System for improved tissue handling and in line analysis of the tissue

• US 10,078,093 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2017
• Issued: 09/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hologic Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hologic Incorporated
• Inventors: Flagle, Jacob, Ang, Chia Yee, Defrietas, Kenneth F., Shaw, Ian, Laviola, John, Perkins, Samantha, Nicoson, Zachary R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eiseman, Adam J
• Application Number:
  US15/410,669
• Publication Number:
  US 20170131311A1
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0096 Casings for storing test samples A61B10/0038 and A61B10/0045 take precedence; preservation of living parts of the human or animal body A01N1/02; containers for retaining a material to be analysed B01L3/50; containers for enzymology or microbiology C12M1/16; swab-sampler being part of enzymology or microbiology container C12M1/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0275 with sample notch, e.g. on the side of inner stylet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0283 with vacuum aspiration, e.g. caused by retractable plunger or by connected syringe A61B10/025, A61B10/0266 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4405 the apparatus being movable or portable, e.g. handheld or mounted on a trolley
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/026 Fluid interfacing between devices or objects, e.g. connectors, inlet details
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0684 Venting, avoiding backpressure, avoid gas bubbles
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/146 Employing pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/18 Transport of container or devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/021 Identification, e.g. bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/025 Displaying results or values with integrated means
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0672 Integrated piercing tool
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0681 Filter
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0478 pistons
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/049 vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0605 check valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0644 rotary valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502 with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures centrifugal-type cuvettes G01N21/07; analysis by separation into components G01N30/00; automatic analysers G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0481 Pneumatic tube conveyors; Tube mails; "Rohrpost"
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/04 Details of the conveyor system G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence

Abstract

A system for analysis of biopsy samples includes a tissue sample transport mechanism linking a biopsy sample excision tool to a tissue sample holder disposed in a staging area of an analysis unit. The tissue sample is automatically transported from the excision tool to the specimen holder, where the tissue sample is analyzed in the staging area of the analysis unit. The transport mechanism may include tubing and a vacuum source. The tissue sample holder may be configured to slow or temporarily stop a tissue sample for individual analysis, or collect multiple tissue samples for analysis as a group. A tissue sample sorting mechanism may be employed that allows separation of specimens that can be correlated to the analysis.

Claims

1. A method for tissue biopsy and imaging, comprising:

extracting a tissue sample using a biopsy device;

aspirating the tissue sample from the biopsy device through a flexible tissue aspiration line into a tissue holding compartment of a tissue sample holder positioned in a fluid communication path between the biopsy device and a vacuum source, wherein the tissue holding compartment is aligned with an outlet of the tissue aspiration line to receive the tissue sample;

while the tissue sample holder remains positioned in the fluid communication path between the biopsy device and vacuum source, moving the tissue sample holder to position the tissue holding compartment, including the tissue sample, within an imaging field of an imaging system; and

acquiring an image of the tissue sample using the imaging system.

2. The tissue biopsy and imaging method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the tissue sample image.

3. The tissue biopsy and imaging method of claim 1, further comprising using an image processor to analyze the tissue sample image.

4. The tissue biopsy and imaging method of claim 1, wherein the tissue sample holder is incorporated within or otherwise operatively coupled with the imaging system.

5. The tissue biopsy and imaging method of claim 1, wherein the tissue sample holder is moved using an automated system that rotates the tissue sample holder relative to the outlet of the tissue aspiration line in order to position the tissue holding compartment and tissue sample within the imaging field.

6. The tissue biopsy and imaging method of claim 1, wherein the tissue sample comprises a first tissue sample, the method further comprising

prior to moving the tissue sample holder to position the tissue holding compartment, including the first tissue sample, within the imaging field of the imaging system, extracting a second tissue sample using the biopsy device;

and

aspirating the second tissue sample from the biopsy device through the tissue aspiration line and into the tissue holding compartment,

wherein acquiring an image of the first tissue sample comprises acquiring an image of both the first and second tissue samples together in the tissue holding compartment.

7. The tissue biopsy and imaging method of claim 1, the tissue sample holder comprising a plurality of tissue holding compartments, wherein the tissue sample holder is movable relative to the outlet of the tissue aspiration line so as to selectively align a respective tissue holding compartment with the outlet of the tissue aspiration line.

8. The tissue biopsy and imaging method of claim 7, wherein the tissue sample comprises a first tissue sample that is aspirated into a first tissue holding compartment of the tissue sample holder, and wherein moving the tissue sample holder to position the first tissue holding compartment within the imaging field simultaneously aligns a second tissue holding compartment of the tissue sample holder with the outlet of the tissue aspiration line.

9. The tissue biopsy and imaging method of claim 8, wherein the first and second tissue holding compartments are adjacent one another.

10. The tissue biopsy and imaging method of claim 8, further comprising

extracting a second tissue sample using the biopsy device;

aspirating the second tissue sample from the biopsy device through the tissue aspiration line and into the second tissue holding compartment;

moving the tissue sample holder in order to position the second tissue holding compartment, including the second tissue sample, within the imaging field of the imaging system;

acquiring an image of the second tissue sample using the imaging system, and

displaying the image of the second tissue sample.

11. The tissue biopsy and imaging method of claim 10, wherein the image of the first tissue sample is displayed prior to extracting the second tissue sample.

12. The tissue biopsy and imaging method of claim 10, wherein the images of the first and second tissue samples are displayed simultaneously on a single display.

13. A method for tissue biopsy and imaging, comprising:

extracting a first tissue sample using a biopsy device;

aspirating the first tissue sample from the biopsy device through a flexible tissue aspiration line into a first tissue holding compartment of a tissue sample holder positioned in a fluid communication path between the biopsy device and a vacuum source, wherein the first tissue holding compartment is aligned with an outlet of the tissue aspiration line to receive the tissue sample;

while the tissue sample holder remains in the fluid communication path between the biopsy device and the vacuum source, moving the tissue sample holder relative to the flexible tissue aspiration line to align a second tissue holding compartment of the tissue sample holder with the outlet of the tissue aspiration line;

extracting a second tissue sample using the biopsy device and aspirating the second tissue sample from the biopsy device through the flexible tissue aspiration line into the second tissue holding compartment;

while the tissue sample holder remains in the fluid communication path between the biopsy device and the vacuum source, acquiring an image or respective images of the first and second tissue samples using an imaging system operatively coupled with the tissue sample holder; and

displaying the image or respective images of the first and second tissue samples.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein moving the tissue sample holder to align the second tissue holding compartment with the outlet of the tissue aspiration line, simultaneously positions the first tissue holding compartment in an imaging field of the imaging system.

15. The tissue biopsy and imaging method of claim 13, further comprising:

correlating the first tissue holding compartment with a first rotational angle of a cutting window of the biopsy device; and

correlating the second tissue holding compartment with a second rotational angle of the cutting window of the biopsy device.

16. A method for tissue biopsy and imaging, comprising:

extracting a plurality of tissue samples in succession using a biopsy device;

aspirating the extracted tissue samples from the biopsy device through a flexible tissue aspiration line into respective tissue holding compartments of a tissue sample holder positioned in a fluid communication path between the biopsy device and a vacuum source;

while the tissue sample holder remains positioned in the fluid communication path between the biopsy device and the vacuum source, acquiring one or more images of the tissue samples using the imaging system,

wherein the one or more images include indicia identifying respective tissue holding compartments.

17. The tissue biopsy and imaging of claim 16, wherein the indicia comprises a visual indication of an order of acquisition of tissue samples contained in the respective tissue holding compartments.

18. The tissue biopsy and imaging of claim 16, wherein the indicia comprises a visual indication correlating the tissue holding compartments with a respective rotational angle of a cutting window of the biopsy device at a time when a respective tissue sample contained in the tissue holding compartment was extracted.

19. The tissue biopsy and imaging method of claim 16, further comprising adjusting a rotational orientation of the tissue sample holder as the extracted tissue samples are received into respective tissue sample holding compartments therein, so that the extracted tissue samples are held in the tissue sample holder in a same relative rotational position as they were extracted.

20. The tissue biopsy and imaging method of claim 16, further comprising using an image processor to analyze the one or more tissue sample images, wherein the indicia comprises information derived from the tissue sample image analysis.