Transport System for Biopsy Device

• US 20080287826A1
• Filed: 07/08/2005
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bard Peripheral Vascular Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co), Conception ET Developpement Michelin S.A. (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA), Sonion Roskilde A/S
• Original Assignee: Bard Peripheral Vascular Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Videbaek, Karsten, Jorgensen, Martin Bondo, Danborg, Lasse, Staal, Lasse G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,864,680 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/567
• 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 biopsy device for harvesting tissue samples from a body of a living being, e.g. in percutaneous aspiration biopsy, includes an outer needle and a sample-receiving device for receiving a severed tissue sample, the sample-receiving device being movable in the hollow needle. The device includes a transport device for moving the sample-receiving device in the hollow needle, the transport device comprising a bendable elongate element, such as a steel wire, a toothed wire made from e.g. a plastics material or a Bowden cable capable of pushing and pulling the sample-receiving device in distal and proximal directions, respectively. A coiling device is provided for the bendable elongate element. The bendable elongate element and the coiling device may be included in a disposable unit, which is attachable to a hand-held unit including a motor for driving the transport device. Orientation means are provided for appropriately orienting the sample-receiving device with respect to the hollow needle.

Claims

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

a hollow needle with a distal end portion adapted to be introduced into the body;

a cutting mechanism for severing the at least one tissue sample;

a sample-receiving device with a cavity for receiving the at least one severed tissue sample, the sample-receiving device being receivable in the hollow needle and movable therein;

a transport device for moving the sample-receiving device in the hollow needle between a first extended position, in which the sample-receiving device with its cavity are in a distal position, and in which the cutting mechanism may sever the at least one tissue sample, and a second retracted position, in which the sample-receiving device with its cavity are in a proximal position, the transport device comprising a bendable elongate element.

2. A biopsy device according to claim 1, wherein the needle defines a longitudinally extending annular body portion, which defines a co-extending longitudinal cavity in the hollow needle.

3. A biopsy device according to claim 1, wherein the cavity in the sample-receiving device has a lateral opening.

4. A biopsy device according to claim 1, wherein the elongate element is bendable away from the longitudinal direction of the hollow needle.

5. A biopsy device according to claim 4, further comprising a coiling device for coiling up the bendable elongate element.

6. A biopsy device according to claim 5, wherein the coiling device is arranged at a proximal end of the device.

7. A biopsy device according to claim 1, wherein the bendable elongate element comprises a steel wire.

8. A biopsy device according to claim 7, wherein the steel wire comprises two or more twisted wires.

9. A biopsy device according to claim 1, wherein the bendable elongate element has a longitudinally extending portion of non-circular cross section.

10. A biopsy device according to claim 1, wherein the elongate element comprises a row of regularly spaced teeth, and the device has a rotatable gear wheel having a rim with teeth for interacting with the teeth of the elongate element so as to move the elongate element in the hollow needle.

11. A biopsy device according to claim 1, wherein the sample-receiving device is secured/attached to the bendable elongate element by means of a swivel joint.

12. A biopsy device according to claim 1, wherein the hollow needle comprises a circumferential cutting edge at its distal end.

13. A biopsy device according to claim 12, wherein the sample receiving device is movable relative to the hollow needle between a projecting position, in which the sample-receiving device projects from a distal tip of the needle, and a retracted position, in which the sample-receiving device is accommodated in the hollow needle, and in which the distal end of the device is defined by said circumferential cutting edge.

14. A biopsy device according to claim 1, wherein the sample receiving device has a length, which is shorter than a length of the hollow needle, and wherein a distal end of the bendable elongate element is attached to a proximal end of the sample-receiving device, so that the bendable elongate element may cause movement of the sample-receiving device in the hollow needle.

15. A biopsy device according to claim 1, further comprising a handle unit with a power source and a motor for driving the transport device, and wherein the transport device, the hollow needle and the sample-receiving device are comprised in a disposable unit, which is releasably secured to the handle unit.

16. A biopsy device according to claim 4, wherein the coiling device is comprised in the disposable unit.

17. A biopsy device according to claim 4, wherein the coiling device comprises at least one wall element, which forms a spiral, the wall element being arranged such that contact between coiled-up portions of the bendable elongate element is prevented.

18. A biopsy device according to claim 1, wherein the hollow needle, the cutting mechanism, the sample-receiving device, the transport device, and the handle unit are comprised in a hand-held unit.

19. A biopsy device according to claim 1, wherein the sample-receiving device is movable in the hollow needle along an axis of movement, and wherein at least one of the hollow needle and the sample-receiving device is configured to orient the sample-receiving device relative to the hollow needle in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of movement.

20. A biopsy device according to claim 1, wherein the sample-receiving device and the hollow needle are shaped, so that relative rotational displacement between the sample-receiving device and the hollow needle in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of movement is prevented.

21. A biopsy device according to claim 1, further comprising a liquid supply unit adapted to comprise a flushing liquid, the liquid supply unit being operatively connected to the cavity of the sample-receiving device through a hollow liquid transport member so as to allow tissue sample ejection by liquid flushing.

22. A biopsy device according to claim 1, further comprising a vacuum pump for generating a suction effect in the cavity of the sample-receiving device, the vacuum pump being in fluid communication with the cavity of the sample-receiving device through a longitudinally extending passage in the sample-receiving device.

23. A biopsy device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first user-operable firing mechanism for causing the hollow needle and the sample-receiving device to be longitudinally displaced in a distal direction, so as to penetrate body tissue at or near the suspect tissue mass;

a second user-operable firing mechanism for causing the hollow needle to be longitudinally displaced in a distal direction from a first position, in which the sample-receiving device projects from the distal end of the hollow needle, to a second position, in which the hollow needle essentially accommodates the cavity of the sample-receiving device, so as to sever said tissue sample from remaining body tissue at the harvesting site.

24. A biopsy device according to claim 15, wherein the sample-receiving device is movable in the hollow needle between a first extended position and a second retracted position, the biopsy device further comprising a control system for controlling movement of the transport device and for arresting the sample-receiving device in the second retracted position, the control system being arranged to automatically detect a distance between the first extended position and the second retracted position.

25. A disposable unit for a biopsy device for harvesting at least one tissue sample from a body of a living being, the disposable unit comprising:

a hollow needle with a distal end portion adapted to be introduced into the body;

a cutting mechanism for severing the at least one tissue sample;

a sample-receiving device with a cavity for receiving the at least one severed tissue sample, the sample-receiving device being receivable in the hollow needle and movable therein;

a transport device for moving the sample-receiving device in the hollow needle, the transport device comprising a bendable elongate element;

an interface for connecting the disposable unit to an external unit, the external unit comprising a driving unit with a power source, the interface being adapted to transmit a driving force of the driving unit to the transport device.

26. A disposable unit according to claim 25, further comprising a coiling device for coiling up the bendable elongate element.

27. (canceled)