Biopsy device and method

Claim 2

A biopsy device kit comprising: a rigid K-wire having a straight sharpened tip; a substantially straight, hollow cylindrical cannula having a sharpened annular end for cutting tissue; an obturator concentrically positionable within the cannula, said obturator comprising a solid cylinder having an outside diameter substantially less than an inside diameter of the hollow cylinder of the cannula so as to facilitate positioning of the obturator within the cannula, the solid cylinder being shaped so as to define a blunt end and having a cylindrical aperture extending concentrically through the solid cylinder along a longitudinal length thereof to accommodate the rigid K-wire when it is positioned therein; and, a snare for positioning over the cannula to effect severing of a tissue sample within the cannula.

Claim 3

A method of biopsy comprising the steps of: providing the kit of claim 1; inserting the rigid K-wire through a center of a lesion within a body of tissue; creating a skin incision within the body of tissue proximal to the rigid K-wire; positioning the obturator concentrically within the cannula such that a blunt end thereof projects beyond the sharpened end of the cannula; positioning the obturator over the rigid K-wire and inserting the cannula and obturator into the body of tissue through the incision; and, advancing the cannula into the body of tissue to cut a volume of tissue extending about the lesion.

Claim 4

The method of biopsy of claim 2, and further comprising the step of severing the volume of tissue extending about the lesion from the body of tissue.

Claim 5

The method of biopsy of claim 3, wherein the step of severing the volume of tissue extending about the lesion from the body of tissue comprises the steps of: providing a snare having a tightenable snare wire; positioning the snare over the sharpened end of the cannula; and, tightening the snare wire to effect severing of a volume of tissue from the body of tissue.

Claim 6

The method of biopsy of claim 3, wherein the step of severing the volume of tissue extending about the lesion from the body of tissue comprises the steps of: providing an orthogonal scalpel; positioning the orthogonal scalpel in a parallel orientation relative to the cannula; advancing the orthogonal scalpel into the body of tissue to create a relaxing incision extending substantially orthogonally from the cannula; providing a snare having a tightenable snare wire; positioning the snare over the sharpened end of the cannula; tightening the snare wire to effect severing of a volume of tissue from the body of tissue.

Claim 7

A biopsy device kit comprising: a rigid K-wire having a straight sharpened tip; a cannula comprising a substantially straight hollow cylinder having a sharpened annular end for cutting tissue; an obturator concentrically positionable within the cannula, said obturator comprising a solid cylinder having an outside diameter substantially less than an inside diameter of the hollow cylinder of the cannula so as to facilitate positioning of the obturator within the cannula, the solid cylinder being shaped so as to define a blunt end and a cylindrical aperture extending concentrically through the solid cylinder along a longitudinal length thereof; and, a snare for positioning over the cannula to effect severing of a tissue sample within the cannula, said snare comprising an at least partially hollow elongated member having a fixed handle at a first end thereof and a sliding handle slidably mounted relative to the elongated member, arcuate guide means for guiding the elongated member relative to the cannula, a snare wire coupled to the sliding handle, the snare wire projecting through the elongated member and exiting therefrom proximal to a second end of the elongated member, the snare wire being formed into a loop which can be drawn into the elongated member to effect severing of a tissue sample.

Claim 8

A biopsy device kit comprising: a rigid K-wire having a straight sharpened tip; a cannula comprising a substantially straight hollow cylinder having a sharpened annular end for cutting tissue; an obturator concentrically positionable within the cannula, said obturator comprising a solid cylinder having an outside diameter substantially less than an inside diameter of the hollow cylinder of the cannula so as to facilitate positioning of the obturator within the cannula, the solid cylinder being shaped so as to define a blunt end and a cylindrical aperture extending concentrically through the solid cylinder along a longitudinal length thereof; and, a snare for positioning over the cannula to effect severing of a tissue sample within the cannula, said snare comprising an at least partially hollow elongated member having a fixed handle at a first end thereof and a sliding handle slidably mounted relative to the elongated member, arcuate guide means for guiding the elongated member relative to the cannula, a snare wire coupled to the sliding handle, the snare wire projecting through the elongated member and exiting therefrom proximal to a second end of the elongated member, the snare wire being formed into a loop which can be drawn into the elongated member to effect severing of a tissue sample.

Claim 9

The biopsy device kit of claim 6 wherein the guide means includes an annular exterior groove, and further wherein the snare wire is shaped so as to define an offset portion which permits the snare wire to reside within the annular exterior groove during insertion of the snare into tissue to preclude unintentional engagement of the snare wire with surrounding tissue.

Claim 10

The biopsy device kit of claim 7 and further comprising an orthogonal scalpel means for creating an incision oriented substantially orthogonally relative to a tangent line taken along an exterior surface of the cannula.

Claim 11

The biopsy device kit of claim 8 and further comprising an incision guide means for facilitating precise incisions within tissue during a biopsy procedure.