Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
A device for obtaining biopsy samples, said device comprising: a housing having proximal and distal ends and a distal tip terminating the distal end, a cannula having proximal and distal ends mounted at the distal end of said housing, the distal tip of said housing being open; a drill bit/plunger component slidably mounted in said housing, said drill bit/plunger component including a plunger and a drill bit having proximal and distal ends with a cutting tip at the distal end of said drill bit, said drill bit extending through said plunger in a fluid-tight seal, said drill bit/plunger component being sized to fit within said housing such that when said drill bit/plunger component is inserted in said housing, said drill bit passes through said cannula and such that when said plunger abuts the distal end of said housing, said cutting tip extends beyond the distal end of said cannula, a rotational energy element for providing rotational energy to said drill bit/plunger component, coupling means for coupling said rotational energy element to said drill bit/plunger component, and means for actuating said rotational energy element so as to impart rotational movement to said coupling means and said component.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
196 words
A device for obtaining biopsy samples, said device comprising: a housing having proximal and distal ends and a distal tip terminating the distal end, a cannula having proximal and distal ends mounted at the distal end of said housing, the distal tip of said housing being open; a drill bit/plunger component slidably mounted in said housing, said drill bit/plunger component including a plunger and a drill bit having proximal and distal ends with a cutting tip at the distal end of said drill bit, said drill bit extending through said plunger in a fluid-tight seal, said drill bit/plunger component being sized to fit within said housing such that when said drill bit/plunger component is inserted in said housing, said drill bit passes through said cannula and such that when said plunger abuts the distal end of said housing, said cutting tip extends beyond the distal end of said cannula, a rotational energy element for providing rotational energy to said drill bit/plunger component, coupling means for coupling said rotational energy element to said drill bit/plunger component, and means for actuating said rotational energy element so as to impart rotational movement to said coupling means and said component.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device according to claim 1, wherein said housing is a syringe housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device according to claim 2, wherein said housing is made of glass.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device according to claim 1, wherein said rotational energy element includes motor means for generating said rotational energy and switch means connected to said motor means for actuating said motor means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The device according to claim 1, wherein said rotational energy element includes means to drive said rotatable coupling so that said coupling and said cutting tip rotate at a rate between 60 to about 800 revolutions per minute.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
The device according to claim 1, wherein said means for actuating said rotational energy element comprises a battery mounted on an external portion of said rotational energy element and a contact mounted on an external portion of the proximal end of said housing such that when said battery contacts said contact, rotational energy is imparted to said rotational energy element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device according to claim 1, wherein said cutting tip includes a blade which is helically shaped.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
The device according to claim 1, wherein said coupling means which couples said rotational energy element to said drill bit/plunger component comprises an opening with threads, and wherein said rotational energy element comprises a pin with laterally extending tabs so that said pin is inserted into said opening and rotated one-half turn relative to said opening for engaging said laterally extending tabs into said threads.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device according to claim 1, wherein said housing is made of clear plastic.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device according to claim 1, wherein said cannula and said drill bit are made of medical grade stainless steel materials.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
241 words
A method for obtaining a biopsy tissue sample, said method comprising the steps of: puncturing said tissue to effect a passageway for a biopsy device while inserting a hollow cannula, providing a device having a housing with an open distal tip and a drill bit/plunger component including a plunger and a drill bit having a cutting tip, said drill bit extending through said plunger, said component being located in said housing such that a distal portion of said drill bit extends through said open distal tip and said plunger abuts the distal tip, said plunger having a diameter greater than the diameter of said distal tip, coupling the proximal end of said cannula to the open distal tip of said hosing such that said cutting tip passes through and extends beyond the distal end of said cannula, providing a rotational energy element capable of producing rotational energy, coupling said rotational energy element to said drill bit/plunger component by means of a rotatable coupling, actuating said rotational energy element to cause said coupling and said drill bit to rotate, collecting a biopsy tissue sample on said cutting tip, aspirating said sample into said cannula by retracting said rotational energy element and said drill bit/plunger component in a proximal direction, withdrawing said cannula and drill bit from the tissue, and depositing said biopsy sample by exerting pressure on said rotational energy element and, in turn, said drill bit/plunger component in a distal direction.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
241 words
A method for obtaining a biopsy tissue sample, said method comprising the steps of: puncturing said tissue to effect a passageway for a biopsy device while inserting a hollow cannula, providing a device having a housing with an open distal tip and a drill bit/plunger component including a plunger and a drill bit having a cutting tip, said drill bit extending through said plunger, said component being located in said housing such that a distal portion of said drill bit extends through said open distal tip and said plunger abuts the distal tip, said plunger having a diameter greater than the diameter of said distal tip, coupling the proximal end of said cannula to the open distal tip of said hosing such that said cutting tip passes through and extends beyond the distal end of said cannula, providing a rotational energy element capable of producing rotational energy, coupling said rotational energy element to said drill bit/plunger component by means of a rotatable coupling, actuating said rotational energy element to cause said coupling and said drill bit to rotate, collecting a biopsy tissue sample on said cutting tip, aspirating said sample into said cannula by retracting said rotational energy element and said drill bit/plunger component in a proximal direction, withdrawing said cannula and drill bit from the tissue, and depositing said biopsy sample by exerting pressure on said rotational energy element and, in turn, said drill bit/plunger component in a distal direction.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of detaching said rotational energy element from said drill bit/plunger component and disposing of said housing and drill bit/plunger component.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method according to claim 11, wherein said step of actuating said rotational energy element further comprises actuating a motor powered by a battery by switching an on/off switch means connected to said battery for actuating said motor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method according to claim 11, wherein said rotational energy element delivers rotational energy to said rotatable coupling so that said coupling and said cutting tip rotate at a rate between about 60 and about 800 revolutions per minute.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of maintaining rotational movement of said rotational energy element while aspirating said sample.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method according to claim 11, wherein said step of coupling said cannula to said housing further comprises coupling said cannula to said housing by a first coupling means and wherein said step of coupling said rotational energy element to said drill bit/plunger comprises coupling said rotational energy element to said drill bit/plunger component by a second coupling means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 11, wherein said collecting step takes between 1 and about 10 seconds.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
110 words
A biopsy device comprising: a syringe housing having an open distal end, a cannula mounted on said distal end of said housing, coupling means slidably mounted in said housing for transmitting a rotational drive force, said coupling means including a plunger and drill means extending distally through said plunger, said open distal end of said housing and said cannula for collecting a biopsy sample, and drive means connected to said coupling means for rotating said coupling means to collect a biopsy sample when said plunger is slid in a distal direction to project said drill bit beyond a distal end of said cannula and cut tissue from a biopsy site.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
110 words
A biopsy device comprising: a syringe housing having an open distal end, a cannula mounted on said distal end of said housing, coupling means slidably mounted in said housing for transmitting a rotational drive force, said coupling means including a plunger and drill means extending distally through said plunger, said open distal end of said housing and said cannula for collecting a biopsy sample, and drive means connected to said coupling means for rotating said coupling means to collect a biopsy sample when said plunger is slid in a distal direction to project said drill bit beyond a distal end of said cannula and cut tissue from a biopsy site.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
A biopsy device as in claim 18, wherein said drive means is slidably mounted in said housing.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
A biopsy device as in claim 19, wherein said drive means includes a connector threadingly engaging said coupling means for moving said coupling means when said drive means is moved within said housing.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of obtaining a biopsy sample from tissue, said method comprising: puncturing tissue with a stylet and cannula at a biopsy site from which a biopsy sample is to be taken, inserting a rotating drill means through said cannula to extend from a distal end of said cannula for rotating a drill bit to collect a biopsy sample, and withdrawing said rotating drill means from said biopsy site while aspirating said biopsy site.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of obtaining a biopsy sample from tissue, said method comprising: puncturing tissue with a stylet and cannula at a biopsy site from which a biopsy sample is to be taken, inserting a rotating drill means through said cannula to extend from a distal end of said cannula for rotating a drill bit to collect a biopsy sample, and withdrawing said rotating drill means from said biopsy site while aspirating said biopsy site.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of obtaining a biopsy sample as in claim 21, wherein during aspiration of the biopsy site, liquid is withdrawn into a syringe housing.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method of obtaining a biopsy sample as in claim 22, and further comprising the step of mounting said drill means on a coupling which is rotatably mounted in said housing.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method of obtaining a biopsy sample as in claim 21, wherein the puncturing of the tissue is done with a biopsy needle which includes said stylet and said cannula.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of obtaining a biopsy sample as in claim 21, wherein said drill means includes cutting means for collecting the biopsy sample.