Endoscopic apparatus with integrated multiple biopsy device

• US 20060258955A1
• Filed: 05/13/2005
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Hoffman, David W., Rowland, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 7,846,107 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/564
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/018 for receiving instruments
• 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 10/06 Biopsy forceps , e.g. with cup-shaped jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0225 for taking multiple samples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00362 Packages or dispensers for MIS instruments A61B2017/0479 takes precedence

Abstract

An imaging endoscope comprising a shaft having a proximal end adapted to be secured to a handle, and a distal end having a biopsy forceps disposed therein. The biopsy forceps includes one or more end-effector elements that are actuated with a control cable that may be connected to the handle. The endoscope shaft includes a biopsy sample lumen that is configured to receive a biopsy sample obtained from the forceps assembly. A sample collection apparatus is attached to the handle to capture multiple biopsy samples. In some embodiments, the endoscope is a single-use endoscope.

Claims

1. A multiple biopsy system comprising:

an endoscope comprising;

a handle;

an elongated shaft with a proximal end coupled to the handle and a distal end;

an imaging system at or adjacent the distal end of the elongated shaft;

a biopsy forceps disposed within the elongated shaft having a proximal end, a shaft and a distal end, wherein the biopsy forceps includes a bite assembly that is movable to obtain a tissue sample;

a biopsy lumen configured to receive a biopsy sample obtained with the biopsy forceps;

a sample chamber associated with the handle that is in fluid communication with the biopsy lumen in order to receive a biopsy sample from the biopsy lumen; and

a sample vial removably disposed in the sample chamber for capturing one or more biopsy samples received from the biopsy lumen;

wherein the biopsy lumen is couplable to means for retrieving a biopsy sample through the biopsy lumen and into the sample vial.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein multiple biopsy samples are individually received in a corresponding number of sample vials without removing the biopsy forceps from the elongated shaft.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for retrieving the biopsy sample is a vacuum source applied to a proximal end of the biopsy lumen.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for retrieving the biopsy sample is a liquid applied at a distal end of the biopsy lumen to flush the biopsy sample through the biopsy lumen.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for retrieving the biopsy sample is a gas applied at a distal end of the biopsy lumen to blow the biopsy sample through the biopsy lumen.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the biopsy forceps includes a shaft having a hollow lumen that forms the biopsy lumen.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the bite assembly is actuated with a programmable firing mechanism.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the bite assembly is actuated with a manual actuator associated with the handle.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the bite assembly includes echogenic markings.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the elongated shaft includes a tool lumen in which the biopsy forceps is placed and the biopsy lumen is separate from the tool lumen.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the sample chamber includes a port for forming a connection with the biopsy lumen and a vacuum port configured to permit a vacuum to be selectively applied to the sample chamber.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the sample vial is located within a cassette housing having a plurality of sample vials disposed therein.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a position tracking system for recording a set of reference coordinates that indicate the position where a biopsy sample was obtained.

12. (canceled)

15. A kit for obtaining multiple biopsy samples, the kit comprising:

i) a single-use endoscope comprising a handle, an elongated shaft with a proximal end coupled to the handle and a distal end;

an imaging system at or adjacent the distal end of the elongated shaft;

a biopsy lumen configured to receive a biopsy sample obtained with a biopsy forceps;

a sample chamber associated with the handle that is in fluid communication with the biopsy lumen in order to receive a biopsy sample from the biopsy lumen;

at least one sample vial capable of being removably disposed in the sample chamber for capturing one or more biopsy samples received from the biopsy lumen; and

ii) a biopsy forceps comprising a shaft and a bite assembly that is moveable to obtain a tissue sample.

16. (canceled)

17. An endoscope comprising:

a handle;

an elongated shaft with a proximal end coupled to the handle and a distal end;

an imaging system at or adjacent the distal end of the elongated shaft;

a biopsy forceps having a proximal end, a shaft and a distal end, wherein the biopsy forceps includes a bite assembly that is movable with an actuator associated with the handle to obtain a tissue sample;

a biopsy lumen configured to receive a biopsy sample obtained with the biopsy forceps;

a cassette that is removably securable to the handle, including a number of sample vials; and

means for selectively aligning one of the number of sample vials in the cassette with the biopsy lumen; and

such that a biopsy sample from the biopsy lumen is captured into the aligned sample vial.

18. The endoscope of claim 17, wherein multiple biopsy samples are individually received in a corresponding number of sample vials without removing the biopsy forceps from the elongated shaft.

19. The endoscope of claim 17, wherein the biopsy sample is retrieved through the biopsy lumen by a vacuum source applied to the proximal end of the biopsy lumen.

20. The endoscope of claim 17, wherein the biopsy sample is retrieved through the biopsy lumen by a liquid applied at a distal end of the biopsy lumen to flush the biopsy sample through the biopsy lumen.

21. The endoscope of claim 17, wherein the biopsy sample is retrieved through the biopsy lumen by a gas applied at a distal end of the biopsy lumen to blow the biopsy sample through the biopsy lumen.

22. The endoscope of claim 17, wherein the biopsy forceps includes a shaft having a hollow lumen that forms the biopsy lumen.

23. The endoscope of claim 17, wherein the bite assembly is actuated with a programmable firing mechanism.

24. The endoscope of claim 17, wherein the bite assembly is actuated with a manual actuator associated with the handle.

25. The endoscope of claim 17, wherein the elongated shaft includes a tool lumen in which the biopsy forceps is placed and the biopsy lumen is separate from the tool lumen.

26. The endoscope of claim 17, wherein the sample cassette includes a port for forming a connection with the biopsy lumen and a vacuum port configured to permit a vacuum to be selectively applied to the biopsy lumen to retrieve the biopsy sample.

27. (canceled)

28. A single use, electronic endoscope system comprising:

an endoscope configured for multiple biopsy sample collection, the endoscope comprising an elongated shaft with a proximal end coupled to a handle and a distal end;

an imaging system at or adjacent the distal end of the elongated shaft;

a biopsy lumen configured to receive a biopsy sample obtained with a biopsy forceps;

a sample chamber that is in fluid communication with the biopsy lumen in order to receive a biopsy sample from the biopsy lumen; and

means for retrieving a biopsy sample through the biopsy lumen and into the sample vial; and

a biopsy forceps comprising a shaft and a bite assembly that is moveable with an actuator associated with the handle to obtain a tissue sample.

29. An endoscope, comprising:

a shaft having a distal end and a proximal end and a biopsy lumen therein through which a biopsy sample can be retrieved;

a handle at the proximal end of the shaft including one or more controls for selectively orienting the distal end of the shaft; and

a vacuum lumen connectable to a source of vacuum for withdrawing a biopsy sample through the biopsy lumen, the handle further including a gap between the vacuum lumen and the biopsy lumen into which a sample vial can be removably fitted to fluidly connect the vacuum lumen to the biopsy lumen such that a biopsy sample is captured in the sample vial when the biopsy sample is retrieved.

30. The endoscope of claim 29, wherein the sample vial is included in a cassette having a number of sample vials that can be selectively positioned in the gap to retrieve a biopsy sample.

31. The endoscope of claim 29, wherein the sample vial includes a number of axially aligned chambers that can hold different biopsy samples.

32. An endoscope including:

an elongated shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and one or more lumens therein;

a biopsy forceps positioned in one of the lumens having a tissue cutting mechanism to retrieve a biopsy sample from a patient;

a handle including one or more controls for selectively orienting the distal end of the elongated shaft; and

a control integrated into the handle for activating the tissue cutting mechanism of the biopsy forceps.

33. The endoscope of claim 32, wherein the elongated shaft includes a biopsy lumen through which a biopsy sample is retrieved and wherein the handle includes means for supporting a collection vial to receive a biopsy sample from the biopsy lumen.

34. The endoscope of claim 33, wherein the collection vial is included in a cassette that includes a number of collection vials, each of which is positionable to receive a biopsy sample from the biopsy lumen.