Discrete or Continuous Tissue Capture Device and Method for Making

• US 20120071842A1
• Filed: 10/11/2011
• Published: 03/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microfabrica Incorporated (Technoprobe S.P.A.)
• Original Assignee: Microfabrica Incorporated (Technoprobe S.P.A.)
• Inventors: Cohen, Adam L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,556,825 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/317
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0266 means for severing sample
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/04 Endoscopic instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/149 Chain, wire or band saws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320016 Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320783 through side-hole, e.g. sliding or rotating cutter inside catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0225 for taking multiple samples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00345 Micromachines, nanomachines, microsystems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00526 Methods of manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320064 with tissue or sample retaining means
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing

Abstract

Some embodiments of the invention provide an instrument for mechanically removing segments of tissue from a patient during a minimally invasive surgical procedure. An exemplary instrument provides an inlet for receiving tissue a mechanism for cutting away received tissue and for simultaneously moving the cut away tissue away from the inlet to allow additional material to enter the inlet for removal wherein multiple specimens can be captured and eventually removed from the patient'"'"'s body without the need of removing the instrument after each capture.

Claims

1. A medical instrument for removing small specimens of tissue from a patient'"'"'s body during a minimally invasive surgical procedure, comprising:

(a) an elongated housing having a distal end and a proximal end;

(b) an inlet to the housing located near the distal end of the housing;

(c) two rotary elements supported directly or indirectly by the housing, one of which is located near the distal end of the housing and the other which is located closer away from the distal end of the housing;

(d) an elongated flexible or bendable element extending around the rotary elements which may move in a desired direction by an activation mechanism; and

(e) a plurality of anvils located on the elongated flexible or bendable member or on the distally located rotary element, such that when the elongated flexible or bendable element is moved, the anvils in turn rotate past the at least one opening, and such that when tissue is located in the inlet at least a portion of it is removed by the interaction of the anvil with an edge of the housing,

wherein the removed tissue is transported away from the inlet, within the housing toward the proximal end of the housing.

2. The medical instrument of claim 1 further comprising a catheter that is attached to or near the distal end of the device wherein the catheter includes a passage for passing an actuation control element.

3. The medical instrument of claim 1 wherein the rotary elements comprise a pulley.

4. The medical instrument of claim 1 wherein the rotary elements comprise a gear.

5. The medical instrument of claim 1 wherein the elongated flexible or bendable member comprises a chain.

6. The medical instrument of claim 1 wherein the elongated flexible or bendable member comprises a perforated ribbon.

7. The medical instrument of claim 1 additionally comprising a tensioning mechanism that is capable of increasing a distance between the rotary elements.

8. The medical instrument of claim 1 additionally comprising a pawl mechanism and compliant return member for moving the elongated flexible or bendable member around the rotary elements in a desired direction.

9. The medical instrument of claim 8 additionally comprising a retention element for holding the chain in a fixed position while the pawl head is moving from a proximally engaged location through an unengaged region to a more distally engaged location along the elongated flexible or bendable member.

10. The medical instrument of claim 1 wherein the instrument is formed from a plurality of successive deposited layers of material where each layer comprises at least one sacrificial material and at least one structural material and wherein each successive layer is adhered to a previously deposited material as the successive layer is being formed.

11. The medical instrument of claim 1 wherein the plurality of specimens are separated from the patient body without removing the instrument from the patients body and thereafter the instrument and captured specimens are removed.