Biopsy instrument

• US 4,785,826 A
• Filed: 03/02/1987
• Issued: 11/22/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ward, John L.
• Original Assignee: Ward, John L.
• Inventors: Ward, John L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coven, Edward M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHAY, RANDY CITRIN
• Application Number:
  US07/020,858
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 128/310, 128/305, 128/321, 128/322, 128/324, 128/749, 128/751, 128/754, 604/158, 604/264, 604/280, 30/174, 30/346.57, 30/353, 30/358, 30/366, 30/278, 30/279, 30/280, 408/204, 408/205, 408/207, 408/208, 408/209, 408/703
• US Class Current: 600/567
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/025 for taking bone, bone marrow or cartilage samples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0266 means for severing sample
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0258 Marrow samples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32004 having a laterally movable cutting member at its most distal end which remains within the contours of said end
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 408/703 Trepanning
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/895 Having axial, core-receiving central portion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/896 Having product-receiving chamber

Abstract

This invention relates to an instrument of a type known variously a a biopsy needle or cannula and used to gather tissue, and particularly soft tissue such as bone marrow, from living persons or animals for pathological study. The instrument retains a gathered tissue specimen by closing the end of a hollow member while the member is in the gathering position, and more particularly by deforming a flexible portion of the member. A pair of members are employed, one moving within the other. By a particular cooperation between the members, a flexible portion of the inner member is displaced or deformed to occlude an open, tissue receiving end thereof and thereby capture tissue and retain it against loss on removal of the instrument from the body of tissue into which it has been thrust.

Claims

1. An instrument for gathering tissue for biopsy, comprising:

a first elongate, hollow, thin wall, right circular cylindrical member having an open tissue penetrating end and a predetermined inside diameter;

a second elongate, hollow, thin wall, right circular cylindrical member having an open tissue penetrating end and a predetermined outside diameter slightly less than said inside diameter for reception of said second member within said first member, said second member having a flexible tissue capturing portion adjacent said open tissue penetrating end thereof;

coupling means for coupling said first and second members at respective ends thereof opposite from said respective open tissue penetrating ends thereof and for controllably moving said members axially one relative to the other; and

capturing means situated within said first member and proximate said open tissue penetrating end thereof, for engaging and inwardly deforming said flexible tissue capturing portion of said second member upon advancing axial movement of said second member relatively into said first member, so as to close said open tissue penetrating end of said second member;

whereby

said flexible tissue capturing portion of said second member, following penetration of the instrument into tissue from which a sample is to be taken for biopsy and reception of tissue within said hollow first and second members, may be closed for reliably capturing and retaining a specimen of tissue upon subsequent withdrawal of said instrument from the subject tissue.

2. An instrument according to claim 1, wherein:

said capturing means includes shoulder means protruding into the interior of said first member.

3. An instrument according to claim 1 wherein:

said first member has a reduced inside diameter portion immediately adjacent said open tissue penetrating end thereof; and

further wherein said capturing means includes a tapered shoulder surface defining a transition between said reduced inside diameter portion and said predetermined inside diameter.

4. An instrument according to claim 1 wherein said flexible tissue capturing portion of said second member comprises at least one segment of said hollow, thin wall, right circular cylindrical second member, said segment having a circumferential extent which converges toward said open tissue penetrating end of said second member.

5. An instrument according to claim 1 wherein said flexible tissue capturing portion of said second member comprises a plurality of segments of said hollow, thin wall, right circular cylindrical second member, said segments each having a circumferential extent which converges toward said open tissue penetrating end of said second member.

6. An instrument according to claim 1 wherein said flexible tissue capturing portion of said second member comprises four segments of said hollow, thin wall, right circular cylindrical second member, said segments each having a circumferential extent which converges toward said open tissue penetrating end of said second member.

7. An instrument for gathering tissue for biopsy and comprising a first elongate, hollow, thin wall, right circular cylindrical member having an open tissue penetrating end and a predetermined inside diameter;

a second elongate, hollow, thin wall, right circular cylindrical member having an open tissue penetrating end and a predetermined outside diameter slightly less than said inside diameter for reception of said second member within said first member, said second member having at least one segment thereof forming a flexible tissue capturing portion adjacent said open tissue penetrating end thereof;

coupling means for coupling said first and second members at respective ends thereof remote from said open tissue penetrating ends thereof and for controllably moving said members axially one relative to the other; and

capturing means, within said first member and protruding axially inward into the hollow interior thereof proximate said open tissue penetrating and thereof, for engaging said segment forming said flexible tissue capturing portion of said second member and inwardly deforming same upon advancing axial movement of said second member relatively into said first member, for deforming said segment to occlude said open tissue penetrating end of said second member;

whereby said flexible tissue capturing portion of said second member, following penetration of the instrument into tissue from which a sample is to be taken for biopsy and reception of tissue within said first and second members, may be closed for capturing and retaining a specimen of tissue upon such subsequent withdrawal of said instrument from the subject tissue.

8. An instrument according to claim 7 wherein said coupling means includes a pair of mating male and female threaded members, one mounted on each of said first and second members for moving said member axially upon relative rotation therebetween