US6261243B1 — Biopsy marker assembly and method of use

Claim 1

Independent Claim 152 words

A biopsy-marking assembly for obtaining a biopsy sample from a biopsy site in a patient and marking the biopsy site, comprising: an outer hollow needle defining a lumen therethrough; an inner needle having a first end and defining a tissue cutting point, a cavity adjacent said first end for receiving a tissue sample, and a marker chamber adjacent said first end, said inner needle being slideable relative to said outer needle between a first position wherein said first end of said inner needle is retracted within said lumen so that said outer needle covers said cavity and said marker chamber, and a second position wherein said first end of said inner needle is extended away from said outer needle to expose said first cavity and said marker chamber to tissue in the biopsy site; and a marking element contained within said marker chamber when said inner needle is in the first position.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 152 words

A biopsy-marking assembly for obtaining a biopsy sample from a biopsy site in a patient and marking the biopsy site, comprising: an outer hollow needle defining a lumen therethrough; an inner needle having a first end and defining a tissue cutting point, a cavity adjacent said first end for receiving a tissue sample, and a marker chamber adjacent said first end, said inner needle being slideable relative to said outer needle between a first position wherein said first end of said inner needle is retracted within said lumen so that said outer needle covers said cavity and said marker chamber, and a second position wherein said first end of said inner needle is extended away from said outer needle to expose said first cavity and said marker chamber to tissue in the biopsy site; and a marking element contained within said marker chamber when said inner needle is in the first position.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 16 words

The assembly of claim 1 , wherein said marker chamber is disposed oppositely to said cavity.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 22 words

The assembly of claim 2 , wherein said marker chamber is disposed at a distance between said first end and said cavity.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 23 words

The assembly of claim 2 , wherein said marker chamber is disposed at a distance distal to said first end and said cavity.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 13 words

The assembly of claim 1 , wherein said marking element is a micro-coil.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 14 words

The assembly of claim 1 , wherein said marking element is a metal rod.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 24 words

The assembly of claim 6 , wherein said rod is spring-coiled within said marker chamber when said inner needle is in the first position.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 44 words

The assembly of claim 6 , wherein said rod includes two legs and a joint between said two legs, said rod folded with said two legs facing one another and compressed within said marker chamber when said inner needle is in the first position.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 13 words

The assembly of claim 6 , wherein said rod is a continuous oval.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 24 words

The assembly of claim 9 , wherein said rod is compressed within said marker chamber when the inner needle is in the first position.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 26 words

The assembly of claim 6 , wherein said rod is coiled and compressible into said marker chamber when the inner needle is in the first position.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 42 words

The assembly of claim 6 , wherein said rod includes a pair of opposite ends and a curved middle portion which forms a spring when said rod is compressed within said marker chamber when said inner needle is in the first position.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 17 words

The assembly of claim 1 , wherein said marking element is composed of a shape memory alloy.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 83 words

The assembly of claim 1 , wherein said marking element comprises a first leg, a second leg and a joint disposed between said legs, said marker having a first marker position with said first leg and said second leg forced away from one another and a second released position wherein said legs and said joint form a V, the marker having a shape and size configured to be received within a marker chamber of a biopsy needle for transport to a biopsy site.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 16 words

The assembly of claim 1 , wherein said marking element includes stabilization means for grasping tissue.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 13 words

The assembly of claim 15 , wherein said stabilization means includes surface projections.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 65 words

A biopsy-marking assembly for obtaining a biopsy sample from a biopsy site in a patient and marking the biopsy site, comprising: a hollow needle defining a cavity for receiving a tissue sample; cutting means for cutting tissue and collecting the tissue in said cavity; a marker chamber adjacent said cutting means; a marking element contained with said marker chamber for delivery to the biopsy site.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 65 words

A biopsy-marking assembly for obtaining a biopsy sample from a biopsy site in a patient and marking the biopsy site, comprising: a hollow needle defining a cavity for receiving a tissue sample; cutting means for cutting tissue and collecting the tissue in said cavity; a marker chamber adjacent said cutting means; a marking element contained with said marker chamber for delivery to the biopsy site.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 234 words

A method for obtaining a biopsy sample and marking the biopsy site, comprising: providing a biopsy-marker assembly, the assembly having, an outer hollow needle defining a lumen therethrough; an inner needle having a first end and defining a tissue cutting point, a cavity adjacent said first end for receiving a tissue sample, and a marker chamber adjacent said first end, said inner needle being slideable relative to said outer needle between a first position wherein said first end of said inner needle is retracted within said lumen so that said outer needle covers said cavity and said marker chamber, and a second position wherein said first end of said inner needle is extended away from said outer needle to expose said first cavity and said marker chamber to tissue in the biopsy site; and a marking element contained within said marker chamber when said inner needle is in the first position; inserting the biopsy-marker assembly into the patient so that the point is adjacent the biopsy site; moving the inner needle to expose the cavity and the marker chamber to tissue; releasing the marker element from the marker chamber and depositing the marker element in the biopsy site; sliding the outer needle over the inner needle to trap a tissue sample within the cavity; and withdrawing the biopsy assembly with the sample trapped within the cavity and the marker deposited at the biopsy site.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 234 words

A method for obtaining a biopsy sample and marking the biopsy site, comprising: providing a biopsy-marker assembly, the assembly having, an outer hollow needle defining a lumen therethrough; an inner needle having a first end and defining a tissue cutting point, a cavity adjacent said first end for receiving a tissue sample, and a marker chamber adjacent said first end, said inner needle being slideable relative to said outer needle between a first position wherein said first end of said inner needle is retracted within said lumen so that said outer needle covers said cavity and said marker chamber, and a second position wherein said first end of said inner needle is extended away from said outer needle to expose said first cavity and said marker chamber to tissue in the biopsy site; and a marking element contained within said marker chamber when said inner needle is in the first position; inserting the biopsy-marker assembly into the patient so that the point is adjacent the biopsy site; moving the inner needle to expose the cavity and the marker chamber to tissue; releasing the marker element from the marker chamber and depositing the marker element in the biopsy site; sliding the outer needle over the inner needle to trap a tissue sample within the cavity; and withdrawing the biopsy assembly with the sample trapped within the cavity and the marker deposited at the biopsy site.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 142 words

A biopsy-marking assembly for obtaining a biopsy sample from a biopsy site in a patient and marking the biopsy site, comprising: an outer hollow needle defining a lumen therethrough; an inner needle defining a first end having a tissue cutting point and a cavity adjacent said first end for receiving a tissue sample, said inner needle slidingly engaged within said lumen, said inner needle being slideable relative to said outer needle between a first position wherein said first end of said inner needle is retracted within said lumen so that said outer needle covers said cavity and a second position wherein said first end of said inner needle is extended away from said outer needle to expose said cavity to tissue in the biopsy site; and a marking element contained within said cavity when said inner needle is in the first position.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 142 words

A biopsy-marking assembly for obtaining a biopsy sample from a biopsy site in a patient and marking the biopsy site, comprising: an outer hollow needle defining a lumen therethrough; an inner needle defining a first end having a tissue cutting point and a cavity adjacent said first end for receiving a tissue sample, said inner needle slidingly engaged within said lumen, said inner needle being slideable relative to said outer needle between a first position wherein said first end of said inner needle is retracted within said lumen so that said outer needle covers said cavity and a second position wherein said first end of said inner needle is extended away from said outer needle to expose said cavity to tissue in the biopsy site; and a marking element contained within said cavity when said inner needle is in the first position.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2004-07-16	2005-01-15	2005-07-17	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2008-07-16	2009-01-15	2009-07-17	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2012-07-16	2013-01-15	2013-07-17	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Biopsy marker assembly and method of use

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag