System and method for capturing body tissue samples
First Claim
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1. A system for capturing a body tissue sample comprising:
- a bag formed of a flexible material, the bag including a first end and a second end, the first end being opened for receiving a body tissue sample and the second end being closed to the body tissue sample;
a vacuum tube that receives the bag and directs a vacuum through the bag for pulling the body tissue sample into the bag through the first end of the bag, the vacuum tube having a first end and a second end, the vacuum tube being configured to receive the bag therein with the bag first end in sealing engagement with the vacuum tube first end and the vacuum tube second end being configured for coupling to a vacuum source, the second end of the bag being configured to permit the body tissue sample to be confined in the bag while permitting the vacuum to pull the body tissue sample into the bag through the first end of the bag; and
an inner diameter defined within the vacuum tube and a stop mechanism that selectively reduces the inner diameter.
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Abstract
A system and method provides for the capture of body tissue samples such as lymph nodes. The system includes a bag formed of a flexible material having a first end opened for receiving the body tissue sample and a second end which is closed to the body tissue sample but which permits a vacuum to be pulled through the bag. The system further includes a vacuum tube in which the body tissue sample capture bag may be disposed and a vacuum source that pulls a vacuum through the body tissue sample capture bag for pulling the body tissue sample into the bag through the opened end of the bag.
168 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system for capturing a body tissue sample comprising:
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a bag formed of a flexible material, the bag including a first end and a second end, the first end being opened for receiving a body tissue sample and the second end being closed to the body tissue sample;
a vacuum tube that receives the bag and directs a vacuum through the bag for pulling the body tissue sample into the bag through the first end of the bag, the vacuum tube having a first end and a second end, the vacuum tube being configured to receive the bag therein with the bag first end in sealing engagement with the vacuum tube first end and the vacuum tube second end being configured for coupling to a vacuum source, the second end of the bag being configured to permit the body tissue sample to be confined in the bag while permitting the vacuum to pull the body tissue sample into the bag through the first end of the bag; and
an inner diameter defined within the vacuum tube and a stop mechanism that selectively reduces the inner diameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for capturing a body tissue sample comprising:
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bag means formed of a flexible material and including an opened end for receiving a body tissue sample and a closed end for capturing the body tissue sample, the closed end including means for capturing the body tissue sample while permitting a vacuum to be pulled from the opened end of the bag through the closed end of the bag;
a vacuum tube means for receiving the bag means and directing a vacuum pull through the bag means to pull the body tissue sample into the bag means through the opened end of the bag means, the vacuum tube means having a first end and a second end, the vacuum tube means for receiving the bag therein with the bag opened end in sealing engagement with the vacuum tube means first end and the vacuum tube means second end being configured for coupling to a vacuum source; and
wherein the vacuum tube means has an inner diameter and a stop means for selectively reducing the inner diameter. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of capturing a body tissue sample, the method including the steps of:
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loading a body tissue sample capture bag into a vacuum tube;
coupling the vacuum tube to a vacuum source;
disposing a body tissue sample capture bag adjacent to the body tissue to be sampled;
drawing a vacuum through the body tissue sample capture bag to suspend the body tissue to be sampled;
resectioning the body tissue sample; and
drawing the body tissue sample into the body tissue sample capture bag under the influence of the vacuum drawn through the body tissue sample capture bag. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A method of capturing a body tissue sample, the method comprising the steps of:
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disposing a body tissue sample capture bag adjacent to the body tissue to be sampled;
reducing a radial dimension of the body tissue sample bag;
drawing a vacuum through the body tissue sample capture bag to suspend the body tissue to be sampled;
resectioning the body tissue sample; and
drawing the body tissue sample into the body tissue sample capture bag under the influence of the vacuum drawn through the body tissue sample capture bag by expanding the radial dimension of the body tissue sample bag.
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Specification