Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A biopsy forceps for obtaining multiple tissue specimens of an organ through a biopsy channel of an endoscope, comprising: a tubular body having a length and outside diameter for passage through the biopsy channel; a set of jaws mounted on a distal end of the body; means for operating the jaws to grasp and remove a tissue specimen; a needle centrally received through the body and slideable therethrough, wherein the needle is operable independently of the jaws to transfix a tissue specimen while the specimen is held by the set of jaws; a retaining element adjacent a distal end of the needle to sequentially collect a plurality of tissue specimens on the needle; and a proximal activating handle for independently operating the jaws and needle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
A biopsy forceps for obtaining multiple tissue specimens of an organ through a biopsy channel of an endoscope, comprising: a tubular body having a length and outside diameter for passage through the biopsy channel; a set of jaws mounted on a distal end of the body; means for operating the jaws to grasp and remove a tissue specimen; a needle centrally received through the body and slideable therethrough, wherein the needle is operable independently of the jaws to transfix a tissue specimen while the specimen is held by the set of jaws; a retaining element adjacent a distal end of the needle to sequentially collect a plurality of tissue specimens on the needle; and a proximal activating handle for independently operating the jaws and needle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The forceps of claim 1, wherein the jaws are closed by activation of a cable actuator disposed in the tube body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
149 words
A biopsy forceps for obtaining multiple tissue specimens of an organ through a biopsy channel of an endoscope, comprising: an outer tube having a length and outside diameter for passage through the biopsy channel; an inner tube concentric with the outer tube and slideably received therein; a set of jaws mounted on a distal end of the inner tube operable by longitudinally sliding the inner and outer tubes with respect to each other to grasp and remove a tissue specimen; a needle centrally received through the body and slideable therethrough, wherein the needle is operable independently of the jaws to transfix a tissue specimen while the specimen is held by the set of jaws; a retaining element adjacent a distal end of the needle to sequentially collect a plurality of tissue specimens on the needle; and proximal activating handles for operating the inner and outer tubes, jaws and needle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
149 words
A biopsy forceps for obtaining multiple tissue specimens of an organ through a biopsy channel of an endoscope, comprising: an outer tube having a length and outside diameter for passage through the biopsy channel; an inner tube concentric with the outer tube and slideably received therein; a set of jaws mounted on a distal end of the inner tube operable by longitudinally sliding the inner and outer tubes with respect to each other to grasp and remove a tissue specimen; a needle centrally received through the body and slideable therethrough, wherein the needle is operable independently of the jaws to transfix a tissue specimen while the specimen is held by the set of jaws; a retaining element adjacent a distal end of the needle to sequentially collect a plurality of tissue specimens on the needle; and proximal activating handles for operating the inner and outer tubes, jaws and needle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
10 words
The forceps of claim 3 made of a disposable material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The forceps of claim 4, wherein the inner and outer tubes are made of a substantially rigid plastic material which is flexible along the biopsy channel of the endoscope.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The forceps of claim 3, including graduation markings on the tubes for identifying the tissue location of each specimen collected.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The forceps of claim 3, wherein the jaws are cusp shaped, include a cutting edge and are made from a metallic or ceramic material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The forceps of claim 7, wherein the jaws are talon shaped.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The forceps of claim 3, wherein the retaining element includes a barb.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The forceps of claim 3, wherein the retaining element includes a helical configuration of the needle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The forceps of claim 3, wherein the needle is attached to a distal end of a wire slideably disposed in the inner tube.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The forceps of claim 11, wherein the proximal handle manually advances and retracts the wire in sequence with the closing and opening of the jaws.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
119 words
A method for obtaining multiple tissue biopsies of an organ through an endoscope, comprising the sequential steps of: (a) inserting an endoscope having a biopsy channel to visualize an area to be biopsied; (b) inserting the biopsy forceps of claim 1 through the biopsy channel; (c) placing the jaws in contact with tissue to be biopsied; (d) operating the jaws to grasp a sample of the tissue to be biopsied; (e) transfixing the grasped tissue with the needle to engage the tissue sample with the retaining element; (f) repeating steps (c) through (e) to sequentially collect a plurality of tissue samples on the needle; and (g) withdrawing the biopsy forceps from the biopsy channel to retrieve the tissue samples.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
174 words
A method for obtaining multiple tissue biopsies of an organ through an endoscope, comprising the sequential steps of: (a) inserting an endoscope having a biopsy channel to visualize an area to be biopsied; (b) inserting an outer tube through the biopsy channel, the outer tube including an inner tube concentric therewith and slideably received therein; (c) placing jaws mounted on a distal end of the inner tube in contact with tissue to be biopsied, the jaws operable by longitudinally sliding the inner and outer tubes with respect to each other; (d) operating the jaws to grasp a sample of the tissue to be biopsied; (e) transfixing the grasped tissue with a needle to engage the tissue sample with a retaining element thereon, the needle centrally received through the inner tube and slideable therethrough, wherein the needle is operable independently of the jaws; (f) repeating steps (c) through (e) to sequentially collect a plurality of tissue samples on the needle; and (g) withdrawing the biopsy forceps from the biopsy channel to retrieve the tissue samples.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
174 words
A method for obtaining multiple tissue biopsies of an organ through an endoscope, comprising the sequential steps of: (a) inserting an endoscope having a biopsy channel to visualize an area to be biopsied; (b) inserting an outer tube through the biopsy channel, the outer tube including an inner tube concentric therewith and slideably received therein; (c) placing jaws mounted on a distal end of the inner tube in contact with tissue to be biopsied, the jaws operable by longitudinally sliding the inner and outer tubes with respect to each other; (d) operating the jaws to grasp a sample of the tissue to be biopsied; (e) transfixing the grasped tissue with a needle to engage the tissue sample with a retaining element thereon, the needle centrally received through the inner tube and slideable therethrough, wherein the needle is operable independently of the jaws; (f) repeating steps (c) through (e) to sequentially collect a plurality of tissue samples on the needle; and (g) withdrawing the biopsy forceps from the biopsy channel to retrieve the tissue samples.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 14, including reading graduation markings on the tubes for identifying the tissue location of each sample collected after the transfixing step (e).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the jaws are attached to the inner tube and the operating step (d) includes the step of slideably retracting the inner tube with respect to the outer tube or slideably advancing the outer tube with respect to the inner tube to close the jaws.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the retaining element includes a plurality of barbs.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the retaining element includes a helical configuration of the needle.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the needle is attached at a distal end of a wire slideably mounted in the inner tube.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 19, wherein the transfixing step (d) includes the step of manually advancing and retracting the wire in sequence with the jaw operating step.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 20, wherein the operating and transfixing steps (d-e) are effected by manipulating a proximal activating handle.