Methods and devices for removing tissue from a patient

• US 7,635,340 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2005
• Issued: 12/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Encapsule Medical, LLC
• Original Assignee: Rubicor Medical Incorporated (Encapsule Medical Devices LLC)
• Inventors: Vetter, James W., Chernomorsky, Ary S., Anderson, Scott C., Clifford, Mark J., Daniel, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg; Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOEKSTRA, JEFFREY GERBEN
• Application Number:
  US11/099,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20060224084A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,722 Days
• Field of Search: 600/562, 600/564, 600/567, 606/167, 606/170, 606/174, 606/180, 606/184, 606/185
• US Class Current: 600/564
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0233 Pointed or sharp biopsy instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0266 means for severing sample
• 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 17/32053 Punch like cutting instruments, e.g. using a cylindrical or oval knife A61B17/326 takes precedence; trepans A61B17/1695; for use on the cornea A61F9/007
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32004 having a laterally movable cutting member at its most distal end which remains within the contours of said end
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320064 with tissue or sample retaining means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3908 Soft tissue, e.g. breast tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3925 ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3933 Liquid markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/395 with marking agent for marking skin or other tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3987 Applicators for implanting markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers

Abstract

The present invention is directed to tissue removal devices and methods. A tubular element having an open distal end is advanced into tissue so that tissue enters the tubular element. The tissue which entered the tubular element is cut to separate the tissue from the surrounding tissue. The tissue is then transported proximally by the cutting element or a separate transport element.

Claims

1. A method of removing tissue using a coring-type biopsy device having an open end rather than a lateral opening, comprising the steps of:

providing a tissue removal device which is a coring-type device having an open end rather than a lateral opening, the tissue removal device including a tubular element, a transport element, a tissue chamber and a cutting element, the tubular element having an open end at a distal end, the transport element and the cutting element being positioned at least partially within the tubular element and being movable relative to the tubular element, the cutting element being movable relative to the tubular element between a stored position and a cutting position to separate tissue cut by the tubular element from surrounding tissue;

introducing the device into a patient;

advancing the tubular element in a distal direction so that tissue enters the tubular element through the open end, the tubular element being advanced so that tissue also enters the transport element and is positioned within the transport element;

cutting the tissue which has entered the open end by moving the cutting element relative to the tubular element from the stored position to the cutting position after the advancing step, the cutting element separating the tissue which has entered the open end from the surrounding tissue to form a first tissue mass; and

transporting the first tissue mass proximally with the transport element to the tissue chamber.

2. The method of removing tissue using a coring-type biopsy device having an open end rather than a lateral opening of claim 1, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the transport element also having an open end positioned proximal to the open end of the tubular element; and

the advancing step is carried out with the tissue entering the transport element through the open end of the transport element.

3. The method of removing tissue using a coring-type biopsy device having an open end rather than a lateral opening of claim 1, wherein:

the transporting step is carried out with the cutting element being in the cutting position and moving proximally with the transport element when transporting the first tissue mass to the tissue chamber.

4. The method of removing tissue using a coring-type biopsy device having an open end rather than a lateral opening of claim 1, wherein:

the transporting step is carried out with the distal end of the tubular element remaining within the patient, the distal end of the transport element moving to a position outside the patient when transporting the first tissue mass to the tissue chamber.

5. The method of removing tissue using a coring-type biopsy device having an open end rather than a lateral opening of claim 1, wherein:

the advancing step is carried out with the cutting element being in the stored position, the cutting element being positioned between the tubular element and the transport element when in the stored position.

6. The method of removing tissue using a coring-type biopsy device having an open end rather than a lateral opening of claim 5, wherein:

the cutting step is carried out with at least one of the tubular element, the transport element and the cutting element rotating about a longitudinal axis of the tubular element.

7. The method of removing tissue using a coring-type biopsy device having an open end rather than a lateral opening of claim 5, wherein:

the cutting step is carried out with the cutting element rotating about a longitudinal axis when cutting the tissue.

8. The method of removing tissue using a coring-type biopsy device having an open end rather than a lateral opening of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

advancing the transport element over the tissue after the tissue has entered the open end of the tubular element.

9. The method of removing tissue using a coring-type biopsy device having an open end rather than a lateral opening of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing an introducer having a sharp tip at a distal end, the tissue chamber being positioned to receive the first tissue mass when the transport element transports the first tissue mass proximally, the introducer being movable between a first position in which the sharp tip extends beyond the open end and a second position in which the sharp tip is positioned away from the open end to expose the open end;

the introducing step being carried out with the introducer in the first position so that the sharp tip is positioned beyond the open end of the tubular element; and

the transporting step including the step of contacting the first tissue mass with the distal end of the introducer while the first tissue is transported proximally and when the introducer is in the second position, wherein contact with the distal end of the introducer stops the first tissue mass while the transport element is retracted thereby permitting the first tissue mass to fall into the tissue chamber.

10. The method of removing tissue using a coring-type biopsy device having an open end rather than a lateral opening of claim 1, wherein:

the cutting and transporting steps are carried out automatically after the advancing step.