Biopsy needle with extendable cutting means

• US 5,224,488 A
• Filed: 08/31/1992
• Issued: 07/06/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Francis H. Neuffer
• Original Assignee: Francis H. Neuffer
• Inventors: Neuffer, Francis H.
• Primary Examiner(s): HINDENBURG, MAX F
• Application Number:
  US07/938,898
• Time in Patent Office: 309 Days
• Field of Search: 128/749, 128/751-754, 128/757, 128/758, 606/47, 606/167, 606/170
• US Class Current: 600/564
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0266 means for severing sample
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320725 with radially expandable cutting or abrading elements A61B17/32075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320783 through side-hole, e.g. sliding or rotating cutter inside catheter

Abstract

A biopsy needle having a strip of material carried within the hollow of the needle that can be extended through a lateral opening in the needle to cut and direct the sample tissue into the needle interior. Pushing on one of the ends of the strip extends it through the lateral opening as the second end is held firm. A twist is formed in the needle so that only one edge extends through the opening and the flat side of the strip guides or directs the severed sample into the needle. Turning a screw in the handle of the needle causes the end of the strip to be pushed and the strip itself to flex through the opening.

Claims

1. A device for obtaining and securing a sample of tissue, said device comprising:

a hollow tube having a lateral opening and an axis;

means carried within said tube for cutting said tissue;

means for extending at least a portion of said cutting means through said lateral opening so that, when said cutting means is extended and said device is rotated about said axis of said hollow tube, said cutting means cuts said sample and directs said sample into said hollow tube.

2. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein said cutting means further comprises a strip of flexible material.

3. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein said cutting means further comprises a strip of resilient material.

4. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein said cutting means further comprises a strip of flexible material having a first edge and a second edge, said first edge extending farther from said axis toward said opening than said second edge of said strip when said strip is extended by said extending means.

5. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein said cutting means further comprises a strip of material having a proximal end and a distal end, and a first edge and a second edge, said extending means flexing said strip through said lateral opening by moving said proximal end toward said distal end.

6. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein said cutting means further comprises a strip of material having a proximal end and a distal end, and a first edge and a second edge, said distal end being fixed within said hollow tube, and said extending means further comprises means for advancing said proximal end of said strip toward said distal end thereby flexing said strip so that said first edge extends through said opening but not said second edge.

7. The device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a handle and wherein said cutting means further comprises a strip of material having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end being fixed within said hollow tube, and said extending means further comprises a screw in operational connection with said proximal end of said strip to push said proximal end toward said distal end as said screw is turned thereby pushing said proximal end toward said distal end of said strip so that at least a portion of said strip extends through said opening.

8. A device for obtaining and securing a sample of tissue, said device comprising:

a handle;

a hollow tube attached to said handle and having a lateral opening and an axis;

a strip of material carried within said tube, said strip having a proximal end and distal end, and a first edge and a second edge, said distal end attached to said tube; and

means carried by said handle for pushing said proximal end of said strip so that said strip flexes toward said lateral opening, said strip having means formed therein for extending said first edge farther from said axis than said second edge, said strip cutting said tissue to form said sample and directing said sample into said hollow tube as said device is rotated, said sample being secured inside said hollow tube.

9. The device as recited in claim 8, wherein said extending means further comprises a twist formed in said strip, said twist formed so that, when said strip is extended through said opening, said first edge extends farther from said axis than said second edge.

10. The device as recited in claim 8, wherein said extending means further comprises a twist formed in said strip, said twist formed so that, when said strip is pushed by said pushing means, said first edge extends farther from said axis than said second edge and said first edge cuts said tissue and said strip directs said tissue into said tube through said opening as said device is turned.

11. The device as recited in claim 8, wherein said pushing means further comprises a screw in operational connection with said proximal end for flexing said strip so that said first edge extends through said opening when said screw is turned.

12. The device as recited in claim 8, wherein said material is resilient.

13. The device as recited in claim 8, wherein said lateral opening is in the shape of a rectangle having a major dimension and a minor dimension, said major dimension being aligned with said axis of said tube.

14. A method for taking a biopsy sample of tissue, said method comprising the steps of:

inserting a hollow needle having a lateral opening into said tissue;

flexing a strip of material through said opening, said strip having a first edge and a second edge and a twist formed therein so that said first edge flexes through said opening but not said second edge;

rotating said needle so that said first edge cuts said tissue sample and said strip directs said sample into said hollow needle;

drawing said first edge through said opening into said hollow needle; and

withdrawing said needle from said tissue, said sample secured inside said needle.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein said rotating step further comprises the step of rotating said needle not more than approximately 180°

.

16. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein said strip is flexed by pushing said proximal end toward said distal end.

17. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein a screw is in operational connection with said proximal end of said strip and said flexing step further comprises turning said screw so that said screw advances toward said proximal end whereby said proximal end is pushed toward said distal end.