System for improved tissue-handling and in line analysis of the tissue

• US 9,492,130 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2011
• Issued: 11/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hologic Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hologic Incorporated
• Inventors: Flagle, Jacob, Ang, Chia Yee, DeFreitas, Kenneth F., Shaw, Ian, LaViola, John, Perkins, Samantha, Nicoson, Zachary R.
• Primary Examiner(s): EISEMAN, ADAM JARED
• Application Number:
  US13/383,318
• Publication Number:
  US 20130231585A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,818 Days
• Field of Search: 600562-568
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 10/0275 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 6/4405 the apparatus being movable or portable, e.g. handheld or mounted on a trolley
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/026 Fluid interfacing between devices or objects, e.g. connectors, inlet details
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0684 Venting, avoiding backpressure, avoid gas bubbles
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/146 Employing pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/18 Transport of container or devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/021 Identification, e.g. bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/025 Displaying results or values with integrated means
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0672 Integrated piercing tool
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0681 Filter
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0478 pistons
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/049 vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0605 check valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0644 rotary valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502 with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures centrifugal-type cuvettes G01N21/07; analysis by separation into components G01N30/00; automatic analysers G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0481 Pneumatic tube conveyors; Tube mails; "Rohrpost"
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/04 Details of the conveyor system G01N35/021 - G01N35/028 take precedence

Abstract

A system for analysis of biopsy samples includes a tissue sample transport mechanism linking a biopsy sample excision tool to a tissue sample holder disposed in a staging area of an analysis unit. The tissue sample is automatically transported from the excision tool to the specimen holder, where the tissue sample is analyzed in the staging area of the analysis unit. The transport mechanism may include tubing and a vacuum source. The tissue sample holder may be configured to slow or temporarily stop a tissue sample for individual analysis, or collect multiple tissue samples for analysis as a group. A tissue sample sorting mechanism may be employed that allows separation of specimens that can be correlated to the analysis.

Claims

1. A tissue biopsy and imaging system, comprising:

an imager comprising an imaging field;

a specimen holder; and

a biopsy device having a tissue output portion fluidly coupled to the specimen holder by a flexible tissue aspiration line, wherein the specimen holder is positioned in a fluid communication path between the biopsy device and a vacuum source so such that a tissue sample obtained with the biopsy device is delivered through the aspiration line into a tissue holding compartment of the specimen holder,

wherein the system is configured to move the specimen holder relative to the imager in order to position the tissue holding compartment within the imaging field of the imager for imaging the tissue sample while the specimen holder remains positioned in the fluid communication path.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a processor coupled to the imager and configured for analyzing an image acquired by the imager of the tissue sample delivered from the biopsy device through the aspiration line.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a cabinet, wherein the imager and the specimen holder are enclosed within the cabinet.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the imager comprises an energy source and an energy detector.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the imaging field is located between the energy source and the energy detector.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a display operatively coupled to the imager, and configured for displaying an image acquired by the imager of the tissue sample delivered from the biopsy device through the aspiration line.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the specimen holder comprises a plurality of separate tissue holding compartments, each compartment having an inlet, and wherein the specimen holder is rotatable relative to an outlet of the tissue aspiration line so as to selectively place the inlet of a respective tissue compartment[s] in communication with the outlet of the aspiration line.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the imager is an X-ray imager.

9. A tissue biopsy and imaging system, comprising:

an imager comprising an imaging field; and

a biopsy device having a tissue output portion directly coupled to the imager by a tissue aspiration line, such that a tissue sample obtained with the biopsy device is delivered through the aspiration line to the imager for imaging, wherein the imager is configured to image the tissue sample as the tissue sample travels through the tissue aspiration line at a non-zero velocity.