Device for taking a sample from a body

• US 20040068231A1
• Filed: 09/25/2003
• Published: 04/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Porges (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Porges (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Blondeau, Jerome
• Granted Patent: US 7,153,275 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/157
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0275 with sample notch, e.g. on the side of inner stylet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0208 Biopsy devices with actuators, e.g. with triggered spring mechanisms

Abstract

Device for taking a sample from a body.

The device comprises in particular a needle (4) and a cannula (5) for taking a sample, slides (11, 12) connected to springs (14, 15) for priming the needle and the cannula, a control button for bringing the slides to a rearward position, counter to the springs, in order to prime the needle and the cannula, and a trigger mechanism.

Said slides (11, 12) advantageously comprise limit stops (16, 17) which are transversely offset with respect to one another, and said control button (6) comprises a lug (18) which can be moved transversely under the action of displacement means and acts sequentially on said offset limit stops in order to bring said slides one after the other to the rearward position.

Claims

1. A device for taking samples from a body, of the type comprising:

a needle (4) whose distal end forms a recess able to receive said sample;

a cannula (5) coaxially surrounding said needle, said needle and cannula being able to slide relative to one another;

slides (11, 12) connected respectively to said needle and cannula;

springs (14, 15) connected respectively to said slides;

a grippable housing (2) of elongate shape, defining an inner seat (10) inside which are arranged in series, on a longitudinal axis of said housing, said slides (11, 12) which are able to slide between a forward position in the housing, for which said needle (4) and cannula (5) are in a rest position and ready to be primed for taking a sample, and a rearward position for which said needle and cannula are in a primed, retracted position ready for said sampling;

a control button (6) for bringing said slides to the rearward position counter to said respective springs;

means for blocking said slides (11, 12) in the rearward position; and

a trigger mechanism (8, 9) for canceling said blocking means and, under the action of said springs, causing the forward displacement of said slides and firing of said needle and cannula,

wherein said slides (11, 12) comprise limit stops (16, 17) which are transversely offset with respect to one another, and said control button (6) comprises a lug (18) which can be moved transversely under the action of displacement means and acts sequentially on said offset limit stops in order to bring said slides one after the other to the rearward position.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said displacement means comprise a spring (21) arranged transversely between said button (6) and said lug (18) and permitting the latter to pass from a retracted position, for which one (11) of said slides is displaced to the rearward position via its limit stop (16), to a deployed position for which the other slide (12) is displaced to the rearward position via its offset limit stop (17), and an inclined ramp (22) which is provided inside said housing and which returns said lug from its deployed position to its retracted position, upon return of said button to the initial position.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said inclined ramp (22) terminates in a lateral end edge (22A) on which, in the initial position of said button, said lug (18) bears, compressing its spring, and which is situated at the same level as the limit stop (16) of the slide (11) to be displaced first.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lug (18) is connected to said button (6) by a slideway connection (20) and can slide transversely, via the latter, under the action of the displacement means.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said slide (12) with cannula and its spring (15) are situated at the front of said housing (2) and are brought first to a rearward, primed position via said lug, while said slide (11) with needle and its spring (14) are situated coaxially at the rear and are displaced second to the rearward, primed position, the displacement of said slides and springs being limited by brackets fixed to said housing.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control button (6) is mounted so as to slide longitudinally through an oblong opening (7) of said housing, and wherein a spring (23) arranged longitudinally connects said housing to said button in order to return the latter spontaneously to its initial position, against the corresponding front edge of said opening.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said blocking means comprise at least one bracket with elastically deformable hook (11B, 11C-12B, 12C) issuing from each slide, and a corresponding fixed limit stop (2H-2J) which is provided inside said housing and on which the hooked bracket of the corresponding slide engages when said slide arrives at the rearward position.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mechanism for triggering said sampling comprises, on said housing, a front tumbler (8) and a rear tumbler (9) which can be actuated independently of one another and act on said blocking means.

9. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said front and rear tumblers are connected mechanically to one another by a connection rod (24) situated inside said housing.

10. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said rear tumbler (9) comprises a pushbutton (9A) with return spring (9B) and equipped with a bracket (9C) arranged projecting into said housing in order to free said blocking means (11B, 11C) of said slide with needle, and wherein said slide (11) with needle is equipped with an unblocking bracket (11D) arranged projecting in order to act on said blocking means (12B, 12C, 2H) of said slide (12) with cannula, following its displacement to the forward position.

11. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said front tumbler (8) comprises a lever (8A) pivoting about an axis (2K) of said housing orthogonal to its longitudinal axis, said connection rod (24) connecting said lever of the front tumbler to said pushbutton of the rear tumbler.

12. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein it comprises a safety means for rendering said trigger mechanism (8, 9) inoperative, said safety means consisting of a notch (2L) which is formed in said housing and in which said front tumbler (8) can be received following a transverse displacement.

13. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing is made up of two half-shells joined together along the longitudinal plane.