Articulated medical device

• US 6,139,508 A
• Filed: 02/10/1999
• Issued: 10/31/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Endonetics, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Simpson, Philip J., Matsuura, David G., Kilcoyne, John
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Connor, Cary
• Assistant Examiner(s): MARMOR II, CHARLES ALAN
• Application Number:
  US09/248,361
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 600/562, 600/564, 600/567, 606/52, 606/167, 606/170, 606/171, 606/174, 606/175, 606/205, 606/206, 606/207, 606/208, 606/209
• US Class Current: 600/564
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/06 Biopsy forceps , e.g. with cup-shaped jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2926 Details of heads or jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2933 camming or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2939 Details of linkages or pivot points
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/294 Connection of actuating rod to jaw, e.g. releasable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320064 with tissue or sample retaining means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/035 preventing further rotation

Abstract

An articulated medical device as disclosed, incorporated in one embodiment into a biopsy device. The biopsy embodiment comprises an elongated actuator shaft which is slidable within an outer sleeve. A jaw portion coupled to the actuator shaft and the outer sleeve opens when the shaft is moved in a first direction relative to the sleeve and closes when the shaft is moved in a second direction relative to the sleeve.

Claims

1. A tissue collection device, comprising:

an elongate body, having a proximal end, a closed distal end, and an open inner lumen;

a control on the proximal end of the body;

a cutting tip on the distal end of the body, the cutting tip comprising a slit extending in a proximal direction from the closed distal end, the slit dividing the cutting tip into first and second opposing jaws integrally formed with the elongate body, the jaws being adapted to move between an open and a closed configuration;

the jaws having an outside diameter delimiting an interior space when the jaws are in the closed configuration, the space being in communication with the open inner lumen; and

at least one distally extending sample guide prong in the cutting tip, the at least one guide prong being contained within the outside diameter when the jaws are in the closed configuration.

2. A tissue collection device as in claim 1, wherein the body comprises an elongate flexible tubular body.

3. A tissue collection device as in claim 2, wherein the body comprises an elongate flexible tubular spring coil.

4. A tissue collection device as in claim 1, wherein the body comprises a relatively rigid tubular body.

5. A tissue collection device as in claim 1, wherein the body comprises an elongate tubular body, and further comprising an actuator element axially movably positioned within the tubular body and connected to the cutting tip, so that axial displacement of the actuator with respect to the tubular body causes the jaws to move between a closed position and an open position.

6. A tissue collection device as in claim 5, wherein the actuator comprises a solid rod.

7. A tissue collection device as in claim 5, wherein the actuator comprises a tubular element.

8. A tissue collection device as in claim 1, further comprising a sample collection chamber in a distal portion of the device.

9. A tissue collection device as in claim 8, wherein the sample collection chamber is defined within a tubular housing, said housing axially movably positioned within the cutting tip.

10. A tissue collection device as in claim 6, wherein the sample collection chamber further comprises a sample ejector.

11. A tissue collection device as in claim 10, wherein the sample ejector comprises an opening in the wall of the sample collection chamber.

12. A tissue collection device as in claim 1, wherein each of the first and second jaws is provided with a limit surface on a proximal portion thereof, for contacting the outer surface of the tip to limit opening of the jaws.

13. A tissue collection device as in claim 1, wherein the elongate body comprises a tubular housing, and each of the first and second opposing jaws is connected to the tubular housing by at least one flexural element.

14. A tissue collection device as in claim 13, wherein each of the first and second opposing jaws is connected to the tubular housing by at least two flexural elements.

15. A tissue collection device as in claim 1, wherein the guide prong comprises an annular distal edge.

16. A tissue collection device as in claim 1, comprising two bilaterally symmetrical guide prongs.

17. A tissue collection device as in claim 1, wherein the guide prong extends substantially linearly in the distal direction.

18. A tissue collection device as in claim 1, wherein the guide prong curves radially outwardly in the distal direction.

19. A method of obtaining multiple tissue samples, comprising the steps of:

providing a sample collection device having an elongate body, a cutting tip on a closed distal end of the body, the cutting tip comprising a least one slit extending in a proximal direction from the closed distal end, the at least one slit dividing the cutting tip into at least two opposing jaws for isolating the samples from the surrounding tissue, and at least one distally extending sample guide prong;

guiding a first tissue sample along the sample guide prong and into the jaws;

closing the jaws to isolate the first tissue sample;

opening the jaws;

advancing a second tissue sample along the sample guide prong and into the jaws; and

closing the jaws to isolate the second tissue sample.

20. A cutter tip for mounting on the distal end of a biopsy device, the tip comprising:

a tubular housing having a proximal end and a closable distal end, the distal end of the tubular housing axially bisected into first and second jaw portions by a proximally extending cut therethrough;

at least one sample guide prong extending distally within the first and second jaws;

a tubular sample collection container axially movably positioned within the housing; and

a moveable connection between the tubular sample container and the first and second jaws such that axial displacement of the tubular sample collection container in a first direction causes the first and second jaws to move laterally away from each other, and axial displacement of the tubular sample container in a second axial direction causes the first and second jaws to advance medially towards each other.

21. A cutter tip as in claim 20, wherein each of the first and second jaws further comprises at least one flexural element extending between the tubular housing and the jaw.

22. A cutter tip as in claim 21, wherein the flexural member is integrally formed with the jaw and tubular housing.

23. A cutter tip as in claim 21, comprising two flexural elements on each jaw.

24. A cutter tip as in claim 20, wherein the sample guide prong is an integral extension of the wall of the sample container.

25. An articulating mechanism for use in a medical device, comprising:

a tube having an inner lumen;

an actuator, axially moveably positioned within the tube;

at least one slit extending in a proximal direction from a closed distal end of the tube, the at least one slit delimiting at least two laterally pivotable elements, at least a portion of which are integrally connected to the tube;

the pivotable elements adapted to move into at least an open and a closed configuration; and

the pivotable elements delimiting an interior space when they are in the closed configuration, the space being in communication with the inner lumen;

wherein axial movement of the actuator with respect to the tube causes lateral movement of the pivotable elements.

26. A mechanism as in claim 25, comprising two laterally pivotable elements.

27. A mechanism as in claim 26, wherein the laterally pivotable elements are biopsy jaws.

28. A tissue collection device, comprising:

an elongate body, having a proximal end and a distal end;

a control on the proximal end of the body;

a cutting tip on the distal end of the body, the tip comprising first and second opposing jaws;

at least one distally extending sample guide prong in the cutting tip, and

a sample collection chamber in a distal portion of the device, the sample collection chamber defined within a tubular housing, said housing axially movably positioned within the cutting tip.

29. A tissue collection device as in claim 28, wherein the body comprises an elongate flexible tubular body.

30. A tissue collection device as in claim 29, wherein the body comprises an elongate flexible tubular spring coil.

31. A tissue collection device as in claim 28, wherein the body comprises a relatively rigid tubular body.

32. A tissue collection device as in claim 28, wherein the body comprises an elongate tubular body, and further comprising an actuator element axially movably positioned within the tubular body and connected to the cutting tip, so that axial displacement of the actuator with respect to the tubular body causes the jaws to move between a closed position and an open position.

33. A tissue collection device as in claim 31, wherein the actuator comprises a solid rod.

34. A tissue collection device as in claim 31, wherein the actuator comprises a tubular element.

35. A tissue collection device as in claim 28 wherein the sample collection chamber further comprises a sample ejector.

36. A tissue collection devices as in claim 35, wherein the sample ejector comprises an opening in the wall of the sample collection chamber.

37. A tissue collection device as in claim 28, wherein each of the first and second jaws is provided with a limit surface on a proximal portion thereof, for contacting the outer surface of the tip to limit opening of the jaws.

38. A tissue collection device as in claim 28, wherein each of the first and second opposing jaws is connected to the tubular housing by at least one flexural element.

39. A tissue collection device as in claim 38, wherein each of the first and second opposing jaws is connected to the tubular housing by at least two flexural elements.

40. A tissue collection device as in claim 28, wherein the guide prong comprises an annular distal edge.

41. A tissue collection device as in claim 28, comprising two bilaterally symmetrical guide prongs.

42. A tissue collection device as in claim 28, wherein the guide prong extends substantially linearly in the distal direction.

43. A tissue collection device as in claim 28, wherein the guide prong curves radially outwardly in the distal direction.