SYSTEM FOR IMPROVED TISSUE-HANDLING AND IN LINE ANALYSIS OF THE TISSUE

• US 20130231585A1
• Filed: 11/24/2011
• Published: 09/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hologic Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hologic Incorporated
• Inventors: Flagle, Jacob, DeFreitas, Kenneth F., Shaw, Ian, Ang, Chia Yee, LaViola, John, Perkins, Samantha, Nicoson, Zachary R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,492,130 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/565
• 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

1-46. -46. (canceled)

47. A tissue biopsy and imaging system, comprising:

an imager comprising an imaging field;

a specimen holder disposed in the imaging field of the imager;

a biopsy device having a tissue output portion fluidly coupled to the specimen holder by a tissue aspiration line, such that tissue samples obtained with the biopsy device are delivered directly through the aspiration line to the specimen holder for real-time imaging.

48. The system of claim 47, further comprising a processor coupled to the imager and configured for analyzing images acquired by the imager of tissue samples delivered from the biopsy device through the aspiration line.

49. The system of claim 47, the imager comprising a staging area proximate the imaging field, wherein the specimen holder is disposed in the staging area.

50. The system of claim 49, further comprising a cabinet, wherein the imager, the staging area, and the specimen holder are enclosed within the cabinet.

51. The system of claim 47, wherein the imager comprises an energy source and an energy detector.

52. The system of claim 51, further comprising a staging area positioned between the energy source and the energy detector.

53. The system of claim 47, further comprising a display coupled to the imager, and configured for displaying images acquired by the imager of tissue samples delivered from the biopsy device through the aspiration line.

54. The system of claim 47, 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 respective tissue compartments in communication with the aspiration line.

55. The system of claim 54, further comprising a vacuum source coupled to the specimen holder, such that the vacuum source is in fluid communication with the aspiration line via the specimen holder.

56. A tissue imaging system, comprising:

an imaging field;

a specimen holder disposed proximate the imaging field; and

an inlet port in fluid communication with the specimen holder, such that the specimen holder may receive a tissue specimen from an aspiration line coupled to the inlet port.

57. The tissue imaging system of claim 56, further comprising a staging area proximate the imaging field, wherein the specimen holder is disposed in the staging area.

58. The tissue imaging system of claim 57, further comprising a cabinet, wherein the imager, the staging area, and the specimen holder are enclosed within the cabinet.

59. The tissue imaging system of claim 56, 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 the inlet port so as to selectively place the respective tissue compartments in communication with an aspiration line coupled to the inlet port.

60. The tissue issue imaging system of claim 59, further comprising a vacuum port in fluid communication with the specimen holder, whereby a vacuum source coupled to the vacuum port is fluidly coupled via the specimen holder to an aspiration line coupled to the inlet port.

61. The tissue imaging system of claim 56, further comprising an energy source and an energy detector, wherein the specimen holder is positioned between the energy source and the energy detector.

62. The tissue imaging system of claim 56, further comprising a display configured for displaying images acquired of tissue samples delivered through the inlet port.

63. A method for tissue biopsy and imaging, comprising:

extracting a first tissue specimen with a biopsy device;

aspirating the first tissue specimen from the biopsy device through a vacuum line into a specimen holder disposed within the imaging field of an imager; and

imaging the first tissue specimen with the imager.

64. The method of claim 63, further comprising displaying an image of the first tissue specimen.

65. The method of claim 63, wherein the specimen holder comprises a plurality of tissue compartments, and the first tissue specimen is aspirated into a first one of the compartments.

66. The method of claim 65, further comprising

rotating the specimen holder relative to the aspiration line in order to align a second one of the compartments of the specimen holder with the aspiration line;

extracting a second tissue specimen with the biopsy device;

aspirating the second tissue specimen from the biopsy device through the aspiration line and into the second one of the compartments slots; and

imaging the second tissue specimen with the imager.

67. The method of claim 66, further comprising:

correlating the first one of the compartments in the specimen holder with a first rotational angle of a cutting window of the biopsy device; and

correlating the second one of the compartments in the specimen holder with a second rotational angle of the cutting window of the biopsy device.