Patent US6712774B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6712774B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Lockout for a surgical biopsy device
Assignee: Nuvelo Inc
•
Filing: 2001-09-28
•
Granted: 2004-03-30
•
Expires: 2021-09-28
Abstract
Abstract The present application describes an image-guided, vacuum assisted, percutaneous, coring, breast biopsy instrument which may be conveniently mounted to an x-ray machine, and incorporates a safety lockout system that is located at the proximal end of the biopsy instrument.
Inventors
- 👤 James W. Voegele
- 👤 Craig F. Forester
- 👤 William A. Garrison
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:13
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B10/00; A61B10/02; A61B10/0233; A61B10/0266; A61B10/0275; B; B82; B82Y; B82Y15/00; A61B10/0283
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
A biopsy instrument comprising: a probe assembly, said probe assembly comprising: a cutter assembly; a piercer assembly slideably attached to said cutter assembly; a base assembly detachably mounted to said probe assembly wherein said base assembly comprises: a firing fork operatively connected to said piercer assembly a spring operatively connected to said firing fork wherein said spring opposes movement of said firing fork in a proximal direction; a trigger mechanism adapted to move said firing fork in a proximal direction; a latch mechanism adapted to hold said firing fork in a first position; a release mechanism adapted to release said latch mechanism; a lockout mechanism adapted to prevent said release mechanism from releasing said latch mechanism, said lockout mechanism comprising a spring biased member; a drive assembly including a flexible drive shaft which is operatively connected to said cutter assembly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
140 words
A biopsy instrument comprising: a probe assembly, said probe assembly comprising: a cutter assembly; a piercer assembly slideably attached to said cutter assembly; a base assembly detachably mounted to said probe assembly wherein said base assembly comprises: a firing fork operatively connected to said piercer assembly a spring operatively connected to said firing fork wherein said spring opposes movement of said firing fork in a proximal direction; a trigger mechanism adapted to move said firing fork in a proximal direction; a latch mechanism adapted to hold said firing fork in a first position; a release mechanism adapted to release said latch mechanism; a lockout mechanism adapted to prevent said release mechanism from releasing said latch mechanism, said lockout mechanism comprising a spring biased member; a drive assembly including a flexible drive shaft which is operatively connected to said cutter assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
232 words
A biopsy instrument comprising: a probe assembly, said probe assembly comprising: a cutter assembly comprising: a cutter; a gear mechanism adapted to move said cutter; a piercer assembly slideably attached to said cutter assembly; a base assembly detachably mounted to said probe assembly wherein said base assembly comprises: a firing fork removably attached to said piercer assembly such that movement of said firing fork in a distal direction moves said piercer assembly in a distal direction; a spring operatively connected to said firing fork, said spring being adapted to oppose movement of said firing fork in a proximal direction; a trigger mechanism operatively connected to said firing fork, said trigger mechanism being adapted to move said cutter in a proximal direction; a latch mechanism operatively connected to said firing fork to hold said firing fork in a first, proximal position; a release mechanism adapted to release said latch mechanism when said release mechanism is moved in a first direction; a lockout mechanism adapted to prevent said release mechanism from moving in said first direction, said lockout mechanism including a spring biased rotatable plate comprising: a first spring wire; a second spring wire wherein said first and second spring wires define a first opening in said place; a handle affixed to said plate and projecting from said base assembly; a drive assembly including a flexible drive shaft operatively connected to said gear mechanism.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
232 words
A biopsy instrument comprising: a probe assembly, said probe assembly comprising: a cutter assembly comprising: a cutter; a gear mechanism adapted to move said cutter; a piercer assembly slideably attached to said cutter assembly; a base assembly detachably mounted to said probe assembly wherein said base assembly comprises: a firing fork removably attached to said piercer assembly such that movement of said firing fork in a distal direction moves said piercer assembly in a distal direction; a spring operatively connected to said firing fork, said spring being adapted to oppose movement of said firing fork in a proximal direction; a trigger mechanism operatively connected to said firing fork, said trigger mechanism being adapted to move said cutter in a proximal direction; a latch mechanism operatively connected to said firing fork to hold said firing fork in a first, proximal position; a release mechanism adapted to release said latch mechanism when said release mechanism is moved in a first direction; a lockout mechanism adapted to prevent said release mechanism from moving in said first direction, said lockout mechanism including a spring biased rotatable plate comprising: a first spring wire; a second spring wire wherein said first and second spring wires define a first opening in said place; a handle affixed to said plate and projecting from said base assembly; a drive assembly including a flexible drive shaft operatively connected to said gear mechanism.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
96 words
A biopsy instrument comprising: a probe assembly, said probe assembly comprising: a cutter assembly comprising: a cutter; a gear mechanism adapted to move said cutter; a piercer assembly slideably attached to said cutter assembly; a base assembly detachably mounted to said probe assembly wherein said base assembly comprises: a firing apparatus, said firing apparatus adapted to fire said piercer assembly in a distal direction; a spring disposed to oppose movement of a portion of said firing apparatus in a proximal direction; a lookout mechanism associated with said firing apparatus, said lockout mechanism comprising a rotatable plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
96 words
A biopsy instrument comprising: a probe assembly, said probe assembly comprising: a cutter assembly comprising: a cutter; a gear mechanism adapted to move said cutter; a piercer assembly slideably attached to said cutter assembly; a base assembly detachably mounted to said probe assembly wherein said base assembly comprises: a firing apparatus, said firing apparatus adapted to fire said piercer assembly in a distal direction; a spring disposed to oppose movement of a portion of said firing apparatus in a proximal direction; a lookout mechanism associated with said firing apparatus, said lockout mechanism comprising a rotatable plate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The biopsy instrument of claim 3 wherein said lockout mechanism comprises a spring biased rotatable plate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The biopsy instrument of claim 4 wherein said lookout mechanism comprises a first spring and a second spring.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The biopsy instrument of claim 5 wherein said first and second springs define an opening in said rotatable plate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4699154A
Cited
US4944308A
Cited
USRE34056E
Cited
US5027827A
Cited
US5492130A
Cited
US5476101A
Cited
US5429138A
Cited
US5526821A
Cited
US5634473A
Cited
US5775333A
Cited
US5526822A
Cited
US5928164A
Cited
US5649547A
Cited
US5769086A
Cited
US6142955A
Cited
WO1999015079A1
Cited
US6193673B1
Cited
US6007497A
Cited
US6436054B1
Cited
US6120462A
Cited
US6086544A
Cited
US20020045841A1
Cited
WO2002030270A2
Cited
US20020120210A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-03-30 | 2007-09-29 | 2008-03-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-03-30 | 2011-09-29 | 2012-03-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-03-30 | 2015-09-29 | 2016-03-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |