Control method for an automated surgical biopsy device

• US 6,120,462 A
• Filed: 03/31/1999
• Issued: 09/19/2000
• 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: Hibner, John A., Burdorff, Mark A., Nguyen, Anthony T., Quatrochi, Chris K., Raczek, Randy M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max
• Application Number:
  US09/282,140
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• Field of Search: 600/562, 600/564-568, 606/167, 606/170
• US Class Current: 600/566
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0275 with sample notch, e.g. on the side of inner stylet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0283 with vacuum aspiration, e.g. caused by retractable plunger or by connected syringe A61B10/025, A61B10/0266 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0208 Biopsy devices with actuators, e.g. with triggered spring mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids

Abstract

A method is provided for removing at least one tissue sample from a surgical patient using a biopsy instrument. The biopsy instrument comprises an elongated piercer having a piercer lumen extending therethrough. The biopsy instrument further comprises a cutter rotatably and translationally positionable relative to the piercer. The piercer has a port for receiving and transferring the tissue portion into the piercer lumen. In one embodiment of the present invention, the method for using the biopsy instrument comprises the steps of engaging tissue in the port; translating the cutter at a first, predetermined translational speed from a first position to a second position proximal to the port; measuring the translational speed of the cutter; translating the cutter at a second, predetermined translational speed from the second position to a third position proximal to the port; translating the cutter at a third, predetermined translational speed from the third position to a fourth position distal to the port; rotating the cutter at a predetermined rotation speed; measuring the rotational speed of the cutter; and modifying the translational speed of the cutter when the rotational speed of the cutter varies from the predetermined rotational speed by more than a first, predetermined differential rotational speed.

Claims

1. A method of removing at least one tissue sample from a surgical patient using a biopsy instrument comprising an elongated piercer having a piercer lumen extending therethrough, a cutter translationally positionable relative to said piercer, and said piercer having a port for receiving and transferring said tissue sample into said piercer lumen, wherein said method comprises the steps of:

engaging tissue in said port;

translating said cutter at a first, predetermined translational speed from a first position to a second position distal to said first position and proximal to said port;

measuring the translational speed of said cutter;

translating said cutter at a second, predetermined translational speed from said second position to a third position proximal to said port and distal to said second position; and

translating said cutter at a third, predetermined translational speed from said third position to a fourth position distal to said port.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of translating said cutter from said fourth position to said first position at a fourth predetermined translational speed.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of stopping translation of said cutter when the translational speed of said cutter is less than a predetermined minimal translational speed.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of modifying the translational speed of said cutter when said translational speed varies from said first predetermined translational speed by more than a first predetermined differential translational speed.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of modifying the translational speed of said cutter when said translational speed varies from said second predetermined translational speed by more than a second predetermined differential translational speed.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said biopsy instrument is hand manipulatable.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said cutter is rotatably positionable relative to said piercer.

8. A method of removing at least one tissue sample from a surgical patient using a biopsy instrument comprising an elongated piercer having a piercer lumen extending therethrough, a cutter rotatably and translationally positionable relative to said piercer, and said piercer having a port for receiving and transferring said tissue sample into said piercer lumen, wherein said method comprises the steps of:

engaging tissue in said port;

translating said cutter at a first predetermined translational speed from a proximal position proximal to said port to a distal position distal to said port;

measuring the translation speed of said cutter;

rotating said cutter at a predetermined rotational speed;

measuring the rotational speed of said cutter; and

modifying the translational speed of said cutter when the rotational speed of said cutter varies from said predetermined rotational speed by more than a predetermined differential rotational speed.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein for the step of modifying the translational speed of said cutter, said translational speed of said cutter is reduced by a predefined amount when rotational speed of said cutter is less than said predetermined rotational speed by more than a predetermined differential rotational speed.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of modifying the rotational speed of said cutter when rotational speed of said cutter varies from said predetermined rotational speed of said cutter by more than said predetermined differential rotational speed.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein for the step of modifying the rotational speed of said cutter, the rotational speed of said cutter is increased when rotational speed of said cutter is less than said predetermined rotational speed by more than said predetermined differential rotational speed.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of translating said cutter from said distal position to said proximal position at a second predetermined translational speed.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of stopping rotation and translation of said cutter when the rotational speed of said cutter is less than a predetermined minimal rotational speed.

14. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of stopping said rotational and translational motors when the translational speed of said cutter is less than a predetermined minimal translational speed.

15. The method of claim 8 wherein said biopsy device is hand manipulatable.

16. A method of removing at least one tissue sample from a surgical patient using a biopsy instrument comprising an elongated piercer having a piercer lumen extending therethrough, a cutter rotatably and translationally positionable relative to said piercer, and said piercer having a port for receiving and transferring said tissue sample into said piercer lumen, wherein said method comprises the steps of:

engaging tissue in said port;

translating said cutter at a first, predetermined translational speed from a first position to a second position distal to said first position and proximal to said port;

measuring the translational speed of said cutter;

translating said cutter at a second, predetermined translational speed from said second position to a third position proximal to said port and distal to said second position;

translating said cutter at a third, predetermined translational speed from said third position to a fourth position distal to said port;

rotating said cutter at a predetermined rotational speed;

measuring the rotational speed of said cutter; and

modifying the translational speed of said cutter when rotational speed of said cutter varies from said predetermined rotational speed by more than a predetermined differential rotational speed.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein for the step of modifying the translational speed of said cutter, said translational speed of said cutter is reduced by a predefined amount when rotational speed of said cutter is less than said predetermined rotational speed by more than a predetermined differential rotational speed.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of modifying the rotational speed of said cutter when rotational speed of said cutter varies from said predetermined rotational speed of said cutter by more than said predetermined differential rotational speed.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein for the step of modifying the rotational speed of said cutter, the rotational speed of said cutter is increased when rotational speed of said cutter is less than said predetermined rotational speed by more than said predetermined differential rotational speed.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of translating said cutter from said fourth position to said first position at a fourth predetermined translational speed.

21. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of stopping rotation and translation of said cutter when the rotational speed of said cutter is less than a predetermined minimal rotational speed.

22. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of stopping said rotational and translational motors when the translational speed of said cutter is less than a predetermined minimal translational speed.

23. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of modifying the translational speed of said cutter when said translational speed varies from said first predetermined translational speed by more than a first predetermined differential translational speed.

24. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of modifying the translational speed of said cutter when said translational speed varies from said second predetermined translational speed by more than a second predetermined differential translational speed.

25. The method of claim 16 wherein said biopsy device is hand manipulatable.