Excisional biopsy devices and methods
First Claim
1. A method of cutting and removing a specimen of breast tissue, comprising the steps of:
- providing an excisional device that includes a shaft, a cutting element coupled to the shaft and a tissue collection element coupled to the shaft, the tissue collection element being independently movable relative to the cutting element, both the cutting element and the tissue collection element being movable from a retracted position to an expanded position;
introducing the excisional device into the breast tissue with the tissue collection and cutting elements both in the retracted position;
expanding the cutting element to the expanded position after the introducing step;
moving the cutting element to cut the specimen from the breast tissue;
encapsulating the cut specimen with the tissue collection element while maintaining the cut specimen intact; and
removing the excisional device from the breast tissue while the specimen remains encapsulated within the tissue collection element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An excisional biopsy system includes a tubular member that has a proximal end and a distal end in which one or more windows are defined. A first removable probe has a proximal portion that includes a cutting tool extender and a distal portion that includes a cutting tool. The first removable probe may be configured to fit at least partially within the tubular member to enable the cutting tool to selectively bow out of and to retract within one of the windows when the cutting tool extender is activated. A second removable probe has a proximal section that includes a tissue collection device extender and a distal section that includes a tissue collection device. The second removable probe may also be configured to fit at least partially within the tubular member to enable the tissue collection device to extend out of and to retract within one of the windows when the tissue collection device extender is activated. A third removable probe may also be provided. The third removable probe may also be configured to fit at least partially within the tubular member and may include an imaging device, such as an ultrasound transducer, mounted therein. By selectively activating the cutting tool and the tissue collection device while rotating the excisional device, a tissue specimen may be cut from the surrounding tissue and collected for later analysis.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method of cutting and removing a specimen of breast tissue, comprising the steps of:
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providing an excisional device that includes a shaft, a cutting element coupled to the shaft and a tissue collection element coupled to the shaft, the tissue collection element being independently movable relative to the cutting element, both the cutting element and the tissue collection element being movable from a retracted position to an expanded position;
introducing the excisional device into the breast tissue with the tissue collection and cutting elements both in the retracted position;
expanding the cutting element to the expanded position after the introducing step;
moving the cutting element to cut the specimen from the breast tissue;
encapsulating the cut specimen with the tissue collection element while maintaining the cut specimen intact; and
removing the excisional device from the breast tissue while the specimen remains encapsulated within the tissue collection element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
the introducing step includes positioning the shaft along side of the specimen to be cut; and
the moving step includes rotating the shaft about the longitudinal axis so that the cutting element cuts the specimen the breast tissue as the shaft rotates.
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20. A excisional device for cutting and removing a specimen of breast tissue, comprising:
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a shaft;
a cutting element coupled to the shaft and configured to cut the specimen of breast tissue from surrounding breast tissue;
a tissue collection element coupled to the shaft, the tissue collection element being configured to encapsulate the cut specimen, isolate the cut specimen from the surrounding breast tissue, and maintain the encapsulated specimen intact, the tissue collection element being independently movable relative to the cutting element, both the cutting element and the tissue collection element being movable from a refracted position to an expanded position. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification