US6689145B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Excisional biopsy devices and methods
Assignee: Encapsule Medical LLC
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Filing: 2002-01-31
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Granted: 2004-02-10
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Expires: 2022-01-31
Abstract
Abstract An excisional biopsy system includes a tubular member that has a proximal end and a distal end in which one or more windows are defined. A first removable probe has a proximal portion that includes a cutting tool extender and a distal portion that includes a cutting tool. The first removable probe may be configured to fit at least partially within the tubular member to enable the cutting tool to selectively bow out of and to retract within one of the windows when the cutting tool extender is activated. A second removable probe has a proximal section that includes a tissue collection device extender and a distal section that includes a tissue collection device. The second removable probe may also be configured to fit at least partially within the tubular member to enable the tissue collection device to extend out of and to retract within one of the windows when the tissue collection device extender is activated. A third removable probe may also be provided. The third removable probe may also be configured to fit at least partially within the tubular member and may include an imaging device, such as an ultrasound transducer, mounted therein. By selectively activating the cutting tool and the tissue collection device while rotating the excisional device, a tissue specimen may be cut from the surrounding tissue and collected for later analysis.
Inventors
- 👤 Roberta Lee
- 👤 James W. Vetter
- 👤 Ary S. Chernomorsky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 13:55
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B10/00; A61B10/02; A61B10/0233; A61B10/0266; A61B10/04; A61B17/00; A61B17/32; A61B17/3205; A61B17/3207; A61B17/320725; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1482; A61B10/0041; A61B2018/00005; A61B2018/00011; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00333; A61B2018/1405; A61B2018/1407; A61B2018/1475; A61B90/00; A61B90/36; A61B90/37; A61B2090/378; A61B2090/3782; A61B2090/3784; A61B2218/00; A61B2218/001; A61B2218/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of cutting and removing a specimen of breast tissue, comprising the steps of: providing an excisional device that includes a shaft, a cutting element coupled to the shaft and a tissue collection element coupled to the shaft, the tissue collection element being independently movable relative to the cutting element, both the cutting element and the tissue collection element being movable from a retracted position to an expanded position; introducing the excisional device into the breast tissue with the tissue collection and cutting elements both in the retracted position; expanding the cutting element to the expanded position after the introducing step; moving the cutting element to cut the specimen from the breast tissue; encapsulating the cut specimen with the tissue collection element while maintaining the cut specimen intact; and removing the excisional device from the breast tissue while the specimen remains encapsulated within the tissue collection element.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of cutting and removing a specimen of breast tissue, comprising the steps of: providing an excisional device that includes a shaft, a cutting element coupled to the shaft and a tissue collection element coupled to the shaft, the tissue collection element being independently movable relative to the cutting element, both the cutting element and the tissue collection element being movable from a retracted position to an expanded position; introducing the excisional device into the breast tissue with the tissue collection and cutting elements both in the retracted position; expanding the cutting element to the expanded position after the introducing step; moving the cutting element to cut the specimen from the breast tissue; encapsulating the cut specimen with the tissue collection element while maintaining the cut specimen intact; and removing the excisional device from the breast tissue while the specimen remains encapsulated within the tissue collection element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the expanding step is carried out by expanding the cutting element without expanding the tissue collection element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the encapsulating step includes a step of returning the tissue collection element to the retracted position while maintaining the cut specimen intact and encapsulated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the encapsulating step is carried out with the tissue collection element following a path traveled by the cutting element during the moving step.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the tissue collection element and the cutting element are expanded and retracted together.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the tissue collection element and the cutting element are expanded and retracted independently.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the providing step is carried out with the excisional device including a first actuator for actuating the cutting element and a second actuator for actuating the tissue collection element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the providing step is carried out with the cutting element including a flexible element and wherein the expanding step is carried out with the cutting element bowing away from the shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the moving step includes rotating the shaft.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the moving step is carried out with the cutting element moving along an arc.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein the moving step is carried out by moving the cutting element toward the collapsed position after the cutting element moves along the arc.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the encapsulating step is carried out with the tissue collection element including a bag.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the encapsulating step is carried out with the tissue collection element including a thin, flexible membrane.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the encapsulating step is carried out with the thin, flexible membrane being non-porous and preventing fluid and cell leakage to insure isolation of the cut tissue specimen from the surrounding breast tissue.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the expanding and moving steps are carried out with the cutting element being energized.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein the expanding and moving steps are carried out with the cutting element being energized with RF energy.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the encapsulating step is carried out to isolate the specimen of the breast tissue from contact with the surrounding tissue.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the encapsulating step is carried out with the tissue collection element expanding to a size at least equal to the size of the specimen of the breast tissue.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the shaft defines a longitudinal axis and wherein: the introducing step includes positioning the shaft along side of the specimen to be cut; and the moving step includes rotating the shaft about the longitudinal axis so that the cutting element cuts the specimen the breast tissue as the shaft rotates.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
100 words
A excisional device for cutting and removing a specimen of breast tissue, comprising: a shaft; a cutting element coupled to the shaft and configured to cut the specimen of breast tissue from surrounding breast tissue; a tissue collection element coupled to the shaft, the tissue collection element being configured to encapsulate the cut specimen, isolate the cut specimen from the surrounding breast tissue, and maintain the encapsulated specimen intact, the tissue collection element being independently movable relative to the cutting element, both the cutting element and the tissue collection element being movable from a refracted position to an expanded position.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
100 words
A excisional device for cutting and removing a specimen of breast tissue, comprising: a shaft; a cutting element coupled to the shaft and configured to cut the specimen of breast tissue from surrounding breast tissue; a tissue collection element coupled to the shaft, the tissue collection element being configured to encapsulate the cut specimen, isolate the cut specimen from the surrounding breast tissue, and maintain the encapsulated specimen intact, the tissue collection element being independently movable relative to the cutting element, both the cutting element and the tissue collection element being movable from a refracted position to an expanded position.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device of claim 20 , wherein the cutting element is configured to move to the expanded position while the tissue collection device remains in the retracted position or is in the expanded position.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 20 , further including a first actuator for actuating the cutting element and a second actuator for actuating the tissue collection element.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 20 , wherein the tissue collection element and the cutting element are configured to expand and retract together.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 20 , wherein the tissue collection element and the cutting element are configured to independently expand and retract.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device of claim 20 , wherein the cutting element including a flexible element and wherein the flexible element is bowed away from the shaft when the cutting element is in the expanded position.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
39 words
The device of claim 20 , wherein the cutting element includes a bag, the bag being open when the tissue collection element is in the expanded position and closed when the tissue collection element is in the retracted position.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 20 , wherein the tissue collection device includes a thin, flexible membrane.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device of claim 20 , wherein the thin, flexible membrane is non-porous and prevents fluid and cell leakage to insure isolation of the cut tissue specimen from the surrounding breast tissue.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device of claim 20 , wherein the tissue collection element is configured to expand to a size that is at least equal to a size of the cut specimen.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-02-09 | 2007-08-11 | 2008-02-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-02-09 | 2011-08-11 | 2012-02-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-02-09 | 2015-08-11 | 2016-02-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |