Tissue sample flushing system for biopsy device

• US 8,926,527 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2012
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bard Peripheral Vascular Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Bard Peripheral Vascular Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Videbk, Karsten, Jrgensen, Martin Bondo
• Primary Examiner(s): SZMAL, BRIAN SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US13/431,535
• Publication Number:
  US 20120184873A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: 600562-568, 600/104, 600/108, 600/158, 606/167, 606/16, 606/46, 606/34, 606/42, 604/22, 604/27, 738/638.3
• US Class Current: 600/566
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0096 Casings for storing test samples A61B10/0038 and A61B10/0045 take precedence; preservation of living parts of the human or animal body A01N1/02; containers for retaining a material to be analysed B01L3/50; containers for enzymology or microbiology C12M1/16; swab-sampler being part of enzymology or microbiology container C12M1/30
• 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 2010/0208 Biopsy devices with actuators, e.g. with triggered spring mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0225 for taking multiple samples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/002 Auxiliary appliance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0475 Special features of memory means, e.g. removable memory cards
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/315 Basket-type carriers for tissues

Abstract

A self-contained hand-held biopsy device includes a hollow needle having a distal end portion with a circumferential cutting edge. A sample-receiving device is received in the hollow needle, and has a tapered distal tip and a cavity configured to receive a tissue sample. The sample-receiving device is configured to move in the hollow needle between a first extended position and a second retracted position. A transport device is configured to move the sample-receiving device relative to the hollow needle. A liquid supply unit is configured to operatively connect to the cavity of the sample-receiving device when the sample-receiving device is in the second retracted position and is configured to deliver a flow of the flushing liquid to the cavity to facilitate tissue sample ejection from the cavity. The liquid supply unit is disconnected from the cavity of the sample-receiving device when the sample-receiving device is in the first extended position.

Claims

1. A self-contained hand-held biopsy device for acquiring at least one tissue sample from a body of a living being, comprising:

a hollow needle having a distal end portion with a circumferential cutting edge configured to sever a tissue sample from body tissue;

a sample-receiving device received in the hollow needle, the sample-receiving device having a cavity configured to receive the tissue sample, the sample-receiving device being configured to move in the hollow needle between a first extended position and a second retracted position;

a transport device coupled to the sample-receiving device, the transport device being configured to move the sample-receiving device relative to the hollow needle; and

a liquid supply unit configured to carry and supply a flushing liquid, the liquid supply unit being configured to operatively connect to the cavity of the sample-receiving device when the sample-receiving device is in the second retracted position and is configured to deliver a lateral flow of the flushing liquid to the cavity to facilitate a lateral tissue sample ejection from the cavity, and wherein the liquid supply unit is disconnected from the cavity of the sample-receiving device when the sample-receiving device is in the first extended position.

2. The biopsy device of claim 1, wherein the liquid supply unit includes a pump for supplying the flushing liquid from the liquid supply unit under pressure to the cavity of the sample-receiving device.

3. The biopsy device of claim 2, wherein the pump is a peristaltic pump.

4. The biopsy device of claim 1, wherein the liquid supply unit includes a liquid supply chamber and a plunger movably disposed in the liquid supply chamber.

5. The biopsy device of claim 1, comprising:

a handle unit having a drive unit configured to drive the transport device;

a disposable unit releasably coupled to the handle unit, the disposable unit including the transport device, the hollow needle and the sample-receiving device; and

the liquid supply unit being releasably mounted to one of the handle unit and the disposable unit.

6. The biopsy device of claim 1, comprising a sample-collecting device configured to receive the tissue sample ejected from the cavity of the sample-receiving device by the flushing liquid when the sample-receiving device is in the second retracted position.

7. The biopsy device of claim 6, wherein the sample-collecting device includes a plurality of receptacles configured to receive tissue samples, the sample-collecting device further including a mechanism configured to select a respective receptacle of the plurality of receptacles to receive a respective tissue sample.

8. The biopsy device of claim 1, wherein the transport device comprises a bendable elongate element.

9. The biopsy device of claim 1, wherein the sample-receiving device comprises a tube having a side port forming the cavity, and further comprising a vacuum source coupled in fluid communication with the cavity.

10. The biopsy device of claim 1, comprising a vacuum pump configured to generate a suction effect, the vacuum pump being coupled in fluid communication with the cavity of the sample-receiving device through a longitudinally extending passage in the sample-receiving device.

11. The biopsy device of claim 1, comprising:

a first user-operable firing mechanism configured to cause the hollow needle and the sample-receiving device to be longitudinally displaced in a distal direction, so as to penetrate body tissue; and

a second user-operable firing mechanism configured to cause the hollow needle to be longitudinally displaced in a distal direction from a first position, in which the sample-receiving device projects from the distal end portion of the hollow needle, to a second position, in which the hollow needle accommodates the cavity of the sample-receiving device, so as to sever the tissue sample from remaining body tissue at the tissue sample acquiring site.

12. The biopsy device of claim 1, comprising a control system configured to control movement of the transport device and configured to arrest the sample-receiving device in the second retracted position, the control system being configured to automatically detect a distance between the first extended position and the second retracted position.

13. A self-contained hand-held biopsy device for acquiring at least one tissue sample from a body of a living being, comprising:

(a) a disposable unit, including;

a hollow needle having a distal end portion with a circumferential cutting edge configured to sever a tissue sample from body tissue;

a sample-receiving device received in the hollow needle, the sample-receiving device having a tapered distal tip and a cavity configured to receive the tissue sample, the sample-receiving device being configured to move in the hollow needle between a first extended position and a second retracted position; and

a transport device coupled to the sample-receiving device, the transport device being configured to move the sample-receiving device relative to the hollow needle; and

(b) a handle unit configured to releasably mount the disposable unit, the handle unit including;

a drive unit configured to drive the transport device; and

a liquid supply unit configured to carry and supply a flushing liquid, the liquid supply unit being configured to operatively connect to the cavity of the sample-receiving device when the sample-receiving device is in the second retracted position and is configured to deliver a lateral flow of the flushing liquid to the cavity to facilitate a lateral tissue sample ejection from the cavity, and wherein the liquid supply unit is disconnected from the cavity of the sample-receiving device when the sample-receiving device is in the first extended position.

14. The biopsy device of claim 13, wherein the liquid supply unit includes a pump for supplying the flushing liquid from the liquid supply unit under pressure to the cavity of the sample-receiving device.

15. The biopsy device of claim 13, comprising a sample-collecting device configured to receive the tissue sample ejected from the cavity of the sample-receiving device by the flushing liquid when the sample-receiving device is in the second retracted position.

16. The biopsy device of claim 13, comprising:

a first user-operable firing mechanism configured to cause the hollow needle and the sample-receiving device to be longitudinally displaced in a distal direction, so as to penetrate body tissue; and

a second user-operable firing mechanism configured to cause the hollow needle to be longitudinally displaced in a distal direction from a first position, in which the sample-receiving device projects from the distal end portion of the hollow needle, to a second position, in which the hollow needle accommodates the cavity of the sample-receiving device, so as to sever the tissue sample from remaining body tissue at a body site.

17. The biopsy device of claim 13, comprising a control system configured to control movement of the transport device and configured to arrest the sample-receiving device in the second retracted position, the control system being configured to automatically detect a distance between the first extended position and the second retracted position.