Transmission assembly for a surgical biopsy device

• US 6,656,133 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2001
• Issued: 12/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Devicor Medical Products Incorporated (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Boehm, Michael E., Nalagatla, Anil, Forester, Craig F., Voegele, James W., Garrison, William A., Stephens, Randy R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FOREMAN, JONATHAN M
• Application Number:
  US09/965,504
• Publication Number:
  US 20020045839A1
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 600/564-567, 600/568, 606/167, 606/170
• 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 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 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an improved cable driven surgical biopsy device wherein a transmission assembly is disposed at a proximal end of the biopsy device. The transmission assembly being adapted to convert rotational motion of a cable entering the biopsy device of a substantially right angle into rotational energy to drive the axial cutter in the biopsy device.

Claims

1. A biopsy instrument comprising:

a base assembly including a firing mechanism;

a probe assembly detachably mounted to said base assembly, said probe assembly comprising;

a cutter assembly comprising;

a cutter;

a gear mechanism adapted to move said cutter;

a piercer assembly comprising;

a piercer;

a probe mount;

a drive assembly detachably mounted to said cutter assembly, said drive assembly comprising;

a flexible drive shaft;

a transmission comprising;

a first bevel gear operatively connected to a distal end of said flexible drive shaft;

a second bevel gear intermeshed with said first bevel gear and operatively connected to said gear mechanism.

2. A biopsy instrument comprising:

a base assembly including a firing mechanism;

a probe assembly detachably mounted to said base assembly, said probe assembly comprising;

a cutter assembly comprising;

a cutter;

a first drive gear;

a gear mechanism adapted to move said cutter wherein said gear mechanism includes a second drive gear adapted to mesh with said first drive gear;

a piercer assembly comprising;

a piercer including a cutter lumen adapted to receive said cutter;

a probe mount adapted to slideably connect said piercer to said cutter assembly;

a drive assembly detachable mounted to said cutter assembly, said drive assembly comprising;

a flexible drive shaft adapted to be connected at its proximal end to a control unit including a motor;

a transmission adapted to transmit motion from a distal end of said flexible drive shaft to said gear mechanism, said transmission comprising;

a first bevel gear operatively connected to a distal end of said flexible drive shaft;

a second bevel gear intermeshed with said first bevel gear at a first angle with respect to said first bevel gear and operatively connected to a releasable drive mechanism adapted to slideably connect with a proximal end of said gear mechanism.

3. A medical instrument according to claim 2, said medical instrument further comprising a coupling alignment sleeve operatively connected to said releasable drive mechanism.

4. A transmission assembly for a medical instrument said transmission assembly comprising:

a mounting bracket;

a transmission plate;

a rotation coupling assembly comprising;

a rotation gear;

a rotation drive coupling;

a translation coupling assembly comprising;

a translation gear;

a translation drive coupling;

a thumbwheel rotation assembly comprising;

a port drive coupling;

a first port gear;

a second port gear;

a knob post;

an electrical cable strain relief;

a clamping plate assembly comprising;

a rotational bevel gear;

a translational bevel gear;

a rotation shaft;

a translation shaft;

an encoder assembly comprising;

a first bearing assembly comprising;

a bearing;

an encoder;

a flex relief.

5. The transmission assembly of claim 4 further comprising a gear adapter with and elongated adapter slot operatively connected to said rotation bevel gear.