Tissue extraction devices and methods

• US 8,728,066 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2013
• Issued: 05/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Minerva Surgical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Arqos Surgical, Inc.
• Inventors: Shadduck, John H., Germain, Aaron, Klein, Kyle, Walker, Michael D., Truckai, Csaba
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ram, Jocelyn D
• Application Number:
  US13/910,873
• Publication Number:
  US 20130267937A1
• Time in Patent Office: 349 Days
• Field of Search: 606/32, 606/29, 606/41, 606/45, 606/167
• US Class Current: 606/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/015 Control of fluid supply or evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32002 with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3205 Excision instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1482 having a long rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously in minimal invasive surgery, e.g. laparoscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320028 with reciprocating movements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00196 reciprocating lengthwise
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00202 rotating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00559 Female reproductive organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00589 Coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00625 Vaporization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/048 in gaseous form
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/126 bipolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1437 whereby the windings of the spiral touch each other such as to create a continuous surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 Irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/007 Aspiration

Abstract

Tissue may be cut and extracted from an interior location in a patient'"'"'s body using a probe or tool which both effects cutting and causes vaporization of a liquid or other fluid to propel the cut tissue through an extraction lumen of the cutting device. The cutting may be achieved using an electrosurgical electrode assembly, including a first electrode on a cutting member and a second electrode within a cutting probe or tool. Thus, over a first cutting portion, radio frequency current may help cut the tissue and over a second or over transition region, the RF current may initiate vaporization of the fluid or other liquid to propel the tissue from the cutting device.

Claims

1. A method for cutting and extracting tissue from the interior of a patient'"'"'s body, said method comprising:

moving a cutting member of a tubular cutter to sever a tissue strip;

capturing the tissue strip in an extraction lumen in the cutter; and

causing a phase transition in a fluid proximate to the tissue strip to thereby apply a proximally directed expelling force to the tissue strip.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the phase transition is caused by applied energy from at least one energy source selected from the group consisting of an ultrasound transducer, a HIFU source, a laser source, a light energy source, a microwave or a resistive heat source.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the cutter is coupled to the energy source.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the energy source of the cutter also effects cutting of the tissue.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the cutter applies energy from the energy source to the fluid after the tissue has been cut.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the cutting member is configured to move axially relative to an axis of the tubular cutter.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the cutting member is configured to reciprocate relative to the axis.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the cutting member is configured to move relative to a window in an outer sleeve of the cutter.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the cutting member is configured to move relative to the window thereby causing window-open and window-closed positions.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the phase transition in the fluid is caused in the window-closed position.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein a projecting member of the cutter projects into a distal portion of the extraction lumen of the cutting member as the cutting member moves toward the window-closed position to push the tissue strip proximally in said distal portion of the extraction lumen.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the extraction lumen extends through the cutting member.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the expelling force assists in moving the tissue strip proximally in the extraction lumen.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the extraction lumen includes a distal portion having a first cross-section and a proximal portion having a second cross-section.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the first cross-section is smaller than the second cross-section.