Transport system for biopsy device

• US 10,166,011 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2016
• Issued: 01/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bard Peripheral Vascular Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Bard Peripheral Vascular Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Videbaek, Karsten, Jorgensen, Martin B., Danborg, Lasse, Staal, Lasse G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cerioni, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kolderman, Nicholas E
• Application Number:
  US15/159,129
• Publication Number:
  US 20160256138A1
• Time in Patent Office: 957 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 10/0266 means for severing sample
• 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 2010/0208 Biopsy devices with actuators, e.g. with triggered spring mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0225 for taking multiple samples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/002 Auxiliary appliance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0475 Special features of memory means, e.g. removable memory cards
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/315 Basket-type carriers for tissues

Abstract

A method of operating a biopsy device includes providing a hollow needle having a longitudinal axis; moving a sample-receiving device received in the hollow needle from a retracted position to an extended position to expose a cavity in the sample-receiving device, the cavity configured to receive a tissue sample; displacing the hollow needle in a distal direction relative to the sample-receiving device to sever tissue received by the cavity of the sample-receiving device; moving a toothed flexible member along the longitudinal axis to move the sample-receiving device in the hollow needle from the extended position to the retracted position, the toothed flexible member having a proximal portion that extends proximal to the proximal end of the hollow needle; and receiving the proximal portion of the toothed flexible member in a helical coiling-up groove of a housing element when the sample-receiving device is moved to the retracted position.

Claims

1. A method of operating a biopsy device for removing at least one tissue sample from a body of a living being, the biopsy device comprising:

providing a hollow needle having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end;

moving a sample-receiving device received in the hollow needle from a retracted position to an extended position to expose a cavity in the sample-receiving device, the cavity configured to receive a tissue sample;

operating a drive mechanism to displace the hollow needle in a distal direction relative to the sample-receiving device to sever tissue received by the cavity of the sample-receiving device;

rotating a gear to move a toothed flexible member along the longitudinal axis to move the sample-receiving device in the hollow needle from the extended position to the retracted position, the toothed flexible member having a proximal portion that extends proximal to the proximal end of the hollow needle; and

receiving the proximal portion of the toothed flexible member in a helical coiling-up groove of a housing element when the sample-receiving device is moved to the retracted position.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the helical coiling-up groove is defined by a wall element configured to form a spiral, the wall element being arranged such that contact between successive coiled-up portions of the toothed flexible member is prevented.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the toothed flexible member flexes away from the longitudinal axis of the hollow needle to coil in the helical coiling-up groove of the housing element.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein in the extended position, the sample-receiving device projects from the distal end of the needle, the distal end of the hollow needle being defined by a circumferential cutting edge, and in the retracted position the sample-receiving device is accommodated in the hollow needle.