Minimally invasive surgical instrument for tissue identification, dislodgment and retrieval and methods of use
First Claim
1. An instrument for minimally invasive introduction within the body of a living being including a probe and a blunt tissue dissector, said probe including a radiation detector for detecting radiation emanating from radioactively tagged tissue within the being'"'"'s body to determine the location of the radioactively tagged tissue to enable the instrument to be moved adjacent to the radioactively tagged tissue, said tissue dissector being arranged to bluntly separate the radioactively tagged tissue from adjacent tissue so that the radioactively tagged tissue may be readily removed from the being'"'"'s body.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A probe or sheath for use on a probe for detecting and removing radioactively tagged tissue, e.g., a sentinel lymph node, within the body of a living being. The probe or sheath and probe is arranged to be inserted through a small percutaneous portal into the patient'"'"'s body and is movable to various positions adjacent the tagged tissue to detect the presence of radiation therefrom so that it can be positioned immediately adjacent that tissue to ensnare or trap that tissue. The probe or sheath and probe can then be removed from the being'"'"'s body, carrying the tagged tissue with it. The probe may be constructed to make use of a scintillation crystal, a collimator, adjustable or fixed, and a backshielding lightpipe. A blunt dissecting device is provided as part of the sheath or as part of the probe itself to aid in separating the tagged tissue from adjacent tissue without injury to the adjacent tissue. The probe may be a fully integrated, self-powered unit.
81 Citations
62 Claims
- 1. An instrument for minimally invasive introduction within the body of a living being including a probe and a blunt tissue dissector, said probe including a radiation detector for detecting radiation emanating from radioactively tagged tissue within the being'"'"'s body to determine the location of the radioactively tagged tissue to enable the instrument to be moved adjacent to the radioactively tagged tissue, said tissue dissector being arranged to bluntly separate the radioactively tagged tissue from adjacent tissue so that the radioactively tagged tissue may be readily removed from the being'"'"'s body.
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47. A method of removing radioactively tagged tissue within a living being'"'"'s body, said method comprising the steps of:
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(1) providing an instrument including a probe and a tissue dissector for minimally invasive introduction within the body of the being, said probe being arranged for detecting radiation emanating from radioactively tagged tissue within the being'"'"'s body and for providing signals indicative thereof, (2) positioning said probe so that a predetermined portion of said probe is located adjacent the radioactively tagged tissue in response to said signals, (3) operating said tissue dissector to bluntly separate the radioactively tagged tissue from adjacent tissue, and (4) removing the radioactively tagged tissue from the being'"'"'s body. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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Specification