Tissue separator assembly and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A tissue separator assembly comprising:
- a proximal end assembly;
a catheter assembly, extending from the proximal end assembly, comprising;
a shaft having a distal portion and defining an axis at the distal portion; and
an elongate tissue separator element having a proximal part and a distal part, the distal part connected to the distal portion of the shaft and movable between a retracted state, adjacent to the distal portion, and an outwardly extending, operational state; and
the proximal end assembly comprising a first driver, operably coupled to the tissue separator element, constructed to (1) move the tissue separator element from the retracted state to the operational state, and (2) automatically rotate the tissue separator element about the axis, whereby a tissue section is separable from surrounding tissue by the moving tissue separator element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tissue separator assembly includes a proximal end assembly, typically a handle, and a catheter assembly, including a shaft and a tissue separator movable between a retracted state and an outwardly extending, operational state. An energy source may be selectively coupled to the tissue separator element. The tissue separator element may be moved to the operational state and then automatically rotated to separate a tissue section from the surrounding tissue. A tissue holding element may be used to help secure a separated tissue section to the catheter assembly. A tubular braided element may be used to surround the tissue separator element and any separated tissue section.
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Citations
61 Claims
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1. A tissue separator assembly comprising:
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a proximal end assembly;
a catheter assembly, extending from the proximal end assembly, comprising;
a shaft having a distal portion and defining an axis at the distal portion; and
an elongate tissue separator element having a proximal part and a distal part, the distal part connected to the distal portion of the shaft and movable between a retracted state, adjacent to the distal portion, and an outwardly extending, operational state; and
the proximal end assembly comprising a first driver, operably coupled to the tissue separator element, constructed to (1) move the tissue separator element from the retracted state to the operational state, and (2) automatically rotate the tissue separator element about the axis, whereby a tissue section is separable from surrounding tissue by the moving tissue separator element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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25. A tissue separator assembly comprising:
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a proximal end assembly;
a catheter assembly, extending from the proximal end assembly, comprising;
a shaft having a distal portion and defining an axis at the distal portion; and
an elongate tissue separator element having a proximal part and a distal part, the distal part connected to the distal portion of the shaft and movable between a retracted state, adjacent to the distal portion, and an outwardly bowed, operational state;
an energy source selectively coupled to the tissue separator element;
the proximal end assembly comprising a first driver, operably coupled to the tissue separator element, constructed to (1) move the tissue separator element from the retracted state to the operational state, and thereafter (2) automatically rotate the tissue separator element about the axis, whereby a tissue section is separable from surrounding tissue by the moving tissue separator element;
the catheter assembly comprising;
a tissue section holding element at the distal portion of the shaft, said holding element movable from a retracted condition to an extended, tissue engaging condition so to help secure a separated tissue section to the catheter assembly;
a tubular braided element at the distal portion of the shaft movable longitudinally and radially between a proximal, radially contracted state and a distal, radially expanded state with said tubular braided element surrounding the tissue separator element and any separated tissue section when in the distal, radially expanded state; and
the proximal end assembly comprising a second driver, operably coupled to the holding element and to the tubular braided element, constructed to;
move the holding element from the retracted condition to the extended, tissue engaging condition; and
move the tubular braided element from the proximal, radially contracted state to the distal, radially expanded state. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. A tissue separator assembly comprising:
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a proximal end assembly;
a catheter assembly, extending from the proximal end assembly, comprising;
a shaft having a distal portion and defining an axis at the distal portion; and
tissue separator means, at the distal portion of the shaft and movable between a retracted state and an extended, operational state, for passing through and separating tissue;
the proximal end assembly comprising means for (1) moving the tissue separator means from the retracted state to the extended, operational state, and (2) automatically rotating the tissue separator element about the axis, whereby a tissue section is separable from surrounding tissue. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 28, 29)
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30. A tissue separator assembly comprising:
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a proximal end assembly;
a catheter assembly, extending from the proximal end assembly, comprising;
a shaft having a distal portion and defining an axis at the distal portion; and
a movable tissue separator element at the distal portion of the shaft;
the proximal end assembly comprising a first driver, operably coupled to the tissue separator element, constructed to drive the tissue separator element through tissue to separate a tissue section from surrounding tissue;
the catheter assembly comprising;
a tissue section holding element at the distal portion of the shaft, said holding element movable from a retracted condition to an extended, tissue engaging condition so to help secure a separated tissue section to the catheter assembly;
a tubular braided element at the distal portion of the shaft movable longitudinally and radially between a proximal, radially contracted state and a distal, radially expanded state with said tubular braided element surrounding the tissue separator element and any separated tissue section when in the distal, radially expanded state; and
the proximal end assembly comprising a second driver, operably coupled to the holding element and to the tubular braided element, constructed to;
move the holding element from the retracted condition to the extended, tissue engaging condition; and
move the tubular braided element from the proximal, radially contracted state to the distal, radially expanded state. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A tissue separator assembly comprising:
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a proximal end assembly;
a catheter assembly, extending from the proximal end assembly, comprising tissue separator means for passing through and separating tissue;
the proximal end assembly comprising a first driving means for driving the tissue separator means through tissue to separate a tissue section from surrounding tissue;
the catheter assembly comprising;
tissue puncturing means for helping to secure a separated tissue section to the catheter assembly; and
means for surrounding the tissue separator means and any separated tissue section; and
the proximal end assembly comprising a second driving means for;
driving the tissue puncturing means into a separated tissue section; and
driving the surrounding means.
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47. A method for creating a tissue section within surrounding tissue comprising:
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positioning a distal end of a catheter assembly at a target location within a patient, the catheter assembly defining an axis;
moving an elongate tissue separator element, at the distal end of the catheter assembly, from a radially retracted state to an outwardly extending, operational state; and
automatically, following at least the start of the separator element moving step, rotating the separator element about the axis to separate a tissue section from surrounding tissue. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. A method for creating a tissue section within surrounding breast tissue of a patient comprising:
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positioning a distal end of a catheter assembly at a target location within the breast of a patient, the catheter assembly defining an axis;
moving an elongate tissue separator element, at the distal end of the catheter assembly, from a radially retracted state to a radially extended, outwardly bowed, operational state;
supplying energy to the separator element;
automatically, following the separator element moving step, rotating the separator element about the axis to separate a tissue section from surrounding tissue;
moving a tissue holding element, located at the distal end of the catheter assembly, from a retracted condition to an extended, tissue engaging condition; and
surrounding the separated tissue section with the tubular braided element by moving the tubular braided element, located at the distal end of the catheter assembly, from a proximal, radially contracted state to a distal, radially expanded state following the automatically rotating step. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
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Specification