Biopsy probe assembly having a mechanism to prevent misalignment of components prior to installation

• US 8,597,206 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2009
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bard Peripheral Vascular Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Bard Peripheral Vascular Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Videback, Karsten
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): DANEGA, RENEE A
• Application Number:
  US12/577,300
• Publication Number:
  US 20110087131A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,513 Days
• Field of Search: 600562-568, 606/167, 606/170, 606/176, 606/179, 606/180, 606/184, 606/185
• 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 2010/0208 Biopsy devices with actuators, e.g. with triggered spring mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated

Abstract

A biopsy probe assembly is configured for installation on a driver assembly. The biopsy probe assembly includes a plurality of components, each of the plurality of components being movable relative to another of the plurality of components, and each of the plurality of movable components having a respective alignment feature, wherein collectively the biopsy probe assembly has a plurality of alignment features. The plurality of alignment features of the plurality of components is aligned to form a continuous passage. A safety alignment pin is inserted into the continuous passage so as to lock relative positions of the plurality of components.

Claims

1. A biopsy probe assembly configured for installation on a driver assembly, comprising:

a biopsy probe having a sample basket arranged coaxially with a cutter cannula along a longitudinal axis;

a cover having a first alignment feature;

a housing slidably coupled to said cover, said housing having a second alignment feature;

a cannula driver having a third alignment feature, said cannula driver being slidably coupled to said housing, said cannula driver connected to said cutter cannula to facilitate movement of said cutter cannula along said longitudinal axis;

a flexible toothed rack connected to said sample basket to facilitate movement of said sample basket along said longitudinal axis;

a gear train contained in said housing, said gear train including a clutch drive configured to selectively drivably couple said gear train to said flexible toothed rack;

a pivot member pivotably coupled to said cannula driver, said pivot member providing selectable coupling between said cannula driver and said flexible toothed rack;

a slider assembly coupled to said pivot member to operate said pivot member to facilitate said selectable coupling between said cannula driver and said flexible toothed rack via said pivot member, said slider assembly being further configured to selectively engage said clutch drive, said slider assembly including a slider driver movable between an extended position and a retracted position, said retracted position of said slider driver configured to effect engagement of said clutch drive and disengagement between said cannula driver and said flexible toothed drive, and said extended position of said slider driver effecting a disengagement of said clutch drive and an engagement between said cannula driver and said flexible toothed drive, said slider driver having a fourth alignment feature; and

an alignment pin configured to facilitate manual concurrent engagement with each of said first alignment feature, said second alignment feature, said third alignment feature and said fourth alignment feature so as to lock relative positions of said cover, said housing, said cannula driver and said slider driver,

wherein each of said first alignment feature, said second alignment feature, said third alignment feature, and said fourth alignment feature is one of a slot and a channel, and said alignment pin has an elongate portion with a rectangular cross section, with said elongate portion received by said first alignment feature, said second alignment feature, said third alignment feature, and said fourth alignment feature.

2. The biopsy probe assembly of claim 1, wherein when said alignment pin is concurrently engaged with said first alignment feature, said second alignment feature, said third alignment feature and said fourth alignment feature, said slider driver is in said retracted position.

3. The biopsy probe assembly of claim 1, wherein said concurrent engagement occurs when said first alignment feature, said second alignment feature, said third alignment feature and said fourth alignment feature are aligned to form a continuous passage, with said alignment pin received in said continuous passage.

4. The biopsy probe assembly of claim 3, configured such that when said continuous passage is formed, said slider driver is in said retracted position.

5. A method for installing a biopsy probe assembly on a driver assembly to form a biopsy apparatus, comprising:

prepositioning a drive of said driver assembly to an initialized state;

providing said biopsy probe assembly configured for installation on said driver assembly, said biopsy probe assembly including a biopsy probe having a cannula arranged along a longitudinal axis coaxially with a sample basket, a cover having a first alignment feature, a housing slidably coupled to said cover, said housing having a second alignment feature, and a first driven unit slidably coupled to said housing, said first driven unit having a third alignment feature, said first driven unit being connected to said cannula to facilitate movement of said cannula along said longitudinal axis, wherein said first alignment feature, said second alignment feature and said third alignment feature are aligned to form a continuous passage, with an alignment pin being received in said continuous passage to lock relative positions of said cover, said housing and said first driven unit;

seating at least a portion of said biopsy probe assembly in an elongate cavity of said driver assembly, with said drive drivably engaging said first driven unit;

after said seating, removing said alignment pin to unlock said cover, said housing, and said first driven unit; and

after said alignment pin is removed, sliding said cover relative to said housing to latch said biopsy probe assembly to said driver assembly.