Biopsy needle actuator assembly
First Claim
1. A biopsy needle actuator device, comprising:
- an actuator moving a biopsy needle between a rest position and a first position;
an engagement member operably connected to the actuator;
a counter assembly operably connected to the needle actuator device registering movement of the biopsy needle between the rest position and the first position, comprising;
a register wheel with a toothed exterior wherein the engagement member engages the toothed exterior upon movement of the biopsy needle between the rest position and the first position; and
an index wheel operably connected to the register wheel registering rotational movement of the register wheel, comprising;
an event counter sequentially registering movement of the biopsy needle between the rest position and the first position; and
a cumulative counter sequentially registering cumulative movement of the biopsy needle between the rest position and the first position; and
a button configured to adjust the event counter.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A biopsy needle actuator assembly used with a biopsy needle for excising a tissue specimen from a target tissue in an animal includes a counter assembly for tracking the individual biopsy event associated with the actuator assembly, and tracking the cumulative number of firings of the actuator assembly to ensure the actuator assembly is replaced prior to failure. The counter assembly registers movement of the biopsy needle during use, aids an operator in proper identification of the biopsy specimen during a biopsy event, and aids the user in correlating the location and orientation of pathological findings of the biopsy specimen in the target tissue in vivo to aid in treatment of the target tissue.
79 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A biopsy needle actuator device, comprising:
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an actuator moving a biopsy needle between a rest position and a first position; an engagement member operably connected to the actuator; a counter assembly operably connected to the needle actuator device registering movement of the biopsy needle between the rest position and the first position, comprising; a register wheel with a toothed exterior wherein the engagement member engages the toothed exterior upon movement of the biopsy needle between the rest position and the first position; and an index wheel operably connected to the register wheel registering rotational movement of the register wheel, comprising; an event counter sequentially registering movement of the biopsy needle between the rest position and the first position; and a cumulative counter sequentially registering cumulative movement of the biopsy needle between the rest position and the first position; and a button configured to adjust the event counter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A biopsy needle actuator device, comprising:
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an actuator moving a biopsy needle between a rest position and a first position; and a counter assembly operably connected to the actuator registering movement of the biopsy needle between the rest position and the first position, the counter assembly comprising; an event counter sequentially registering movement of the biopsy needle between the rest position and the first position; and a cumulative event counter sequentially registering cumulative movement of the biopsy needle between the rest position and the first position; and a bypass button adapted to allow movement of the biopsy needle between the rest position and the first position without advancing the counter assembly. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A biopsy needle actuator device, comprising:
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an actuator moving a biopsy needle between a rest position and a first position; and a counter assembly operably connected to the actuator for registering movement of the biopsy needle between the rest position and the first position, the counter assembly comprising; an event counter for sequentially registering movement of the biopsy needle between the rest position and the first position; a cumulative event counter for sequentially registering cumulative movement of the biopsy needle between the rest position and the first position; an index wheel operably connected to the event counter and cumulative event counter for registering movement of the biopsy needle between the rest position and the first position; and wherein rotational movement of the index wheel sequentially advances each of the event counter and cumulative event counter one whole number; an engagement member connected to the actuator for engaging and rotating the index wheel; a biasing member connected to the engagement member; wherein the index wheel is spaced apart from the actuator; wherein the engagement member extends rearward and upward from the actuator toward the index wheel when the actuator is at the rest position; and wherein the biasing member allows the engagement member to move away from the index wheel as the biopsy needle moves from the first position to the rest position. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification