Control apparatus for an automated surgical biopsy device

• US 6,086,544 A
• Filed: 03/31/1999
• Issued: 07/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Devicor Medical Products Incorporated (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Anthony T., Quatrochi, Chris K., Raczek, Randy M., Hibner, John A., Burdorff, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Connor, Cary
• Assistant Examiner(s): MARMOR II, CHARLES ALAN
• Application Number:
  US09/282,142
• Time in Patent Office: 468 Days
• Field of Search: 600/562, 600/564, 600/566, 600/567, 600/568, 604/22, 606/167, 606/168, 606/170, 606/171
• US Class Current: 600/568
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0275 with sample notch, e.g. on the side of inner stylet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32002 with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0208 Biopsy devices with actuators, e.g. with triggered spring mechanisms

Abstract

The present invention is a control apparatus for removing at least one tissue sample from a surgical patient using a surgical biopsy device. The biopsy device comprises an elongated piercer having a piercer lumen extending therethrough, and a cutter rotatably and axially positionable relative to the piercer. The piercer has a port for receiving and transferring the tissue sample into the piercer lumen. The biopsy device further comprises a rotation motor for rotating the cutter and a translation motor for translating the cutter in the axial direction. In one embodiment of the present invention, the control apparatus comprises a computing device for the coordinated control of the rotation and translation motors. The control apparatus further comprises a first sensor operationally connected to the rotation motor for supplying a rotation signal to the computing device for measuring the rotational speed of the cutter. The control apparatus further comprises a second sensor operationally connected to the translation motor for supplying a translation signal to the computing device for measuring the translational position and translational speed of the cutter. The control apparatus further comprises a first driver for driving the translation motor in response to a translation command from the computing device, and a second driver for driving the rotation motor in response to a rotation command from the computing device. The control apparatus automatically modifies the rotational speed and the translational speed of the cutter in response to the translational position and rotational resistance acting on the cutter.

Claims

1. A control apparatus for removing at least one tissue sample from a surgical patient using a surgical biopsy device comprising an elongated piercer having a piercer lumen extending therethrough, a cutter rotatably and axially positionable relative to said piercer, said piercer having a port for receiving and transferring said tissue sample into said piercer lumen, said biopsy device further comprising a rotation motor for rotating said cutter and a translation motor for translating said cutter in the axial direction, wherein said control apparatus comprises:

a) a computing device for the coordinated control of said rotation and translation motors;

b) a first sensor operationally connected to said rotation motor for supplying a rotation signal to said computing device for measuring the rotational speed of said cutter;

c) a second sensor operationally connected to said translation motor for supplying a translation signal to said computing device for measuring the translational position and translational speed of said cutter;

d) a first driver for driving said translation motor in response to a translation command from said computing device; and

e) a second driver for driving said rotation motor in response to a rotation command from said computing device;

wherein said control apparatus automatically modifies the rotational speed and the translational speed of said cutter in response to the translational position and rotational resistance acting on said cutter.

2. The control apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said computing device comprises a microprocessor, a non-volatile memory device, and a temporary memory device.

3. The control apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said computing device further comprises a first controller for controlling said translation motor, and a second controller for controlling said rotation motor.

4. A control apparatus for removing at least one tissue sample from a surgical patient using a surgical biopsy device comprising an elongated piercer having a piercer lumen extending therethrough, a cutter rotatably and axially positionable relative to said piercer, said piercer having a port for receiving and transferring said tissue sample into said piercer lumen, said biopsy device further comprising a rotation motor for rotating said cutter and a translation motor for translating said cutter in the axial direction, and wherein said cutter is operationally connected to said translational motor by a flexible, rotatable shaft having a proximal and a distal end, said control apparatus comprising:

a) a computing device for the coordinated control of said rotation and translation motors;

b) a first sensor operationally connected to said rotation motor for supplying a rotation signal to said computing device for measuring the rotational speed of said cutter;

c) a second sensor operationally connected to said translation motor and near the proximal end of said flexible rotatable shaft for supplying a first translation signal to said computing device for determining the translational position and translational speed of said cutter;

d) a first driver for driving said translation motor in response to a translation command from said computing device; and

e) a second driver for driving said rotation motor in response to a rotation command from said computing device.

f) a third sensor operationally connected to said translation motor and near the distal end of said first flexible, rotatable shaft for supplying a second translation signal to said computing device, wherein said second translation signal is compared to said first translation signal to determine the translational position of said cutter;

wherein said control apparatus automatically modifies the rotational speed and the translational speed of said cutter in response to the translational position and rotational resistance acting on said cutter.

5. The control apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said computing device comprises a microprocessor, a non-volatile memory device, and a temporary memory device.

6. The control apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said computing device further comprises a first controller for controlling said translation motor, and a second controller for controlling said rotation motor.

7. The control apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said third sensor is an optical encoder.