Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A device for performing a biopsy comprising: a needle having a handgrip and a cannula connected to the handgrip; a cannula bore within the cannula; a mandrel movable within the cannula bore, the mandrel having a capped end; a chamber located within the handgrip and being in communication with the cannula bore, the chamber having an hermetically sealed end and a communicating end, the communicating end permitting communication between the chamber and the cannula bore; and interception means for use with the handgrip, the interception means being capable of locking the mandrel within the cannula bore during insertion of the needle into a patient, and permitting movement of the mandrel within the cannula bore during the biopsy, whereby biopsy tissue entering the cannula bore acts on the capped end of the mandrel urging it towards and into the chamber, the extent of movement of the capped end within the chamber being measurable to indicate the quantity of tissue in the cannula bore.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
162 words
A device for performing a biopsy comprising: a needle having a handgrip and a cannula connected to the handgrip; a cannula bore within the cannula; a mandrel movable within the cannula bore, the mandrel having a capped end; a chamber located within the handgrip and being in communication with the cannula bore, the chamber having an hermetically sealed end and a communicating end, the communicating end permitting communication between the chamber and the cannula bore; and interception means for use with the handgrip, the interception means being capable of locking the mandrel within the cannula bore during insertion of the needle into a patient, and permitting movement of the mandrel within the cannula bore during the biopsy, whereby biopsy tissue entering the cannula bore acts on the capped end of the mandrel urging it towards and into the chamber, the extent of movement of the capped end within the chamber being measurable to indicate the quantity of tissue in the cannula bore.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sealed end of the chamber is provided by an edge of the handgrip.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cannula and handgrip are rigidly fixed to each other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the handgrip further comprises a channel between the chamber and the cannula bore, the channel receiving the interception means in at least two working positions, a first working position of the interception means preventing movement of the mandrel within the cannula bore, and a second working position permitting movement of the mandrel within the cannula bore.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the channel comprises a hole having an axis substantially perpendicular to that of the cannula bore and the chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the channel defines a seat for the interception means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
76 words
A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the interception means comprises a stem, a hole in the stem which registers with the cannula bore and the chamber when the interception means is in the second working position, the stem having an enlarged head at one end thereof acting as a stop for movement of the interception means within the channel and a pair of opposing arms at another end thereof, the arms being elastically deformable.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the chamber comprises at least one transparent wall so that the interior of the chamber can be viewed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
A device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the transparent wall comprises spaced markings so that the position of the mandrel in the chamber and cannula bore can be determined by observing the position of the capped end of the mandrel within the chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising sensor means for determining the position of the mandrel in the cannula bore, the sensor means sensing the position of the capped end of the mandrel within the chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device as claimed in claim 10 wherein the sensor means comprises a variable resistor upon which the free end of the mandrel acts to vary the voltage (V R ) across ends of the resistor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
A device as claimed in claim 10 wherein the sensor means comprises at least one magnetic member associated with the free end of the mandrel, the magnetic members cooperating with presence sensors located in different positions within the chamber.