Tissue separating and localizing catheter assembly

• US 7,846,159 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2006
• Issued: 12/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Artemis Medical, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Artemis Medical, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Laird, Robert J., Buehlmann, Eric L., Morrison, George A., Ventura, Christine P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak; Linda C
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCOTT, AMANDA L
• Application Number:
  US11/434,632
• Publication Number:
  US 20060293654A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,667 Days
• Field of Search: 606 32- 52
• US Class Current: 606/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/221 Gripping devices in the form of loops or baskets for gripping calculi or similar types of obstructions surgical snare instruments A61B17/32056
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/148 having a short, rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously, e.g. for neurosurgery or arthroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1475 Electrodes retractable in or deployable from a housing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3908 Soft tissue, e.g. breast tissue

Abstract

A tissue-separating catheter assembly comprises a rotatable shaft, having a distal shaft portion, and a tissue separator device extending along the shaft. The tissue separator device has a distal separator part at the distal shaft portion movable between a retracted state, towards the distal shaft portion, and an outwardly extending, operational state, away from the distal shaft portion. A localization device is movable to a radially expanded state. An expandable tubular element is movable so that its outer end is generally axially aligned with the localization device so to capture a separated tissue section therebetween to aid removal of the separated tissue section from the patient.

Claims

1. An energy-assisted needle assembly comprising:

a first conducting surface;

a second conducting surface capable of forming an electrical connection with the first conducting surface;

a needle capable of forming an electrical connection with the second conducting surface;

a first force biasing element disposed between and holding apart the first and second conducting surfaces;

a second force biasing element disposed between and holding apart the second conducting surface and the needle; and

an energy source operably connected to the first conducting surface and the needle,

wherein upon compression of the first force biasing element, the first conducting surface contacts the second conducting surface,

wherein upon compression of the second force biasing element, the needle contacts the second conducting surface, and

wherein energy is delivered to the needle when the first and second conducting surfaces and the needle are all in contact such that a closed circuit is formed.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first force biasing element is a spring.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the second force biasing element is a spring.

4. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a needle clamp securing the needle.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the energy source is an RF generator.

6. A method for penetrating tissue, comprising the steps of:

providing an energy-assisted needle assembly comprising;

a first conducting surface;

a second conducting surface capable of forming an electrical connection with the first conducting surface;

a needle capable of forming an electrical connection with the second conducting surface;

a first force biasing element disposed between and holding apart the first and second conducting surfaces;

a second force biasing element disposed between and holding apart the second conducting surface and the needle; and

an energy source operably connected to the first conducting surface and the needle;

compressing the first force biasing element to form an electrical connection between the first and second conducting surface;

compressing the second force biasing element to form an electrical connection between the second conducting surface and the needle; and

delivering energy to the needle when the first and second conducting surfaces and the needle are all in contact such that a closed circuit is formed in order to assist the needle in penetrating the tissue.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first force biasing element is compressed by forcing the first conducting surface downwards to contact the second conducting surface.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the second force biasing element is compressed by placing the needle in contact with tissue, the tissue forcing the needle upwards to contact the second conducting surface.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein RF energy is delivered to the needle.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the first force biasing element is a spring.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the second force biasing element is a spring.