US20040019297A1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Biopsy needle
Assignee: The University of Texas System
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Filing: 2003-03-20
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2023-03-20
Abstract
Abstract A biopsy needle assembly may include a sample needle, an actuator and a cutter. A sample needle may include a sample opening. A tissue sample may be positioned in the sample opening when the sample needle is inserted into tissue of a patient. The actuator may be activated to move the cutter relative to the sample needle and separate sample tissue in the sample opening from adjacent tissue. The biopsy needle assembly may be removed from the patient and the sample may be removed from the sample opening. In some embodiments, the sample needle may be inserted in tissue through an instrument (e.g., an endoscope). The biopsy needle assembly may include a sheath that inhibits a sample needle and a cutter from contacting the instrument when the biopsy needle is inserted in the instrument.
Inventors
- 👤 Luis Angel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 22:10
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B10/00; A61B10/02; A61B10/04; A61B10/0233; A61B10/0266; A61B10/0275; A61B10/0283
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
1 . A biopsy device, comprising: a cutter comprising a cutting edge; a sample needle, wherein at least a portion of the sample needle is positionable in the cutter; an actuator coupled to the cutter and the sample needle; and wherein the actuator is configured to alter a spatial relationship between the cutter and the sample needle such that a tissue sample seated within a sample opening of the sample needle is separated from adjacent tissue by the cutting edge.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
80 words
1 . A biopsy device, comprising: a cutter comprising a cutting edge; a sample needle, wherein at least a portion of the sample needle is positionable in the cutter; an actuator coupled to the cutter and the sample needle; and wherein the actuator is configured to alter a spatial relationship between the cutter and the sample needle such that a tissue sample seated within a sample opening of the sample needle is separated from adjacent tissue by the cutting edge.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
2 . The biopsy device of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the cutter is flexible.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
3 . The biopsy device of claim 1 , further comprising a sheath, wherein the cutter is positionable in the sheath.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
4 . The biopsy device of claim 1 , wherein an end of the cutter is tapered to facilitate insertion of the cutter into tissue.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
5 . The biopsy device of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion the sample needle is flexible.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
6 . The biopsy device of claim 1 , wherein an end of the sample needle is tapered to facilitate insertion of the sample needle into tissue.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
7 . The biopsy device of claim 1 , wherein the sample needle comprises a connector configured to attach to a vacuum source.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
8 . The biopsy device of claim 1 , wherein the cutter comprises a connector configured to attach to a vacuum source.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
67 words
9 . The biopsy device of claim 1 , further comprising a sheath, wherein the cutting edge and the sample needle are positioned in the sheath when the actuator is in a first position relative to the sheath; and wherein a needle portion of the sample needle is extended beyond an end of the sheath when the actuator is in a second position relative to the sheath.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
10 . The biopsy device of claim 1 , wherein the sample needle comprises a section of hardened material to facilitate insertion into tissue.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
11 . The biopsy device of claim 1 , wherein the cutting edge comprises a section of hardened material to facilitate insertion into tissue.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
80 words
12 . A biopsy needle assembly, comprising: a sample needle comprising a sample opening; a cutter in working relation to the sample needle, wherein a cutting edge of the cutter is configured to separate tissue positioned in the sample opening from adjacent tissue; and a drive mechanism coupled to the sample needle and the cutter, the drive mechanism configured to move the cutting edge relative to the sample needle to separate tissue positioned in the sample opening from adjacent tissue.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
80 words
12 . A biopsy needle assembly, comprising: a sample needle comprising a sample opening; a cutter in working relation to the sample needle, wherein a cutting edge of the cutter is configured to separate tissue positioned in the sample opening from adjacent tissue; and a drive mechanism coupled to the sample needle and the cutter, the drive mechanism configured to move the cutting edge relative to the sample needle to separate tissue positioned in the sample opening from adjacent tissue.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
68 words
13 . The biopsy needle assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a sheath, wherein a portion of the sample needle and a portion of the cutter are positionable in the sheath in an initial position such that the sample opening is within the sheath; and wherein the sample needle is movable relative to the sheath so that the sample opening extends beyond an end of the sheath.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
70 words
14 . The biopsy needle assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a sheath for holding a portion of the sample needle and a portion of the cutter in an initial position, wherein a portion of the sample needle extends beyond an end of the sheath when the sheath is in a second position relative to the sample needle; and wherein at least a portion of the sheath is flexible.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
15 . The biopsy needle assembly of claim 12 , further comprising an actuator, wherein the sample needle is coupled to the actuator; and wherein the actuator comprises a release for the drive mechanism.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
16 . The biopsy needle assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a holder to maintain the drive mechanism in an initial position and hold a position of a needle portion of the sample needle relative to the cutting edge.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
17 . The biopsy needle assembly of claim 12 , wherein the drive mechanism comprises a spring.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
18 . The biopsy needle assembly of claim 12 , wherein the sample needle comprises an opening configured to allow a vacuum to be drawn on the sample opening of the sample needle.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
19 . The biopsy needle assembly of claim 12 , wherein a portion of the sample needle is flexible.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
20 . The biopsy needle assembly of claim 12 , wherein a portion of the cutter is flexible.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
45 words
21 . A biopsy needle, comprising: a body; a tip at a first end of the body, the tip configured to be inserted into tissue; and a slot in the body adjacent to the tip, wherein the slot is configured to hold a tissue sample.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
45 words
21 . A biopsy needle, comprising: a body; a tip at a first end of the body, the tip configured to be inserted into tissue; and a slot in the body adjacent to the tip, wherein the slot is configured to hold a tissue sample.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
22 . The biopsy needle of claim 21 , further comprising a hollow portion in communication with the slot and a second end of the body.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
23 . The biopsy needle of claim 21 , wherein the body comprises a flexible portion.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
34 words
24 . The biopsy needle of claim 21 , further comprising a hollow portion in communication with the slot and an opening in a surface of the body in communication with the hollow portion.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
25 . The biopsy needle of claim 21 , wherein the body comprises a hollow flexible portion.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
41 words
26 . A method for obtaining a biopsy sample, comprising: placing a sample opening of a sample needle in tissue to be sampled; and moving a cutter relative to the sample needle to-separate tissue in the sample opening from adjacent tissue.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
41 words
26 . A method for obtaining a biopsy sample, comprising: placing a sample opening of a sample needle in tissue to be sampled; and moving a cutter relative to the sample needle to-separate tissue in the sample opening from adjacent tissue.
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