Method and apparatus for automated biopsy and collection of soft tissue

Patent 5980469 Issued on November 9, 1999. Estimated Expiration Date:

January 9, 2018. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

Re33258

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Inventors

Assignee

Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.

Application

No. 004782 filed on 01/09/1998

US Classes:

600/567Body pierced by tubular cutter or rod-type punch

Examiners

Primary: Hindenburg, Max

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Stout, Uxa, Buyan & Mullins, LLP, Stout; Donald E.

Foreign Patent References

0378692 EP. 07/20/1990
0442851 EP. 08/20/1991
935625 DE. 05/20/2013
WO 93/14707 WO. 08/20/1993
WO 93/22972 WO. 11/20/1993

International Class

A61B 010/00

Abstract

A method and device for the automated biopsy and collection of soft tissue having a piercing needle with a receiving port to trap tissue prior to cutting. A motor drive directs and positions the tissue receiving port at a lesion site in arbitrary positions about and along the longitudinal axis of the device. A cutter advances into the receiving chamber and severs tissue which has prolapsed into the receiving port. The severed tissue is then removed from the receiving port without removing the piercing needle receiving port from the lesion site, thus allowing for the accurate, rapid removal of an arbitrary number of core samples with only one insertion. A tissue sample cassette provides storage for the samples as well as a means for coding and decoding the location from which the samples were obtained. Together, these features allow for more accurate and complete sampling of large lesions, for the complete removal of small lesions or removal of other tissue for a variety of reasons.

Other References

ASAP™--Automatic Soft Biopsys System.RTM.--Boston Scientic Corp; 1992; 2 pp
"New? from Bard.RTM. Radiology--When It Comes To Core Samples, I Demand Accuracy and Consistency for All my Patients." Bard Radiology; 1987; 4 pp
"Nucleotome.RTM. System--Automated Percutaneous Lumbar Discectomy™" Surgical Dynamics™; 1990; 4 p