REAL-TIME PATHOLOGY

• US 20100081964A1
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Suros Surgical Systems Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Suros Surgical Systems Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Inventors: Miller, Michael E., Mark, Joseph L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,206,315 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/566
• 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 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00057 Light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00061 spectrum
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0091 for mammography

Abstract

A system for detecting abnormal tissue in a patient including an introducer cannula having a proximal opening and a distal opening. The system further includes a surgical instrument configured for selective insertion through the cannula. The surgical instrument further includes a tissue cutting opening positioned relative to the distal end of the introducer cannula when fully inserted through the introducer cannula. The system also includes a sensor configured to detect at least one property of the tissue of the patient. The sensor is located at a fixed distance relative to the distal end of the introducer cannula when the surgical instrument is inserted into the introducer cannula.

Claims

1. A system for detecting tissue in a patient comprising:

a surgical instrument configured for selective insertion into a patient, the surgical instrument further comprising a cannula having a tissue cutting opening positioned adjacent to a distal end of the cannula; and

a sensor configured to detect at least one property of the tissue of said patient, the sensor being positioned on the cannula so as to contact tissue when the surgical instrument is inserted within a patient.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an introducer cannula having a proximal opening and a distal opening, wherein the cutting cannula is inserted into the introducer cannula prior to selective insertion into a patient.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a vacuum source that delivers vacuum adjacent the sensor.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the surgical instrument is a tissue resection device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the tissue resection device includes a sampling aperture.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the sensor is located proximal to the sampling aperture.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the sensor is located adjacent the sampling aperture.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the sensor is located distal to the sampling aperture

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the sensor is located downstream of the sampling aperture.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a processor electrically communicating with the sensor, the processor analyzing data from the sensor.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is selectively rotatable relative to the introducer cannula.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising an indicator.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the indicator indicates to a user an abnormality of the tissue of the patient.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the indicator indicates to a user a normality of the tissue of the patient.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the indicator is audible.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the indicator is visual.

17. The system of claim 4, further comprising a tissue collection filter that is configured to retain resected tissue therein, a vacuum source being operatively connected to the tissue collection filter to draw resected tissue into the tissue collection filter.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the tissue collection filter is configured to stage the resected tissue.

19. A system for detecting a characteristic of tissue in a patient comprising:

an introducer cannula having a proximal opening and a distal opening;

a sensor configured to detect abnormal tissue of the patient relative to the distal opening of the introducer cannula; and

a tissue resection device configured for insertion through the cannula, the tissue resection device further comprising a tissue cutting opening positioned relative to the distal opening of the introducer cannula and configured to sever tissue from the patient and convey the severed tissue.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising a vacuum source near the sensor.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the sensor is located substantially proximal to the sampling aperture.

22. The system of claim 19, further comprising a processor electrically communicating with the sensor, said processor analyzing data from the sensor.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the sensor is selectively rotatable relative to the introducer cannula.

24. The system of claim 19, further comprising an indicator related to a determination of abnormality of the tissue.

25. The system of claim 19, wherein the tissue resection device includes an inner cutting cannula and an outer cannula, the tissue cutting opening being formed in the outer cannula and the inner cutting cannula being positioned within the outer cannula, the inner cutting cannula further being selectively moveable across the tissue cutting opening to sever tissue, wherein the sensor is positioned on the inner cutting cannula.

26. A method of detecting a characteristic of tissue in a patient comprising:

inserting a surgical instrument having a sensor operatively connected thereto into a patient;

placing the sensor into contact with the tissue from the patient;

sending information from the sensor concerning a characteristic of the tissue to a processor; and

analyzing information concerning the characteristic of the tissue to determine if the tissue is abnormal.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising acquiring tissue using the surgical instrument and moving the tissue into contact with the sensor.