Instrument for collecting multiple biopsy specimens
First Claim
1. A forward-sampling instrument for obtaining multiple tissue samples from tissue sites within a body, comprising:
- a proximal portion that remains outside the body including an actuator with a force transmitting element extending from said actuator,a flexible, elongated catheter body portion constructed to follow a path to said tissue sites within the body, said force transmitting element extending through an interior of said catheter body portion, anda distal portion defining a central axis and including a storage space in which multiple biopsy samples are stored, said storage space located proximal to a forward-sampling cutter, said cutter having relatively moveable cutting elements constructed to receive tissue and sever samples from tissue sites in front of said cutter, said moveable cutting elements including a cutting element connected to said force-transmitting element, distally extendable at an angle transverse to the axis defined by the distal portion, and terminating in a cutting edge, said cutter being controlled with said actuator at said proximal portion by applying forces to said force-transmitting element so that movement of the cutting element in a proximal direction relative to the catheter body portion causes the cutting element to sever a tissue sample and move the tissue sample into the storage space, and said storage space being adjacent and proximal to said cutter for storing a succession of samples while further samples are severed by said cutter.
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Abstract
The invention features a medical biopsy instrument including a relatively long shaft having proximal and distal ends, a biopsy assembly, located at the distal end of the shaft, an actuator located at the proximal end of the shaft, and a force-transmitting member associated with the shaft and extending from the actuator to the biopsy assembly. The biopsy assembly is constructed to receive tissue in a biopsy space and store severed tissue in a storage space. When collecting biopsy specimens, the biopsy assembly severs tissue located in the biopsy space and thereafter stores the severed tissue in the storage space. The storage space is arranged to store sequentially multiple severed biopsy specimens taken by multiple repeated actuations of the biopsy assembly. The biopsy assembly has a side cutting or a forward cutting embodiment and may be mounted of a catheter.
254 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A forward-sampling instrument for obtaining multiple tissue samples from tissue sites within a body, comprising:
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a proximal portion that remains outside the body including an actuator with a force transmitting element extending from said actuator, a flexible, elongated catheter body portion constructed to follow a path to said tissue sites within the body, said force transmitting element extending through an interior of said catheter body portion, and a distal portion defining a central axis and including a storage space in which multiple biopsy samples are stored, said storage space located proximal to a forward-sampling cutter, said cutter having relatively moveable cutting elements constructed to receive tissue and sever samples from tissue sites in front of said cutter, said moveable cutting elements including a cutting element connected to said force-transmitting element, distally extendable at an angle transverse to the axis defined by the distal portion, and terminating in a cutting edge, said cutter being controlled with said actuator at said proximal portion by applying forces to said force-transmitting element so that movement of the cutting element in a proximal direction relative to the catheter body portion causes the cutting element to sever a tissue sample and move the tissue sample into the storage space, and said storage space being adjacent and proximal to said cutter for storing a succession of samples while further samples are severed by said cutter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for obtaining multiple tissue samples from tissue sites within a body, comprising the steps of:
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providing a forward-sampling instrument having a proximal portion that remains outside the body including an actuator with a force transmitting element extending from said actuator, a flexible, elongated catheter-body portion constructed to follow a path to said tissue sites within the body, said force transmitting element extending through an interior of said catheter-body portion, and a distal portion defining a central axis including a storage space in which multiple biopsy samples are stored, said storage space located proximal to a forward-sampling cutter, said cutter having relatively moveable cutting elements constructed to receive tissue and sever samples from tissue sites in front of said cutter, said moveable cutting elements including a cutting element connected to said force-transmitting element, distally extendable at an angle transverse to the axis defined by the distal portion, and terminating in a cutting edge, said cutter being controlled with said actuator at said proximal portion by applying forces to said force-transmitting element, and said storage space being adjacent and proximal to said cutter for storing a succession of samples while further samples are severed by said cutter; maneuvering said forward-sampling instrument along said path to a tissue site in front of said cutter; extending said cutting element at an angle transverse to the axis defined by the distal portion by applying forces to said actuator which is transmitted by said force transmitting element extending through said catheter body to said cutter; moving the cutting element in a proximal direction relative to the catheter-body portion so that the cutting element severs a tissue sample from the tissue site and moves the tissue sample into the storage space by applying forces to said actuator which are transmitted by said force-transmitting element extending through said catheter body to said cutter, storing said sample in said storage space without removing said device from the body, repeating said maneuvering, severing, and storing steps, and removing said instrument from the body. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification