Control Module Interface for MRI Biopsy Device

• US 20100160817A1
• Filed: 12/18/2008
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Devicor Medical Products Incorporated (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Devicor Medical Products Incorporated (Danaher Corporation)
• Inventors: Dahling, Todd M., Raghavendran, Raj G., Hibner, John A., Parihar, Shailendra K., Monson, Gavin M., Leimbach, Jessica P., Speeg, Trevor W. V., Mescher, Patrick A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,328,732 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/565
• 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 10/04 Endoscopic instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3403 Needle locating or guiding means guides for suture needles A61B17/0482; guiding or tracking by nuclear magnetic resonance G01R33/285
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0208 Biopsy devices with actuators, e.g. with triggered spring mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/045 Needles pointed biopsy devices with vacuum aspiration A61B10/0283
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00221 with wireless transmission of data, e.g. by infrared radiation or radiowaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00911 for fields applied by a magnetic resonance imaging system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/285 Invasive instruments, e.g. catheters or biopsy needles, specially adapted for tracking, guiding or visualization by NMR

Abstract

A biopsy system includes a first external device, a second external device and a control module interface. The control module interface is in electrical communication with both the first and second external devices, and the control module interface is in mechanical communication with the second external device. The control module interface is configured to be positioned remotely from at least one of the first and second external devices. The control module interface comprises a motor, operational electronics, a shaft connector assembly, an electrical connector and a cabinet configured to house the motor and operational electronics. The motor is in mechanical communication with the second external device via a mechanical cable. The operational electronics are configured to permit control of the motor and a motorized component of the second external device. In some embodiments, the mechanical cable comprises a flexible shaft cable, such as a speedometer cable.

Claims

1. A biopsy system comprising:

a. a first external device;

b. a biopsy device comprising a motorized component; and

c. a control module interface in electrical communication with both the first external device and the biopsy device, wherein the control module interface is in mechanical communication with the biopsy device, wherein the control module interface is configured to be positioned remotely from at least one of the first external device or the biopsy device, wherein the control module interface comprises

i. a motor comprising an output shaft, wherein the motor is in mechanical communication with the biopsy device via a mechanical cable,

ii. operational electronics configured to permit control of the motor and the motorized component of the biopsy device,

iii. a shaft connection assembly configured to engage the output shaft and the mechanical cable, wherein the shaft connection assembly is configured to facilitate communication of rotational motion generated by the motor to the biopsy device via the mechanical cable,

iv. an electrical connector configured to communicate power and electrical signals between the first external device and the control module interface, wherein the electrical connector is further configured to communicate power and electrical signals between the control module interface and the biopsy device, and

v. a cabinet configured to house the motor and the operational electronics.

2. The biopsy system of claim 1, wherein the first external device comprises a vacuum control module.

3. The biopsy system of claim 1, wherein the biopsy device comprises a probe assembly and a holster assembly, wherein the motorized component is located within the holster assembly.

4. The biopsy system of claim 3, wherein the holster assembly comprises a cutter drive mechanism, wherein the mechanical cable is engaged with the cutter drive mechanism such that rotational motion generated by the motor is communicated to the cutter drive mechanism via the mechanical cable.

5. The biopsy system of claim 3, wherein the motorized component of the biopsy device comprises a piezo motor.

6. The biopsy system of claim 5, wherein the operational electronics comprise a piezo motor controller configured to control the piezo motor.

7. The biopsy system of claim 6, wherein the operational electronics further comprise a microcontroller circuit board, wherein the microcontroller circuit board is configured to control the motor.

8. The biopsy system of claim 1, wherein the operational electronics comprise a microcontroller circuit board, wherein the microcontroller circuit board is configured to control the motor.

9. The biopsy system of claim 1, wherein the mechanical cable comprises a flexible shaft cable.

10. The biopsy system of claim 1, wherein the control module interface is configured to receive power from the first external device.

11. The biopsy system of claim 1, wherein the shaft connection assembly comprises:

a. a shaft connector configured to engage the mechanical cable, wherein the shaft connector and the mechanical cable are configured to rotate unitarily; and

b. a flexible coupling comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the flexible coupling is configured to engage the shaft connector at the first end and engage the output shaft at the second end, wherein the flexible coupling causes the output shaft and the shaft connector to rotate unitarily.

12. The biopsy system of claim 1, further comprising a cart, wherein at least one of the first external device and the control module interface are coupled with the cart.

13. The biopsy system of claim 1, further comprising a third external device, wherein the control module interface is configured to serve as an interface between the first external device, the biopsy device, and the third external device, wherein the control module interface is configured to be positioned remotely from at least one of the first external device, the biopsy device, or the third external device, wherein the third external device comprises an input device configured to allow a user to input commands to operate at least one of the first external device or the biopsy device.

14. The biopsy system of claim 13, wherein the third external device is selected from the group consisting of a keypad, a keyboard, and a touch-screen.

15. An operational interface comprising:

a. a cabinet comprising

i. a plurality of compartments,

ii. a shaft opening, and

iii. an electrical connector opening;

b. a plurality of operational electronic components, wherein each of the plurality of operational electronic components is configured to be housed within one of the plurality of compartments;

c. an electrical connector positioned within the electrical connector opening, wherein the electrical connector is configured to communicate electrical signals to at least one of the plurality of operational electronic components

d. a motor comprising an output shaft, wherein the motor is configured to be housed within one of the plurality of compartments, wherein the motor is further configured to rotate the output shaft;

e. a shaft connector plug configured to occupy the shaft opening;

f. a shaft connector configured to extend through the shaft connector plug and engage a mechanical cable; and

g. a flexible coupling comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the flexible coupling is configured to engage the shaft connector at the first end and engage the output shaft at the second end such that output shaft and shaft connector rotate unitarily.

16. The operational interface of claim 15, wherein the plurality of operational electronic components comprises a controller configured to control a piezo motor.

17. The operational interface of claim 16, wherein the plurality of operational electronic components further comprises a microcontroller circuit board, wherein the microcontroller circuit board is in communication with the motor, wherein the microcontroller circuit board is further configured to control the motor.

18. The operational interface of claim 15, wherein the mechanical cable is configured to communicate rotational motion from the motor to a remotely located biopsy device.

19. A biopsy system comprising:

a. a biopsy device comprising a holster, wherein the holster comprises a cutter driver mechanism and a piezo motor;

b. a vacuum control module;

c. a control module interface configured to serve as an interface between the vacuum control module and the holster, wherein the control module interface is remotely located relative to the biopsy device, wherein the control module interface comprises

i. a cutter motor comprising an output shaft, wherein the cutter motor is configured to generate rotational motion,

ii. a controller configured to control the cutter motor, and

iii. a piezo controller configured to control the piezo motor;

d. a plurality of data communication links, wherein a first one of the plurality of data communication links is configured to permit communication of data between the vacuum control module and the control module interface, wherein a second one of the plurality of data communication links is configured to permit communication of data between the holster and the control module interface;

e. at least one power communication link configured to permit communication of power from the vacuum control module to the control module interface;

f. an electrical connector configured to connect the plurality of data communication links and the at least one power communication link to the control module interface; and

g. a mechanical communication link, wherein the mechanical communication link is configured to permit communication of rotational motion from the output shaft to the cutter driver mechanism.

20. The biopsy system of claim 19, wherein the mechanical communication link comprises a speedometer cable.