US5913857A — Methods and devices for collection of soft tissue

Claim 1

Independent Claim 127 words

A tissue sampling apparatus, comprising: a tubular body having a primary lumen for receiving a tissue sample, and having a distal end and a proximal end, said lumen having a cross-sectional area; an electrosurgical cutting element disposed along an axial length of said tubular body, said cutting element including a distal cutting end and having an axially extended position and an axially retracted position relative to said tubular body; wherein the distal cutting end of the electrosurgical cutting element is disposed transversely to extend across a portion of the cross-sectional area of said lumen when the cutting element is in said axially extended position, and is not disposed to extend across the cross-sectional area of said lumen when the cutting element is in said axially retracted position.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 127 words

A tissue sampling apparatus, comprising: a tubular body having a primary lumen for receiving a tissue sample, and having a distal end and a proximal end, said lumen having a cross-sectional area; an electrosurgical cutting element disposed along an axial length of said tubular body, said cutting element including a distal cutting end and having an axially extended position and an axially retracted position relative to said tubular body; wherein the distal cutting end of the electrosurgical cutting element is disposed transversely to extend across a portion of the cross-sectional area of said lumen when the cutting element is in said axially extended position, and is not disposed to extend across the cross-sectional area of said lumen when the cutting element is in said axially retracted position.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 17 words

The tissue sampling apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the electrosurgical cutting element comprises a wire.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 20 words

The tissue sampling apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the wire comprises an electrically conductive shaped metallic memory wire.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 17 words

The tissue sampling apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the wire cross-section comprises a rectangular shape.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 83 words

The tissue sampling apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said tubular body comprises an outer wall, said outer wall having a cutter channel disposed therein, said electrosurgical cutting element being disposed within said cutter channel, wherein when the cutting element is in said axially extended position the distal end thereof extends distally beyond a distal end of the cutter channel and when the cutting element is in said axially retracted position the entire distal end thereof is disposed within said cutter channel.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 20 words

The tissue sampling apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the tubular body is comprised of a non-electrically conductive material.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 23 words

The tissue sampling apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said tubular body lumen is sized to accommodate a plurality of tissue samples.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 29 words

The tissue sampling apparatus as recited in claim 1, and further comprising a coating on an interior surface of the tubular body to facilitate transport of tissue samples therethrough.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 28 words

The tissue sampling apparatus as recited in claim 1, and further comprising depth marks on said tubular body to facilitate positioning of the apparatus in a patient's body.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 91 words

The tissue sampling apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said tubular body is rotatable at two different rotational velocities, said tissue sampling apparatus further comprising a first actuation switch for energizing said electrosurgical cutting element and rotating said tubular body at a first higher rotational velocity when said electrosurgical cutting element is in said axially retracted position, and a second actuation switch for energizing said electrosurgical cutting element and rotating said tubular body at a second lower rotational velocity when said electrosurgical cutting element is in said axially extended position.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 52 words

The tissue sampling apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said tubular body is rotatable, said tissue sampling apparatus further comprising a pivotable trigger, said trigger being adapted to move said electrosurgical cutting element to the axially extended position and to simultaneously rotate said tubular body at a relatively low rotational velocity.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 48 words

The tissue sampling apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said tissue sampling apparatus further comprises a housing, said housing having a lid portion which is openable relative to a remaining housing portion, said tubular body being removable from said housing for ready disposal after a single use.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 20 words

The tissue sampling apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said tubular body is constructed of inexpensive disposable plastic material.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 120 words

A tissue sampling apparatus, comprising: a tubular body having a primary lumen for receiving a tissue sample, and having a distal end and a proximal end, said tubular body being comprised of disposable materials; an electrosurgical cutting element disposed along an axial length of said tubular body; a housing for enclosing a portion of the tubular body, the housing comprising a lid portion which is openable relative to a body portion thereof; said tubular body including a rotational drive portion for interconnecting with a rotational driving mechanism in said housing for selectively rotating said tubular body, wherein said tubular body, including said rotational drive portion, is removable from said housing and readily replaceable by another tubular body between medical procedures.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 120 words

A tissue sampling apparatus, comprising: a tubular body having a primary lumen for receiving a tissue sample, and having a distal end and a proximal end, said tubular body being comprised of disposable materials; an electrosurgical cutting element disposed along an axial length of said tubular body; a housing for enclosing a portion of the tubular body, the housing comprising a lid portion which is openable relative to a body portion thereof; said tubular body including a rotational drive portion for interconnecting with a rotational driving mechanism in said housing for selectively rotating said tubular body, wherein said tubular body, including said rotational drive portion, is removable from said housing and readily replaceable by another tubular body between medical procedures.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 17 words

The tissue sampling apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein said rotational drive mechanism comprises a gear.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 30 words

The tissue sampling apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein said electrosurgical cutting element comprises a wire which is selectively extendable and retractable along an axis of said tubular body.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 31 words

The tissue sampling apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein a distal end of said wire curves in a direction generally transverse to said axis when the wire is extended distally.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 170 words

A method of capturing a body tissue sample using a tissue sampling apparatus comprising a tubular body having a lumen extending therethrough and a distal end, an electrosurgical cutting element having a distal end portion which is disposed distally of the distal end of the tubular body, and an actuator for moving the cutting element, the method comprising: energizing the electrosurgical cutting element; rotating the tubular body at a relatively high rate of speed; advancing the tubular body through a tissue portion a desired distance so that the energized electrosurgical element cuts a tissue sample core as the tissue sample enters the lumen; advancing the electrosurgical cutting element to an extended position relative to the tubular body so that said distal end portion extends radially inwardly across a portion of a distal end of said tissue sample core; and rotating the tubular body at a relatively low rate of speed, so that the distal end portion of the electrosurgical cutting element severs said tissue sample core from said tissue portion.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 170 words

A method of capturing a body tissue sample using a tissue sampling apparatus comprising a tubular body having a lumen extending therethrough and a distal end, an electrosurgical cutting element having a distal end portion which is disposed distally of the distal end of the tubular body, and an actuator for moving the cutting element, the method comprising: energizing the electrosurgical cutting element; rotating the tubular body at a relatively high rate of speed; advancing the tubular body through a tissue portion a desired distance so that the energized electrosurgical element cuts a tissue sample core as the tissue sample enters the lumen; advancing the electrosurgical cutting element to an extended position relative to the tubular body so that said distal end portion extends radially inwardly across a portion of a distal end of said tissue sample core; and rotating the tubular body at a relatively low rate of speed, so that the distal end portion of the electrosurgical cutting element severs said tissue sample core from said tissue portion.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the electrosurgical cutting element is advanced to said extended position and the tubular body is rotated at said relatively low rate of speed simultaneously.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method as recited in claim 18, and further comprising the steps of removing the tubular body from the apparatus at the conclusion of a medical procedure, and installing a new tubular body prior to the commencement of another medical procedure.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-06-21	2002-12-21	2003-06-22	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-06-21	2006-12-21	2007-06-22	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-06-21	2010-12-21	2011-06-22	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Methods and devices for collection of soft tissue

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