Real-time pathology

• US 8,206,315 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Issued: 06/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Suros Surgical Systems Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Suros Surgical Systems Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Inventors: Mark, Joseph L., Miller, Michael E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): Danega, Renee
• Application Number:
  US12/241,644
• Publication Number:
  US 20100081964A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,365 Days
• Field of Search: 600/562, 600/564, 600/566, 600/547, 606/181
• US Class Current: 600/567
• 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 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00057 Light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00061 spectrum
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0091 for mammography

Abstract

A system for detecting abnormal tissue in a patient including an introducer cannula having a proximal opening and a distal opening. The system further includes a surgical instrument configured for selective insertion through the cannula. The surgical instrument further includes a tissue cutting opening positioned relative to the distal end of the introducer cannula when fully inserted through the introducer cannula. The system also includes a sensor configured to detect at least one property of the tissue of the patient. The sensor is located at a fixed distance relative to the distal end of the introducer cannula when the surgical instrument is inserted into the introducer cannula.

Claims

1. A system for detecting tissue in a patient comprising:

a surgical instrument configured for selective insertion into a patient, the surgical instrument further comprising an outer cannula having a tissue sampling aperture positioned adjacent a distal end of the outer cannula;

an inner cutting cannula positioned within the outer cannula, the inner cutting cannula including a cutting edge selectively moveable across the tissue sampling aperture to sever tissue; and

a sensor configured to detect at least one property of the tissue of said patient, the sensor fixedly attached to an inner surface of the outer cannula so as to contact tissue prolapsed through the sampling aperture, wherein the inner surface of the outer cannula to which the sensor is attached is oriented axially relative to a longitudinal axis of the outer cannula, and is positioned between the tissue sampling aperture and the distal end of the outer cannula.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is positioned opposite the cutting edge of the inner cutting cannula and at a perpendicular distance from a longitudinal axis of the inner cannula not greater than a maximum radial dimension of the inner cannula.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising an introducer cannula having a proximal opening and a distal opening, wherein the outer cannula is inserted into the introducer cannula prior to selective insertion into a patient.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the sensor is selectively rotatable relative to the introducer cannula.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a vacuum source that delivers vacuum adjacent the sensor.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the surgical instrument is a tissue resection device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is located adjacent the sampling aperture.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a processor electrically communicating with the sensor, the processor analyzing data from the sensor.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising an indicator.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the indicator indicates to a user an abnormality of the tissue of the patient.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the indicator indicates to a user a normality of the tissue of the patient.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a tissue collection filter that is configured to retain resected tissue therein, a vacuum source being operatively connected to the tissue collection filter to draw resected tissue into the tissue collection filter.

13. A system for detecting tissue in a patient comprising:

a surgical instrument configured for selective insertion into a patient, the surgical instrument further comprising an outer cannula having a tissue sampling aperture positioned adjacent a distal end of the outer cannula;

an inner cutting cannula positioned within the outer cannula, the inner cutting cannula including a cutting edge selectively moveable across the tissue sampling aperture to sever tissue; and

a sensor configured to detect at least one property of the tissue of said patient, the sensor fixedly attached to an inner surface of the outer cannula so as to contact tissue prolapsed through the sampling aperture, wherein the inner surface of the outer cannula to which the sensor is attached is oriented substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the inner cutting cannula.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the sensor and the tissue sampling aperture are generally arranged along a common plane oriented substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the outer cannula.

15. The system of claim 13, further comprising an introducer cannula having a proximal opening and a distal opening, wherein the outer cannula is inserted into the introducer cannula prior to selective insertion into a patient.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the sensor is selectively rotatable relative to the introducer cannula.

17. The system of claim 13, further comprising a vacuum source that delivers vacuum adjacent the sensor.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the surgical instrument is a tissue resection device.

19. The system of claim 13, further comprising a processor electrically communicating with the sensor, the processor analyzing data from the sensor.

20. The system of claim 13, further comprising an indicator.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the indicator indicates to a user an abnormality of the tissue of the patient.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the indicator indicates to a user a normality of the tissue of the patient.

23. The system of claim 13, further comprising a tissue collection filter that is configured to retain resected tissue therein, a vacuum source being operatively connected to the tissue collection filter to draw resected tissue into the tissue collection filter.

24. A system for detecting tissue in a patient comprising:

a surgical instrument configured for selective insertion into a patient, the surgical instrument further comprising an outer cannula having a tissue sampling aperture positioned adjacent a distal end of the outer cannula;

an inner cutting cannula positioned within the outer cannula, the inner cutting cannula including a cutting edge selectively moveable across the tissue sampling aperture to sever tissue; and

a sensor configured to detect at least one property of the tissue of said patient, the sensor fixedly attached to an inner surface of the outer cannula so as to contact tissue prolapsed through the sampling aperture, wherein the inner surface of the outer cannula to which the sensor is attached is oriented at an oblique angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the inner cutting cannula.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the sensor is positioned on an inner surface of the outer cannula that intersects the longitudinal axis of the inner cutting cannula.

26. The system of claim 24, further comprising an introducer cannula having a proximal opening and a distal opening, wherein the outer cannula is inserted into the introducer cannula prior to selective insertion into a patient.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the sensor is selectively rotatable relative to the introducer cannula.

28. The system of claim 24, further comprising a vacuum source that delivers vacuum adjacent the sensor.

29. The system of claim 24, wherein the surgical instrument is a tissue resection device.

30. The system of claim 24, further comprising a processor electrically communicating with the sensor, the processor analyzing data from the sensor.

31. The system of claim 24, further comprising an indicator.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the indicator indicates to a user an abnormality of the tissue of the patient.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the indicator indicates to a user a normality of the tissue of the patient.

34. The system of claim 24, further comprising a tissue collection filter that is configured to retain resected tissue therein, a vacuum source being operatively connected to the tissue collection filter to draw resected tissue into the tissue collection filter.

35. The system of claim 24, wherein the sensor is fixedly attached to the inner cutting cannula for concurrent movement therewith.

36. A system for detecting a characteristic of tissue in a patient comprising:

an outer cannula having a tissue sampling aperture positioned adjacent a distal end of the outer cannula;

an inner cutting cannula positioned within the outer cannula, the inner cutting cannula including a cutting edge selectively moveable across the tissue sampling aperture to sever tissue, and a lumen at least partially defining a fluid path for transporting the severed tissue away from the sampling aperture; and

a sensor configured to detect abnormal tissue of the patient, the sensor positioned within the fluid path and the lumen.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the inner cutting cannula includes a first end defined by the cutting edge, and an opposite second end, the sensor arranged within the inner cutting cannula between the first end and the second end.

38. The system of claim 36 further comprising a tissue collection filter configured to retain the resected tissue, the filter disposed within the fluid path, wherein the inner cutting cannula includes a first end defined by the cutting edge, and an opposite second end, the sensor being positioned within the fluid path between the first end and the tissue collection filter, and the second end and the tissue collection filter.

39. The system of claim 36, wherein the lumen at least partially defines an inner surface of the inner cutting cannula, the sensor being attached to the inner surface.

40. The system of claim 36, wherein the sensor is fixedly attached to the inner cutting cannula for concurrent movement therewith.

41. The system of claim 36, further comprising a processor electrically communicating with the sensor, said processor analyzing data from the sensor.

42. The system of claim 36, further comprising an indicator related to a determination of abnormality of the tissue.