BIOPSY DEVICE

• US 20110009772A1
• Filed: 03/12/2009
• Published: 01/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Van Der Vleuten, Cornelius Antonius Nicolaas Maria, Braun, Augustinus Laurentius, Hendriks, Bernardus Hendrikus Wilhelmus
• Application Number:
  US12/922,714
• Publication Number:
  US 20110009772A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/562
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0233 Pointed or sharp biopsy instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00057 Light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/306 using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence

Abstract

Biopsy needles equipped with fibres (20) allow tissue inspection to diagnoses. In order to allow detailed inspection side looking fibres should also be integrated around the needle. These fibres might be embedded in a transparent medium (18) to avoid direct contact of the sharp edges of the fibre to the tissue. A biopsy needle having such embedded fibres as well as a method for manufacturing said biopsy needle, based on curable transparent liquid, is provided by the invention.

Claims

1. A biopsy device comprising an elongate shaft with

a wall surrounding an inner space (10), and

a fibre (20) having a tip and allowing the emitting and/or receiving of light,

wherein the wall comprises a first material (18) being transparent,

wherein the tip of the fibre (20) is embedded in the first material (18).

2. The biopsy device of claim 1,

wherein the wall further comprises a second material,

wherein the second material is forming an outer tube (14) being not transparent,

wherein holes (16) are provided in the outer tube (14).

3. The biopsy device of claim 1,

wherein the tip of the fibre (20) comprises an end surface which is inclined relative to the axis of the elongate shaft.

4. The biopsy device of claim 3,

wherein a reflective layer is provided at the inclined end surface of the tip of the fibre.

5. The biopsy device of claim 3,

wherein an air bubble is provided in the first material (18),

wherein the air bubble is located at the inclined end surface of the tip of the fibre (20).

6. The biopsy device of claim 3,

wherein reflective particles are provided in front of the tip of the fibre (20).

7. The biopsy device of claim 6,

wherein the reflective particles are provided in a separately formed droplet or layer at the inclined surface of the tip of the fibre (20).

8. A method of manufacturing a shaft of a biopsy device, the method comprising the steps of

providing a fibre (20) having a tip and allowing the emitting and/or receiving of light,

forming a wall surrounding an inner space (10) of the shaft,

wherein the wall comprises a first material (18) being transparent,

wherein a tip of the fibre (20) is embedded in the first material (18).

9. The method of claim 8,

wherein the wall further comprises a second material,

wherein the second material is forming an outer tube (14) being not transparent,

wherein holes (16) are provided in the outer tube.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of

providing an end surface at the tip of the fibre (20), which end surface is inclined relative to the axis of the elongate shaft.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of

providing a reflective layer at the inclined end surface of the tip of the fibre (20).

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of

providing an air bubble in the first material (18),

wherein the air bubble is located at the inclined end surface of the tip of the fibre (20).

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of

providing reflective particles in front of the tip of the fibre (20).

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of

forming a droplet or layer including reflective particles, and

providing the droplet or layer at the inclined surface of the tip of the fibre (20).