Bone marrow biopsy device

• US 6,312,394 B1
• Filed: 09/29/2000
• Issued: 11/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Manan Medical Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Manan Medical Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Fleming, James A. III
• Primary Examiner(s): HINDENBURG, MAX F
• Application Number:
  US09/677,819
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• Field of Search: 600/562, 600/564-567, 606/167, 606/170
• US Class Current: 600/567
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/025 for taking bone, bone marrow or cartilage samples

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a bone marrow biopsy device including an outer cannula, an outer cannula handle having a locking member, an inner rod, an inner rod handle having a locking member, and an independent locking element. The outer cannula handle locking member further comprises a flange element, and the inner rod handle locking member further comprises at least one prong. In one embodiment, the locking element comprises a cylindrical sleeve surrounding the at least one prong and the flange element. The cylindrical sleeve comprises at least one slot which aligns with the at least one prong when the locking element is in its unlocked orientation. The locking element is placed into its locked orientation by rotation of the locking element about the at least one prong and the flange element such that the at least one prong no longer aligns with the at least one slot and is therefore prevented from passing over the flange element. In another embodiment, the locking element comprises at least one bar extending completely through the inner rod handle, preventing disengagement of the at least one prong from the at least one flange element. Further, the bone marrow biopsy device may include at least one grip enhancement member formed from a material distinct from that of the handles, which may extend outwardly such that the user'"'"'s palm is prevented from coming in contact with the locking element during use of the device.

Claims

1. A bone marrow biopsy device for accessing and withdrawing samples of bone marrow tissue from a living patient, said bone marrow biopsy device having a locking handle for integrating the individual handle portions of said bone marrow biopsy device without risking the inadvertent release thereof, said bone marrow biopsy device comprising:

an outer cannula having a proximal end, a distal end, and a substantially hollow cross-section between said proximal and distal ends;

an outer cannula handle having a locking member, said outer cannula handle operably attached to said outer cannula at said proximal end of said outer cannula;

an inner rod capable of being telescopically inserted into and retracted from said outer cannula, said inner rod having a proximal end and a distal end;

an inner rod handle having a locking member, said inner rod handle operably attached to said inner rod at said proximal end of said inner rod, said inner rod handle and said outer cannula handle being capable of forming an integrated, aligned handle assembly for simultaneously aligning the orientation of the distal ends of the outer cannula and inner rod; and

a locking element associated with said locking members on each of said outer cannula handle and said inner rod handle; and

said locking element being capable of alternatively locking and releasing said outer cannula handle and said inner rod handle in said aligned orientation without having to reorient the position of either of said outer cannula handle and said inner rod handle.

2. The bone marrow biopsy device according to claim 1 wherein said inner rod handle fits completely over said outer cannula handle such that said outer cannula handle nests within said inner rod handle when said outer cannula handle and said inner rod handle are joined together.

3. The bone marrow biopsy device according to claim 1 wherein said locking member associated with said outer cannula handle comprises at least one flange element located on said outer cannula handle.

4. The bone marrow biopsy device according to claim 3 wherein said locking member associated with said inner rod handle comprises at least one prong, said at least one prong capable of engaging with said at least one flange element to prevent disengagement of said outer cannula handle and said inner rod handle from one another.

5. The bone marrow biopsy device according to claim 4 wherein said locking element comprises a cylindrical sleeve surrounding said at least one prong and said at least one flange element, said cylindrical sleeve preventing disengagement of said at least one prong from said at least one flange element when said locking element is in a locked orientation.

6. The bone marrow biopsy device according to claim 3 wherein said at least one flange element further comprises at least a portion of a thread as conventionally found on connections for medical devices, said thread allowing the user to attach a threaded component to said outer cannula handle after removing said inner rod from said outer cannula.

7. The bone marrow biopsy device according to claim 5 wherein said cylindrical sleeve includes at least one slot such that said at least one prong is allowed to partially protrude through said at least one slot when said locking element is in an unlocked orientation in order to allow disengagement of said outer cannula handle from said inner rod handle.

8. The bone marrow biopsy device according to claim 7 wherein said locking element may be rotated with respect to said at least one prong and said at least one flange element in order to place said locking element in a locked orientation wherein said at least one prong is prevented from protruding through said at least one slot, thereby preventing said outer cannula handle and said inner rod handle from becoming disengaged.

9. The bone marrow biopsy device according to claim 8 further including at is least one locking tab associated with said cylindrical sleeve, said at least one locking tab facilitating rotation of said locking element with respect to said at least one prong and said at least one flange element, thereby permitting locking and unlocking of said locking element without affecting the orientation of said handles themselves.

10. The bone marrow biopsy device according to claim 1 in which the invention further includes an alignment member associated with at least one of said outer cannula handle and said inner rod handle, said alignment member serving to ensure proper orientation of said outer cannula handle and said inner rod handle during engagement of said handles with one another, thereby preventing the user from aligning said handles improperly.

11. The bone marrow biopsy device according to claim 10 wherein at least one of said outer cannula handle and said inner rod handle further includes an opening capable of receiving said alignment member, said opening positioned such that said outer cannula handle and said inner rod handle can only be fully and properly joined when they are properly oriented with respect to one another, thereby preventing the user from aligning said handles improperly.

12. The bone marrow biopsy device according to claim 11 further including an alignment indicia for visually indicating the proper orientation of said outer cannula handle and said inner rod handle with respect to one another during engagement of said handles.

13. The bone marrow biopsy device according to claim 1 in which the invention further includes a locking indicia for indicating whether said locking element is in a locked or unlocked orientation when said outer cannula handle and said inner rod handle are engaged with one another.

14. The bone marrow biopsy device according to claim 9 wherein the invention further includes a locking indicia comprising text printed on at least one of said outer cannula handle and said inner rod handle, said text corresponding with the position of said at least one locking tab to indicate to the user whether said locking element is in a locked or unlocked orientation.

15. The bone marrow biopsy device according to claim 1 in which the invention further includes at least one grip enhancement member associated with at least one of said outer cannula handle and said inner rod handle, said at least one grip enhancement member facilitating handling and use of said bone marrow biopsy device.

16. The bone marrow biopsy device according to claim 15 wherein said at least one grip enhancement member is formed from a material distinct from said outer cannula handle and said inner rod handle.

17. The bone marrow biopsy device according to claim 16 wherein said at least one grip enhancement member is at least partially constructed from rubber.

18. The bone marrow biopsy device according to claim 15 wherein said at least one grip enhancement member extends outwardly beyond the end of said at least one locking tab, thereby preventing the palm of the user from coming into inadvertent operable contact with and possibly engaging said locking element during use of said bone marrow biopsy device.

19. The bone marrow biopsy device according to claim 15 wherein at least a portion of said at least one grip enhancement member extends outwardly beyond at least a portion of said outer cannula handle to enhance the secured engagement of said outer cannula handle with said inner rod handle by forming an interference fit between said inner rod handle and said at least one grip enhancement member.

20. The bone marrow biopsy device according to claim 4 wherein said locking element comprises at least one bar extending at least partially through said inner rod handle, said at least one bar preventing disengagement of said at least one prong from said at least one flange element when said locking element is in its locked orientation.

21. The bone marrow biopsy device according to claim 20 wherein said locking element further includes at least one finger tab to facilitate manipulation of said locking element by the user.

22. The bone marrow biopsy device according to claim 1 wherein said inner rod comprises at least one of an inner cannula, a stylet, an obturator, and an ejector rod.