Micro-invasive breast biopsy device

• US 6,673,023 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2002
• Issued: 01/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stryker Puerto Rico Holdings BV (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Stryker Puerto Rico Limited (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Pflueger, D. Russell
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max F.
• Application Number:
  US10/093,765
• Publication Number:
  US 20020138020A1
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 600/562-570, 604/164-1-1, 606/167, 606/180
• US Class Current: 600/565
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0096 Casings for storing test samples A61B10/0038 and A61B10/0045 take precedence; preservation of living parts of the human or animal body A01N1/02; containers for retaining a material to be analysed B01L3/50; containers for enzymology or microbiology C12M1/16; swab-sampler being part of enzymology or microbiology container C12M1/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0266 means for severing sample
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32002 with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0225 for taking multiple samples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00261 Discectomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00685 Archimedes screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/008 Removal of tumors

Abstract

An apparatus for removing tissue and/or other material from a patient, particularly a breast of a patient, is provided. The apparatus generally includes a handpiece and a tissue removal mechanism connected thereto. The tissue removal mechanism includes a cannula having an open distal tip and an outer diameter of less than about 5 mm, or less than about 2 mm. The mechanism further includes a rotatable element having a distal portion with helical threading. The distal portion of the rotatable element extends beyond the open distal tip of the cannula in order to allow tissue to prolapse between turns of the helical threading. The apparatus is designed to draw soft tissue into the cannula upon rotation of the rotatable element and without the need for supplemental sources of aspiration.

Claims

1. An apparatus for removing material from a target area of a breast of a human or an animal, the apparatus comprising:

a handpiece;

a cannula including a proximal end portion structured to be coupled to the handpiece and an open distal tip structured to be laced in a target area of a breast of a human or an animal, the cannula being structured to be manually deformable; and

a rotational element structured to be operatively coupled to source of rotational energy, the rotational element disposed at least partially in the cannula and cooperatively engaged therewith and being structured to form a source of suction effective to at least assist in drawing material from the target area of a breast into the cannula in response to rotation of the rotational element.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 which includes no other source of suction or aspiration.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rotational element includes a shaft and one or more outwardly extending projections.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the one or more outwardly extending projections have a substantially helical configuration.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rotational element includes a distal portion that extends beyond the open distal tip of the cannula.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the distal portion of the rotational element includes one or more outwardly extending projections having a substantially helical configuration.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the rotational element includes a shaft portion that extends beyond the open distal tip of the cannula.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rotational element includes a distal portion that extends a distance in a range of about 0.02 inches to about 1 inch beyond the open distal tip of the cannula.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cannula has an outer diameter no greater than about 5 mm.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cannula has an outer diameter no greater than about 2 mm.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the open distal tip of the cannula is beveled or is substantially perpendicular with respect to a longitudinal axis of the cannula.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a collection chamber, in communication with the cannula, structured to contain material passed through the cannula.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the collection chamber is structured to facilitate quantification of the material removed from a breast of a human or animal.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 which further comprises a motor operatively coupled to the rotational element to provide rotation to the rotational element.

15. An apparatus for removing tissue from a target area of a breast of a human or an animal, the apparatus comprising:

a handpiece;

a cannula, having an outer diameter of about 5 mm or less, and including a proximal end portion structured to be coupled to the handpiece and an open distal tip structured to be placed in a target area of a breast of a human or animal, the cannula structured to be manually deformable; and

a rotational element being cooperatively engaged with the cannula to form a source of suction effective to at least assist in drawing tissue into the open distal tip in response to rotation of the rotational element, the rotational element including a shaft and a having distal portion extending beyond the open distal tip of the cannula, and a proximal end portion structured to be operatively coupled to a source of rotational energy.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the rotational element and the cannula are sized and positioned to cooperate to form suction effective in drawing tissue from a breast into the cannula in response to rotation of the rotational element.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 which includes no other source of suction or aspiration.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the rotational element includes one or more outwardly extending projections.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the one or more outwardly extending projections have a substantially helical configuration.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the distal portion of the rotational element includes one or more outwardly extending projections having a substantially helical configuration.

21. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the shaft extends beyond the open distal tip of the cannula.

22. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the distal portion of the rotational element extends a distance in a range of about 0.02 inches to about 1 inch beyond the open distal tip of the cannula.

23. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the cannula has an outer diameter no greater than about 2 mm.

24. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the open distal tip of the cannula is beveled or is substantially perpendicular with respect to a longitudinal axis of the cannula.

25. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a collection chamber, in communication with the cannula, structured to contain tissue passed through the cannula.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the collection chamber is structured to facilitate quantification of tissue passed through the cannula.

27. An apparatus for removing material from a target area of a breast of a human or an animal, the apparatus comprising:

a handpiece;

a cannula including a proximal end portion structured to be coupled to the handpiece and an open distal tip structured to be placed in a target area of a breast of a human or an animal;

a rotational element structured to be operatively coupled to a source of rotational energy, the rotational element disposed at least partially in the cannula and being cooperatively engaged with the cannula and structured to form a source of suction effective to at least assist in drawing material from the target area of a breast into the cannula in response to rotation of the rotational element; and

a collection chamber, in communication with the cannula, structured to contain material passed through the cannula.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the collection chamber is structured to facilitate quantification of the material removed from a breast of a human or animal.

29. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the rotational element and the cannula cooperatively engage to form a source of suction effective in drawing material from a target area of a breast into the cannula in response to rotation of the rotational element.

30. The apparatus of claim 27 which includes no other source of suction or aspiration.

31. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the rotational element includes a shaft and one or more outwardly extending projections.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the one or more outwardly extending projections have a substantially helical configuration.

33. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the cannula has an outer diameter no greater than about 5 mm.

34. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the cannula has an outer diameter no greater than about 2 mm.

35. An apparatus for removing tissue from a target area of a breast of a human or an animal, the apparatus comprising:

a handpiece;

a cannula, having an outer diameter of about 5 mm or less, and including a proximal end portion structured to be coupled to the handpiece and an open distal tip structured to be placed in a target area of a breast of a human or animal;

a rotational element cooperatively engaged with the cannula to form a source of suction effective to at least assist in drawing tissue into the open distal tip in response to rotation of the rotational element, the rotational element including a shaft and having a distal portion extending beyond the open distal tip of the cannula, and a proximal end portion structured to be operatively coupled to a source of rotational energy; and

a collection chamber, in communication with the cannula, structured to contain tissue passed through the cannula.

36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the collection chamber is structured to facilitate quantification of tissue passed through the cannula.

37. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the rotational element and the cannula are sized and positioned to cooperate to form suction effective in drawing tissue from a breast into the cannula in response to rotation of the rotational element.

38. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the rotational element includes a shaft and one or more outwardly extending projections.

39. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein the one or more outwardly extending projections have a substantially helical configuration.

40. The apparatus of claim 35 which further comprises a motor operatively coupled to the rotational element to provide rotation to the rotational element.

41. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the cannula has an outer diameter no greater than about 2 mm.

42. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the rotational element and the cannula cooperatively engage to form a source of suction effective in drawing material from a target area of a breast into the cannula in response to rotation of the rotational element.

43. The apparatus of claim 42 which includes no other source of suction or aspiration.