Excisional devices having selective cutting and atraumatic configurations and methods of using same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of retrieving a specimen from a mass of tissue, comprising:
- providing a device having a proximal and a distal end and including, near the distal end, a tissue cutter adapted to cut the specimen from the mass of tissue and a specimen collector adapted to collect the cut specimen, the device further including a tip disposed at the distal end thereof, the tip being configured to selectably assume a first configuration that is effective to cut tissue and a second configuration that is ineffective to cut tissue, the tip being biased to assume the second configuration;
a first causing step to cause the tip to assume the first configuration;
inserting the device into the mass of tissue with the tip in the first configuration, the inserting step causing the tip to assume the first configuration;
a second causing step to cause the tip to assume the second configuration;
moving the tissue cutter to cut the specimen from the mass of tissue;
moving the tissue collector to collect the cut specimen, andretracting the device from the mass of tissue while the tip remains in the second configuration.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Surgical devices include a selectively cutting and atraumatic distal tip that is configured to assume a first configuration in which cutting surface or surfaces thereof are effective to cut tissue and a second configuration in which the cutting surface or surfaces thereof are ineffective to cut tissue.
103 Citations
50 Claims
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1. A method of retrieving a specimen from a mass of tissue, comprising:
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providing a device having a proximal and a distal end and including, near the distal end, a tissue cutter adapted to cut the specimen from the mass of tissue and a specimen collector adapted to collect the cut specimen, the device further including a tip disposed at the distal end thereof, the tip being configured to selectably assume a first configuration that is effective to cut tissue and a second configuration that is ineffective to cut tissue, the tip being biased to assume the second configuration; a first causing step to cause the tip to assume the first configuration; inserting the device into the mass of tissue with the tip in the first configuration, the inserting step causing the tip to assume the first configuration; a second causing step to cause the tip to assume the second configuration; moving the tissue cutter to cut the specimen from the mass of tissue; moving the tissue collector to collect the cut specimen, and retracting the device from the mass of tissue while the tip remains in the second configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A device to cut and collect a specimen from a mass of tissue, comprising:
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a shalt defining a proximal and a distal end; a cut and collect assembly on the shaft near the distal end, the cut and collect assembly being configured to cut the specimen from the mass of tissue and to collect the cut specimen; and a selectively atraumatic and cutting tip disposed at the distal end of the shaft, the tip including a tissue cutting surface or edge that is configured to selectably assume a first configuration that is effective to cut tissue and a second configuration that is ineffective to cut tissue, the tip farther including a resilient member that exerts a biasing force that biases the cutting surface or edge to assume the second configuration, the tip being configured such that when the device is advanced into the mass of tissue, a force exerted by the mass of tissue against the tip overcomes the biasing force and causes the tip to assume the first configuration. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A surgical device, comprising:
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a shaft defining a proximal and a distal end, an actuator attached near the proximal end of the shaft a work element configured to act upon tissue, the work element being coupled to the actuator and disposed near the distal end of the shaft; a distal tip filled to the distal end of the shaft, the distal tip including an inflatable bladder, the distal tip being configured to assume a first configuration in which the bladder is inflated and the distal lip extends a first distance from the distal end of the shaft and is effective to cut tissue and a second configuration in which the bladder is at least partially deflated and the distal tip extends a second distance from the distal end of the shaft and is ineffective to cut tissue, the second distance being less than the first distance. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of retrieving a specimen from a mass of tissue, comprising:
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providing a device having a proximal and a distal end and including, near the distal end, a tissue cutter adapted to cut the specimen from the mass of tissue and a specimen collector adapted to collect the cut specimen, the device further including a tip disposed at the distal end thereof, the tip including a selectively inflatable bladder that is being configured to selectably assume a first configuration that is effective to cut tissue and a second configuration that is ineffective to cut tissue; a first causing step to cause the bladder to one of inflate and deflate to cause the tip to assume the first configuration; inserting the device into the mass of tissue with the tip in the first configuration; a second causing step to cause the bladder to deflate if the first causing Step caused the bladder to inflate or to deflate if the first causing step caused the bladder to deflate, to cause the tip to assume the second configuration; moving the tissue cutter to cut the specimen from the mass of tissue; moving the tissue collector to collect the cut specimen, and retracting the device from the mass of tissue while the tip remains in the second configuration.
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29. A device to cut and collect a specimen from a mass of tissue, comprising:
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a shalt defining a proximal end a distal end; a cut and collect assembly on the shaft near the distal end, the cut and collect assembly being configured to cut the specimen from the mass of tissue and to collect the cut specimen; and a selectively atraumatic and cutting tip disposed at the distal end of the shaft, the tip including a selectively inflatable bladder and a tissue cutting surface or edge, the cutting surface or edge being configured to selectably assume; a first configuration that is effective to cut tissue when the bladder is inflated and a second configuration that is ineffective to cut tissue when the bladder is deflated, or a first configuration that is effective to cut tissue when the bladder is deflated and a second configuration that is ineffective to cut tissue when the bladder is inflated.
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30. A device to cut and collect a specimen from a mass of tissue, comprising:
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a shaft defining a proximal and a distal end; a cut and collect assembly on the shaft near the distal end, the cut and collect assembly being configured to cut the specimen from the mass of tissue and to collect the cut specimen; and
a selectively atraumatic and cutting tip disposed at the distal end of the shaft, the tip including a tissue cutting surface or edge that is configured to selectably assume a first configuration that is effective to cut tissue and a second configuration that is ineffective to cut tissue, the tip further including a guard that is configured to slide on the shaft to selectively expose and cover the tissue cutting surface.
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31. A surgical device for acting upon biological tissue, comprising:
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a shaft defining a proximal end and a distal end; a work assembly adapted to act upon the tissue, the work assembly being disposed near the distal end of the shaft and including a sheath that is configured to at least partially trail the distal end of the shaft as the device is removed from the tissue, and a distal tip, the distal tip including a cutting surface that is adapted to cut the tissue, the distal tip including a selectively inflatable bladder that is configured to selectively uncover the cutting surface when the device is inserted into the tissue and to cover the cutting surface as the device is removed from the tissue so the cutting surface does not damage the sheath. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A surgical device for acting upon biological tissue, comprising:
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a shaft defining a proximal end and a distal end; a work assembly adapted to act upon the tissue, the work assembly being disposed near the distal end of the shaft and including a sheath that is configured to at least partially trail the distal end of the shall as the device is removed from the tissue, and a distal tip, the distal tip including selectively inflatable bladder and a cutting surface that is adapted to cut the tissue, the bladder being configured to expose the cutting surface to surrounding tissue when inflated and to move the cutting surface away from the surrounding tissue when deflated so the cutting surface does not damage the sheath as the device is removed from the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification