Deflectable biopsy catheter

• US 5,957,863 A
• Filed: 07/07/1998
• Issued: 09/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: George J. Klein
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Corporation, George Klein
• Inventors: Coen, Thomas P., Klein, George J., Koblish, Josef V.
• Primary Examiner(s): HINDENBURG, MAX F
• Application Number:
  US09/111,350
• Time in Patent Office: 448 Days
• Field of Search: 600/562, 600/564-567, 606/167, 606/170
• US Class Current: 600/567
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/02 Instruments for taking cell samples or for biopsy A61B10/0038 and A61B10/0045 take precedence; needle locating or guiding means A61B17/3403; samplers for enzymology or microbiology C12M1/26; sampling or preparing biological specimens G01N33/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/06 Biopsy forceps , e.g. with cup-shaped jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00044 Sensing electrocardiography, i.e. ECG
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2905 flexible
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2946 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00839 Bioelectrical parameters, e.g. ECG, EEG
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/126 bipolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/162 located on the probe body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0014 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0147 with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires

Abstract

A deflectable biopsy catheter for obtaining a tissue sample from a body cavity of a patient comprising: an axially elongated catheter shaft having proximal and distal portions respectively terminating at proximal and distal ends, the catheter shaft being sized and constructed to be advanced into a body cavity of a patient; a deflection wire coupled to the distal portion of the catheter shaft and extending within the catheter to the proximal end thereof; and a pair of biopsy jaws coupled to the distal end of the catheter shaft and having first and second opposed free cutting surfaces exposable for contact with a selected area of tissue within the patient'"'"'s body cavity and movable with respect to each other to cut a tissue sample from the selected area of tissue. Schemes for obtaining samples from body cavities (e.g., the gastrointestinal tract, the heart, the intestines, the uterus, the muscles, the bile duct, and the esophagus) are disclosed. Schemes for treating tissue by ablation or by electro-coagulation are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A biopsy device comprising:

a shaft having a body portion defining a proximal end and a distal end, and a flexible tip portion associated with the distal end of the body portion;

a deflection wire attached to the flexible tip portion; and

a pair of biopsy jaws coupled to the flexible tip portion, at least one of the biopsy jaws having a free cutting surface movable with respect to the other biopsy jaw.

2. A biopsy device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shaft includes a lumen extending from the body portion to the tip portion and the deflection wire extends through the lumen.

3. A biopsy device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the deflection wire is attached to a surface of the lumen located within the flexible tip portion.

4. A biopsy device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each biopsy jaw is movable relative to the other biopsy jaw and each biopsy jaw includes a free cutting surface.

5. A biopsy device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body portion defines a first stiffness, the flexible tip portion defines a second stiffness, and the first stiffness is greater than the second stiffness.

6. A biopsy device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the biopsy jaws comprise hollow substantially cup-shaped members.

7. A biopsy device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the biopsy jaws are hinged together about a pivot bearing coupled to the flexible tip portion.

8. A biopsy device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a handle associated with the proximal end of the shaft, the handle including an actuation device associated with the deflection wire.

9. A biopsy device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the actuation device comprises a piston, the piston being slidable relative to the handle.

10. A biopsy device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

an actuation wire coupled to at least one of the biopsy jaws and extending proximally therefrom to the proximal end of the shaft.

11. A biopsy device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the shaft defines first and second non-coaxial lumens, the deflection wire is located within the first lumen, and the actuation wire is located within the second lumen.

12. A biopsy device as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

a handle associated with the proximal end of the shaft, the handle including an actuation device associated with the actuation wire.

13. A biopsy device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the actuation device comprises a knob.

14. A biopsy device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the biopsy jaws are formed from electrically conducting material.

15. A biopsy device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the actuation wire comprises electrically conducting material.

16. A biopsy device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the biopsy jaws are pivotably hinged together about a pivot bearing and the pivot bearing is formed from electrically insulating material.

17. A biopsy device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the free cutting surface comprises a plurality of serrated teeth.

18. A biopsy device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a needle coupled to the flexible tip portion.

19. A biopsy device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the biopsy jaws respectively include hollow substantially cup-shaped distal sections and proximally located electrode sections, the electrode sections being electrically insulated from the substantially cup-shaped distal sections.

20. A biopsy device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the electrode sections are substantially flat.

21. A biopsy device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shaft comprises a catheter shaft.