portions having known relative locations in the target region can be obtained, and extraction of the tissue portions can be well-tolerated by the tissue as compared with conventional punch biopsies or the like.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for obtaining at least one portion of a biological tissue for analysis, comprising:
 an enclosure with a lower surface;   a hollow needle mechanically coupled to the enclosure and configured to be at least partially inserted into the biological tissue, the hollow needle containing a central lumen, a distal end configured to facilitate extraction of a portion of the tissue within the central lumen when the hollow needle is withdrawn from the tissue, and a window in a wall thereof configured to facilitate access to and a direct visual observation of the tissue portion while the tissue is located within the lumen; and   an actuating mechanism configured to protrude the distal portion of the hollow needle a predetermined and optionally adjustable distance beyond the lower surface of the enclosure and retract the distal portion back into the enclosure.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the central lumen has a diameter of less than about 2 mm. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the central lumen has a diameter of less than about 1 mm. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the central lumen has a diameter of less than about 0.5 mm. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the window is one of a plurality of windows. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the hollow needle includes a plurality of markings provided on a surface thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising a substrate, wherein the hollow needle is coupled to the substrate, and wherein a position of the substrate is adjustable relative to a position of the hollow needle. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the hollow needle is removably coupled to the substrate. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the hollow needle is configured to be decoupled from the substrate without direct contact from an operator. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the hollow needle is one in an array of hollow needles arranged over the substrate. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the substrate is one of a square, circular, rectangular, ovoid, or triangular shape. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the array of hollow needles includes a non-uniform density throughout the array of needles. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein a distance between adjacent hollow needles of the plurality of hollow needles is between about 1 mm and about 20 mm. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the hollow needle comprises an identifying characteristic of at least one of a color, a shape, or a size of the at least one needle. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising a covering arrangement adapted to cover at least a portion of a distal end of the enclosure, wherein the covering arrangement comprises at least one of a film, a cap, or a plug. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising a positioning arrangement configured to facilitate a placement of at least one portion of the apparatus over a particular location on a surface of the biological tissue, wherein the positioning arrangement comprises at least one of an optical lens, a prism, or an optical reflector. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , further comprising an illuminating arrangement adapted to direct light onto the surface of the biological tissue. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the hollow needle comprises at least one of a plastic, a polymer, an acrylic, or an epoxy. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the diameter of the central lumen is the same as that of a conventional hypodermic needle having a gauge size greater than 16 gauge. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the diameter of the central lumen is the same as that of a conventional hypodermic needle having a gauge size between 21 gauge and 25 gauge.