BIOPSY PROBE ASSEMBLY HAVING A MECHANISM TO PREVENT MISALIGNMENT OF COMPONENTS PRIOR TO INSTALLATION

• US 20110087131A1
• Filed: 10/12/2009
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bard Peripheral Vascular Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Sonion Roskilde A/S
• Inventors: Videbaek, Karsten
• Granted Patent: US 8,597,206 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/567
• 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 2017/00734 battery operated

Abstract

A biopsy probe assembly is configured for installation on a driver assembly. The biopsy probe assembly includes a plurality of components, each of the plurality of components being movable relative to another of the plurality of components, and each of the plurality of movable components having a respective alignment feature, wherein collectively the biopsy probe assembly has a plurality of alignment features. The plurality of alignment features of the plurality of components is aligned to form a continuous passage. A safety alignment pin is inserted into the continuous passage so as to lock relative positions of the plurality of components.

Claims

1. A biopsy probe assembly configured for installation on a driver assembly, comprising:

a housing;

a biopsy probe having a cannula arranged along a longitudinal axis, and a sample basket arranged coaxially with said cannula;

a cannula driver coupled to said housing, said cannula driver being connected to said cannula to facilitate movement of said cannula along said longitudinal axis;

a driven unit contained at least in part in said housing, said driven unit being coupled to said sample basket to facilitate movement of said sample basket relative to said longitudinal axis;

a slider assembly having a slider driver and a slider that are movable to selectively couple said cannula driver to said driven unit in a piercing shot mode and to decouple said cannula driver from said driven unit in a tissue harvesting mode;

a cover movably coupled to said housing;

a plurality of alignment features, each alignment feature being associated with a respective one of said cannula driver, said slider assembly and said cover, said plurality of alignment features when aligned forming a continuous passage; and

a safety alignment pin positioned in said continuous passage to engage each of said plurality of alignment features to prevent relative movement of said cannula driver, said slider driver and said cover prior to installation of said biopsy probe assembly on said driver assembly.

2. The biopsy probe assembly of claim 1, wherein said housing includes a housing alignment feature as one of said plurality of alignment features, said safety alignment pin being positioned in said continuous passage to engage each of said plurality of alignment features to prevent movement of said cannula driver, said slider driver, and said cover relative to said housing prior to installation of said biopsy probe assembly on said driver assembly.

3. The biopsy probe assembly of claim 1, wherein when said plurality of alignment features are aligned to form said continuous passage, said cannula driver associated with said cannula is decoupled from said driven unit associated with said sample basket.

4. A biopsy probe assembly configured for installation on a driver assembly, comprising:

a biopsy probe having a cannula arranged along a longitudinal axis;

a cover having a first alignment feature;

a housing slidably coupled to said cover, said housing having a second alignment feature;

a first driven unit slidably coupled to said housing, said first driven unit having a third alignment feature, said first driven unit being connected to said cannula to facilitate movement of said cannula along said longitudinal axis; and

an alignment pin configured to facilitate concurrent engagement with each of said first alignment feature, said second alignment feature, and said third alignment feature so as to lock relative positions of said cover, said housing, and said first driven unit.

5. The biopsy probe assembly of claim 4, further comprising:

a sample basket arranged coaxially with said cannula along said longitudinal axis;

a flexible toothed rack connected to said sample basket for moving said sample basket along said longitudinal axis;

a gear train contained in said housing, said gear train including a clutch drive configured to selectively drivably couple said gear train to said flexible toothed rack; and

a slider assembly configured to be selectively coupled to said first driven unit and to selectively engage said clutch drive, said slider assembly including a slider driver movable between an extended position and a retracted position, said slider driver having a fourth alignment feature.

6. The biopsy probe assembly of claim 5, wherein said alignment pin is configured to facilitate concurrent engagement with each of said first alignment feature, said second alignment feature, said third alignment feature and said fourth alignment feature so as to lock relative positions of said cover, said housing, said first driven unit, and said slider driver.

7. The biopsy probe assembly of claim 6, wherein said concurrent engagement occurs when said first alignment feature, said second alignment feature, said third alignment feature, and said fourth alignment feature are aligned to form a continuous passage, with said alignment pin positioned in said continuous passage.

8. The biopsy probe assembly of claim 6, wherein each of said first alignment feature, said second alignment feature, said third alignment feature and said fourth alignment feature is one of a slot and a channel, and said alignment pin has an elongate portion, with said elongate portion being concurrently received by said first alignment feature, said second alignment feature, said third alignment feature and said fourth alignment feature.

9. A biopsy probe assembly configured for installation on a driver assembly, comprising:

a biopsy probe having a sample basket arranged coaxially with a cutter cannula along a longitudinal axis;

a cover having a first alignment feature;

a housing slidably coupled to said cover, said housing having a second alignment feature;

a cannula driver having a third alignment feature, said cannula driver being slidably coupled to said housing, said cannula driver being connected to said cutter cannula to facilitate movement of said cutter cannula along said longitudinal axis;

a flexible toothed rack connected to said sample basket to facilitate movement of said sample basket along said longitudinal axis;

a gear train contained in said housing, said gear train including a clutch drive configured to selectively drivably couple said gear train to said flexible toothed rack;

a pivot member pivotably coupled to said cannula driver, said pivot member providing selectable coupling between said cannula driver and said flexible toothed rack;

a slider assembly coupled to said pivot member to operate said pivot member to facilitate said selectable coupling between said cannula driver and said flexible toothed rack via said pivot member, said slider assembly being further configured to selectively engage said clutch drive, said slider assembly including a slider driver movable between an extended position and a retracted position, said retracted position of said slider driver effecting an engagement of said clutch drive and disengagement between said cannula driver and said flexible toothed drive, and said extended position of said slider driver effecting a disengagement of said clutch drive and an engagement between said cannula driver and said flexible toothed drive, said slider driver having a fourth alignment feature; and

an alignment pin configured to facilitate manual concurrent engagement with each of said first alignment feature, said second alignment feature, said third alignment feature and said fourth alignment feature so as to lock relative positions of said cover, said housing, said cannula driver and said slider driver.

10. The biopsy probe assembly of claim 9, wherein when said alignment pin is concurrently engaged with said first alignment feature, said second alignment feature, said third alignment feature and said fourth alignment feature, said slider driver is in said retracted position.

11. The biopsy probe assembly of claim 9, wherein said concurrent engagement occurs when said first alignment feature, said second alignment feature, said third alignment feature and said fourth alignment feature are aligned to form a continuous passage, with said alignment pin being received in said continuous passage.

12. The biopsy probe assembly of claim 11, wherein when said continuous passage is formed, said slider driver is in said retracted position.

13. The biopsy probe assembly of claim 9, wherein each of said first alignment feature, said second alignment feature, said third alignment feature, and said fourth alignment feature is one of a slot and a channel, and said alignment pin has an elongate portion with a rectangular cross section, with said elongate portion being concurrently received by said first alignment feature, said second alignment feature, said third alignment feature, and said fourth alignment feature.

14. A biopsy apparatus, comprising:

a driver assembly having a first drive and a controller communicatively coupled to said first drive, said controller executing program instructions to preposition said first drive to an initialized state; and

a biopsy probe assembly configured for releasable attachment to said driver assembly after said driver assembly is placed in said initialized state, said biopsy probe assembly including;

a biopsy probe having a cannula arranged along a longitudinal axis;

a cover having a first alignment feature;

a housing slidably coupled to said cover, said housing having a second alignment feature; and

a first driven unit movably coupled to said housing, said first driven unit being configured for drivable coupling to said first drive of said driver assembly, said first driven unit having a third alignment feature, said first driven unit being connected to said cannula to facilitate movement of said cannula along said longitudinal axis; and

an alignment pin configured to facilitate concurrent engagement with each of said first alignment feature, said second alignment feature and said third alignment feature so as to lock relative positions of said cover, said housing and said first driven unit.

15. The biopsy apparatus of claim 14, said biopsy probe assembly further including:

a sample basket arranged coaxially with said cannula along said longitudinal axis;

a flexible toothed rack connected to said sample basket for moving said sample basket along said longitudinal axis;

a gear train contained in said housing, said gear train including a clutch drive configured to selectively drivably couple said gear train to said flexible toothed rack; and

a slider assembly configured to be selectively coupled to said first driven unit and to selectively engage said clutch drive, said slider assembly including a slider driver movable between an extended position and a retracted position, said slider driver having a fourth alignment feature.

16. The biopsy apparatus of claim 15, wherein said alignment pin is configured to facilitate concurrent engagement with each of said first alignment feature, said second alignment feature, said third alignment feature and said fourth alignment feature so as to lock relative positions of said cover, said housing, said first driven unit, and said slider driver.

17. The biopsy apparatus of claim 16, wherein said concurrent engagement occurs when said first alignment feature, said second alignment feature, said third alignment feature, and said fourth alignment feature are aligned to form a continuous passage, with said alignment pin positioned in said continuous passage.

18. The biopsy apparatus of claim 16, wherein each of said first alignment feature, said second alignment feature, said third alignment feature and said fourth alignment feature is one of a slot and a channel, and said alignment pin has an elongate portion, with said elongate portion being concurrently received by said first alignment feature, said second alignment feature, said third alignment feature and said fourth alignment feature.

19. A biopsy probe assembly configured for installation on a driver assembly, said biopsy probe assembly comprising:

a plurality of components, each of said plurality of components being movable relative to another of said plurality of components, and each of said plurality of components having a respective alignment feature, wherein collectively said biopsy probe assembly has a plurality of alignment features, said plurality of alignment features of said plurality of components being aligned to form a continuous passage; and

a safety alignment pin inserted into said continuous passage so as to lock relative positions of said plurality of components.

20. The biopsy probe assembly of claim 19, wherein when said alignment pin is inserted into said continuous passage said alignment pin is in concurrent engagement with each of said plurality of alignment features of said plurality of components.

21. A method for installing a biopsy probe assembly on a driver assembly to form a biopsy apparatus, comprising:

prepositioning a drive of said driver assembly to an initialized state;

providing said biopsy probe assembly configured for installation on said driver assembly, said biopsy probe assembly including a biopsy probe having a cannula arranged along a longitudinal axis coaxially with a sample basket, a cover having a first alignment feature, a housing slidably coupled to said cover, said housing having a second alignment feature, and a driven unit slidably coupled to said housing, said driven unit having a third alignment feature, said driven unit being connected to said cannula to facilitate movement of said cannula along said longitudinal axis, wherein said first alignment feature, said second alignment feature and said third alignment feature are aligned to form a continuous passage, with an alignment pin being received in said continuous passage to lock relative positions of said cover, said housing and said driven unit;

seating at least a portion of said biopsy probe assembly in an elongate cavity of said driver assembly, with said drive drivably engaging said driven unit;

after said seating, removing said alignment pin to unlock said cover, said housing, and said driven unit; and

after said alignment pin is removed, sliding said cover relative to said housing to latch said biopsy probe assembly to said driver assembly.