Bone marrow biopsy instrument

• US 5,357,974 A
• Filed: 03/04/1993
• Issued: 10/25/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John P. Bethell, ROBINSON, THOMAS F. (5%)
• Original Assignee: John P. Bethell, Thomas F. Robinson
• Inventors: Baldridge, Danny J.
• Primary Examiner(s): HINDENBURG, MAX F
• Application Number:
  US08/027,062
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 128/749, 128/751-754, 606/170
• US Class Current: 600/567
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/025 for taking bone, bone marrow or cartilage samples
• 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

Abstract

A surgical instrument for performing tissue biopsies with a single tissue penetration. The elongated instrument comprises a hollow aspirate needle for aspirating bone marrow fluid, a hollow biopsy needle telescoped within the aspirate needle, and a solid stylet removably telescoped within the biopsy needle, all of which coaxially fit together. The stylet comprises a sharp distal end extending outwardly from the biopsy needle for initially penetrating body tissue and occluding the interior of the biopsy needle. The biopsy needle comprises a distal end normally projecting from the aspirate needle for thereafter penetrating a bone and obtaining a solid bone marrow sample. The bulbous, biopsy needle distal end is sharpened for captivating a specimen. It has a pair of relief slots dividing it into bulbous halves that are compressed together when the needle coaxially moves through the aspirate needle after withdrawal from tissue.

In operation, the instrument is first inserted through skin and muscle tissue to the bone surface. The stylet is then withdrawn. As the instrument subsequently penetrates the cortical bone and enters the bone marrow cavity, the biopsy needle fills with a tissue sample. The biopsy sample is captivated by compression of the bulbous portion as that needle segment is removed. Afterwards, the outer, aspirate needle that remains in place in the bone is suctioned by an attachable syringe, and liquid bone marrow from the marrow cavity is aspirated into the syringe.

Claims

1. A bone marrow biopsy instrument for surgical extracting bone, marrow, fluids and tissue with a single bone puncture, said instrument comprising:

a rigid, elongated, hollow aspirate needle comprising open distal end for aspirating bone marrow fluid;

a rigid, elongated, hollow biopsy needle telescoped within said aspirate needle, said biopsy needle comprising a distal end normally projecting from said aspirate needle distal end for penetrating a bone and obtaining a solid bone marrow sample, said distal end comprising a symmetrical bulbous, sharpened end for captivating a specimen of bone marrow tissue and a set of at least two diametrically opposed longitudinal relief slots defined in said distal end for enabling said bulbous end to compress shut when said biopsy needle is withdrawn from said bone marrow tissue cavity and said bulbous end enters said aspirate needle; and

,

a rigid, elongated, solid stylet removably telescoped within said biopsy needle, said stylet comprising a sharp distal end extending outwardly from said biopsy needle distal end for initially penetrating body tissue and occluding an interior of said biopsy needle.

2. A bone marrow biopsy instrument as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said aspirate needle comprises a proximal end and a base handle secured to said last mentioned proximal end, said base handle defining at least one V-shaped groove in a dorsal surface of said base handle perpendicular to said aspirate needle; and

,

said biopsy needle comprises a proximal end and a central handle secured to the biopsy needle proximal end, said central handle comprising V-shaped tabs extending from a ventral surface of said central handle, said tabs normally mating with said grooves;

wherefore, said groove provides a ramp for said tab when said central handle is rotated relative to said base handle while said handles are held in contact, and retraction of said bulbous end into said distal end of said aspirate needle compresses said bulbous end.

3. A bone marrow biopsy instrument as defined in claim 2 wherein said stylet comprises a proximal end and a cap handle secured to said proximal end, said cap handle removably mating with said central handle.

4. A bone marrow biopsy instrument as defined in claim 3 further comprising a plurality of radially spaced apart longitudinal ridges defined in said aspirate needle proximal end, wherein said base handle mates to said ridges.

5. A bone marrow biopsy instrument as defined in claim 4 further comprising a plurality of radially spaced apart longitudinal ridges defined in said biopsy needle proximal end, wherein said central handle mates to said ridges.

6. A bone marrow biopsy instrument as defined in claim 5 further comprising a plurality of radially spaced apart longitudinal ridges defined in said stylet proximal end, wherein said cap handle mates to said ridges.

7. A bone marrow biopsy instrument as defined in claim 6 wherein said aspirate needle proximal end comprises a ferrule and threads for mating with a syringe to withdraw aspirate.

8. A bone marrow biopsy instrument for surgically extracting bone, marrow, fluids and tissue with a single bone puncture, said instrument comprising:

a rigid, elongated, stylet removably telescoped within said instrument for initially penetrating soft body tissue and contacting a bone to be thereafter punctured, said stylet comprising a sharp distal external end extending outwardly from said instrument, a proximal end and a cap handle secured to said stylet proximal end;

a rigid, elongated, hollow biopsy needle for penetrating a bone, after the stylet is removed from the instrument, to obtain a bone marrow sample, said biopsy needle removably telescoped within said instrument and comprising a symmetrical, bulbous sharpened distal end extending from the instrument for puncturing the bone, and a proximal end and a central handle secured to the biopsy needle proximal end, said central handle comprising V-shaped tabs extending from a ventral surface of said central handle, said handle removably mating with said central handle;

a rigid, elongated, aspirate needle comprising an open distal end for entering the punctured bone with said biopsy needle and aspirating bone marrow fluid after said biopsy needle is removed, and a proximal end and a base handle secured to said aspirate needle proximal end, said base handle defining at least one V-shaped groove in a dorsal surface perpendicular to said aspirate needle said grooves normally receiving said tabs; and

,

wherein said aspirate needle telescopingly receives said biopsy needle and said biopsy needle telescopingly receives said stylet, said groove provides a ramp for said tab when said central handle is rotated relative to said base handle while said handles are held in contact, and retraction of said bulbous end into said distal end of said aspirate needle compresses said bulbous end.

9. The bone marrow biopsy instrument as defined in claim 8 herein said biopsy needle distal end comprises a bulbous sharpened edge and a set of at least two diametrically opposed, longitudinal relief slots, said slots enabling said bulbous end to compress shut and thus captivate a specimen of bone marrow tissue as said biopsy needle is withdrawn and said bulbous end enters said aspirate needle.

10. A bone marrow biopsy instrument as defined in claim 9 wherein said aspirate needle proximal end comprises a ferrule and threads for mating with a syringe to withdraw aspirate.

11. A bone marrow biopsy instrument as defined in claim 10 further comprising a plurality of radially spaced apart longitudinal ridges defined in said aspirate needle proximal end, wherein said base handle mates to said ridges.

12. A bone marrow biopsy instrument as defined in claim 11 further comprising a plurality of radially spaced apart longitudinal ridges defined in said biopsy needle proximal end, wherein said central handle mates to said ridges.

13. A bone marrow biopsy instrument as defined in claim 12 further comprising a plurality of radially spaced apart longitudinal ridges defined in said stylet proximal end, wherein said cap handle mates to said ridges.

14. A bone marrow biopsy instrument for surgically extracting bone, marrow, fluids and tissue with a single bone puncture, said instrument comprising:

a rigid, elongated, hollow aspirate needle comprising an open distal end for aspirating bone marrow fluid;

a base handle secured to a proximal end of said aspirate needle, said base handle comprising V-shaped grooves in a dorsal surface of said base handle, extending perpendicularly relative to said aspirate needle;

a rigid, elongated, hollow biopsy needle telescoped within said aspirate needle, said biopsy needle comprising a distal end normally projecting from said aspirate needle distal end for penetrating a bone and obtaining a solid bone marrow sample, said distal end comprising a symmetrical bulbous, sharpened end for puncturing the bone and captivating a specimen of bone marrow tissue and a set of at least two diametrically opposed longitudinal relief slots defined in said distal end for enabling said bulbous end to compress shut when said biopsy needle is withdrawn from said bone marrow tissue cavity and said bulbous end enters said aspirate needle;

a central handle secured to a proximal end of said biopsy needle, said central handle comprising V-shaped tabs extending from a ventral surface of said central handle, normally mating with said grooves in said base handle, said grooves providing ramps for said tab when said central handle is rotated relative to said base handle while said handles are held in contact, retracting said bulbous end into said distal end of said aspirate needle, compressing said bulbous end;

a rigid, elongated, solid stylet removably telescoped within said biopsy needle, said stylet comprising a sharp, external distal end extending outwardly from said biopsy needle distal end for initially penetrating body tissue, occluding an interior of said biopsy needle and contacting a bone to be thereafter punctured; and

,

a cap handle secured to a proximal end of said stylet said cap handle removably mating with said central handle.

15. A bone marrow biopsy instrument as defined in claim 14 further comprising a plurality of radially spaced apart longitudinal ridges defined in said aspirate needle proximal end, wherein said base handle mates to said ridges.

16. A bone marrow biopsy instrument as defined in claim 15 further comprising a plurality of radially spaced apart longitudinal ridges defined in said biopsy needle proximal end, wherein said central handle mates to said ridges.

17. A bone marrow biopsy instrument as defined in claim 16 further comprising a plurality of radially spaced apart longitudinal ridges defined in said stylet proximal end, wherein said cap handle mates to said ridges.

18. A bone marrow biopsy instrument as defined in claim 17 wherein said aspirate needle proximal end comprises a ferrule and threads for mating with a syringe to withdraw aspirate.