Devices and methods for performing procedures on a breast

• US 7,517,348 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2004
• Issued: 04/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Encapsule Medical, LLC
• Original Assignee: Rubicor Medical Incorporated (Encapsule Medical Devices LLC)
• Inventors: Daniel, Sean C., Vetter, James W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson; Roy D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vrettakos; Peter J
• Application Number:
  US10/923,511
• Publication Number:
  US 20050119652A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,698 Days
• Field of Search: 606 27- 52
• US Class Current: 606/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0041 Detection of breast cancer mammography by transillumination A61B5/0091, by X-rays A61B6/502, by ultrasonic means A61B8/0825
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/02 Instruments for taking cell samples or for biopsy A61B10/0038 and A61B10/0045 take precedence; needle locating or guiding means A61B17/3403; samplers for enzymology or microbiology C12M1/26; sampling or preparing biological specimens G01N33/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0266 means for severing sample
• 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 10/04 Endoscopic instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320016 Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32056 Surgical snare instruments for removing or smashing calculi A61B2017/2212; tonsillotomes A61B17/26
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320725 with radially expandable cutting or abrading elements A61B17/32075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3439 with means for changing the inner diameter of the cannula, e.g. expandable A61B17/3423, A61B17/3431 take precedence; catheters A61M25/0662
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3476 Powered trocars, e.g. electrosurgical cutting, lasers, powered knives
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/148 having a short, rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously, e.g. for neurosurgery or arthroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1482 having a long rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously in minimal invasive surgery, e.g. laparoscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/008 Removal of tumors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22034 for gripping the obstruction or the tissue part from inside
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22047 Means for immobilising the guide wire in the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/306 holding by means of suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3488 Fixation to inner organ or inner body tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00011 with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1407 : Loop
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1475 : Electrodes retractable in or deployable from a housing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3782 : transmitter or receiver in catheter or minimal invasive instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3908 : Soft tissue, e.g. breast tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 : with suction drainage system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 : Irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/007 : Aspiration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/008 : for smoke evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 : Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/85 : with gas or fluid supply means, e.g. for supplying rinsing fluids or anticoagulants for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92, A61M1/94; combined with tracheal tubes A61M16/0463; dental instruments with combined rinsing and aspirating A61C17/0208

Abstract

A guide element is used to guide a cutting device when removing breast tissue. The cutting device may have a tissue collection element for collecting tissue. The tissue collection element may be detachable so that the collection element may be removed independent from the cutting device.

Claims

1. A method of removing breast tissue, comprising the steps of:

providing a tissue cutting device having a shaft and a cutting element, the cutting element being movable from a collapsed position to an expanded position;

introducing the tissue cuffing device into the patient'"'"'s breast through a first incision with the cutting element in the collapsed position;

expanding the cutting element;

moving the cutting element through breast tissue to cut around the tissue to be removed;

forming at least a part of a second incision in the patient'"'"'s breast without fully removing the cutting element from the patient'"'"'s breast, the second incision being different from the first incision, the second incision being formed by expanding the cutting element outwardly from the cut tissue until the cutting element breaches a surface of the breast, and

removing the breast tissue through the second incision.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the tissue removing device having a tissue collection element; and

the removing step being carried out with the tissue being carried in the tissue collection element.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the cutting element being an RF cutting element, the RF cutting element bowing outward when moving from the first position to the second position.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the forming step is also carried out with the second incision being partly formed by the tip of the tissue cutting device piercing through the skin at the second incision so that the tissue cutting device penetrates the first and second incisions.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

encapsulating the tissue to be removed in a tissue collection element; and

the removing step is carried out with the tissue contained in the tissue collection element.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of:

releasing the tissue collection element; and

the removing step being carried out with the tissue contained within the tissue collection element when removed through the second incision.

7. A method of removing breast tissue, comprising the steps of:

providing a tissue cutting device having a shaft, a tissue collection element and a cutting element, the cutting element being movable from a collapsed position to an expanded position;

introducing the tissue cuffing device into the patient'"'"'s breast through a first incision with the cutting element in the collapsed position;

expanding the cutting element;

moving the cutting element through breast tissue to cut around the tissue to be removed;

positioning the tissue cut by the cutting element into the tissue collection element; and

making a second incision that is different from the first incision by expanding the cutting element outwardly from the cut tissue until the cutting element breaches a surface of the breast;

removing the tissue collection element through the second incision using a removal device that extends through the second incision and that is coupled to the tissue collection element.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein:

the removing step is carried out with the removal device has a distal end movable between a collapsed position and an expanded position, the expanded position being flared outwardly.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein:

the removing step is carried out with the removal device having a suction opening coupled to a vacuum source, the removal device adhering to the tissue collection element with the suction opening.