Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A method of conducting a needle biopsy procedure, comprising: mounting a biopsy needle to a needle support of a device to cause reciprocation of the biopsy needle; reciprocating the biopsy needle along its longitudinal axis by the device by converting rotational motion to reciprocatory motion of the needle support by coupling the needle support to a circumferential groove on an external surface of a rotatable cylinder of the device, the groove having at least a portion at an oblique angle with respect to an axis of rotation of the cylinder, the needle support being coupled to the groove through a slot in a housing, the slot having a longitudinal axis aligned with the longitudinal axis of the needle and at an oblique angle with respect to at least a portion of the groove, such that rotation of the cylinder causes reciprocation of the needle support along the longitudinal axis of the slot; advancing the reciprocating needle to a site of interest within a subject; collecting tissue at the site of interest; and withdrawing the needle.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
175 words
A method of conducting a needle biopsy procedure, comprising: mounting a biopsy needle to a needle support of a device to cause reciprocation of the biopsy needle; reciprocating the biopsy needle along its longitudinal axis by the device by converting rotational motion to reciprocatory motion of the needle support by coupling the needle support to a circumferential groove on an external surface of a rotatable cylinder of the device, the groove having at least a portion at an oblique angle with respect to an axis of rotation of the cylinder, the needle support being coupled to the groove through a slot in a housing, the slot having a longitudinal axis aligned with the longitudinal axis of the needle and at an oblique angle with respect to at least a portion of the groove, such that rotation of the cylinder causes reciprocation of the needle support along the longitudinal axis of the slot; advancing the reciprocating needle to a site of interest within a subject; collecting tissue at the site of interest; and withdrawing the needle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 , comprising rotating the cylinder hydraulically.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 , comprising rotating the cylinder by a rotational motor.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
48 words
A method of conducting a needle biopsy procedure, comprising: reciprocating a biopsy needle along a longitudinal axis of the needle, by electromagnetically generated linear motion; advancing the reciprocating needle to a site of interest within a subject; collecting tissue at the site of interest; and withdrawing the needle.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
48 words
A method of conducting a needle biopsy procedure, comprising: reciprocating a biopsy needle along a longitudinal axis of the needle, by electromagnetically generated linear motion; advancing the reciprocating needle to a site of interest within a subject; collecting tissue at the site of interest; and withdrawing the needle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 4 , comprising reciprocating the needle by coupling the needle to a movable solenoid in a chamber of the device, energizing the solenoid and alternately attracting and repulsing the energized solenoid by a magnet in the chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 5 , comprising alternately attracting and repulsing the movable solenoid by an energized stationary solenoid in the chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 6 , further comprising alternately attracting and repulsing the movable solenoid by a second energized stationary solenoid, on an opposite side of the movable solenoid than the first solenoid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 5 , comprising, alternately, attracting and repulsing the movable solenoid by at least one permanent magnet.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of conducting a needle biopsy procedure, comprising: automatically reciprocating a biopsy needle along a longitudinal axis of the needle, the needle is being connected to a syringe with a plunger; advancing the reciprocating needle to a site of interest within a subject; withdrawing the plunger to create a negative pressure in a bore of the needle, prior to collecting the tissue at the site of interest; collecting tissue at the site of interest; reciprocating the needle during tissue collection; and withdrawing the needle.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of conducting a needle biopsy procedure, comprising: automatically reciprocating a biopsy needle along a longitudinal axis of the needle, the needle is being connected to a syringe with a plunger; advancing the reciprocating needle to a site of interest within a subject; withdrawing the plunger to create a negative pressure in a bore of the needle, prior to collecting the tissue at the site of interest; collecting tissue at the site of interest; reciprocating the needle during tissue collection; and withdrawing the needle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the needle is connected to a pump: the method comprising activating the pump to create a negative pressure in a bore of the needle, prior to collecting the tissue at the site of interest.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 9 , further comprising stopping reciprocation of the needle prior to withdrawing the plunger.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
57 words
A method of conducting a needle biopsy procedure, comprising: hydraulically generating rotary motion; converting the rotary motion to reciprocating motion of a biopsy needle; inserting the biopsy needle into a subject; advancing the reciprocating needle toward a site of interest; inserting the reciprocating needle into the site of interest; and collecting tissue at the site of interest.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
57 words
A method of conducting a needle biopsy procedure, comprising: hydraulically generating rotary motion; converting the rotary motion to reciprocating motion of a biopsy needle; inserting the biopsy needle into a subject; advancing the reciprocating needle toward a site of interest; inserting the reciprocating needle into the site of interest; and collecting tissue at the site of interest.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of conducting a needle biopsy procedure with a device comprising a housing comprising at least one wall defining a chamber and a longitudinal slot through a wall of the chamber, a needle support external to the chamber to support a needle external to the chamber, and reciprocating means within the chamber and coupled to the needle support, the method comprising: mounting the biopsy needle to the needle support of the device; reciprocating the needle support along the longitudinal axis of the slot by the reciprocating means to reciprocate the biopsy needle along its longitudinal axis; advancing the reciprocating needle to a site of interest within a subject; collecting tissue at the site of interest; and withdrawing the needle.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of conducting a needle biopsy procedure with a device comprising a housing comprising at least one wall defining a chamber and a longitudinal slot through a wall of the chamber, a needle support external to the chamber to support a needle external to the chamber, and reciprocating means within the chamber and coupled to the needle support, the method comprising: mounting the biopsy needle to the needle support of the device; reciprocating the needle support along the longitudinal axis of the slot by the reciprocating means to reciprocate the biopsy needle along its longitudinal axis; advancing the reciprocating needle to a site of interest within a subject; collecting tissue at the site of interest; and withdrawing the needle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the reciprocating means comprises a bearing assembly, the method comprising: reciprocating the needle support along the longitudinal axis of the slot by the bearing assembly, to reciprocate the needle.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the reciprocating means comprises a ball bearing assembly, the method comprising: reciprocating the needle support along the longitudinal axis of the slot by the ball bearing assembly, to reciprocate the needle.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the reciprocating means comprises a grooved cylinder, the method comprising: reciprocating the needle support along the longitudinal axis of the slot by the rotation of the grooved cylinder, to reciprocate the needle.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the reciprocating means comprises a first electromagnet coupled to the needle support and at least one second, stationary electromagnet proximate the first electromagnet, the method comprising: reciprocating the needle support along the longitudinal axis of the slot by selectively energizing the second electromagnet to cause reciprocation of the first electromagnet and the needle support.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 13 , further comprising: coupling the needle support to the reciprocating means by a post extending through the slot, the post having a first end coupled to the reciprocating means and a second end coupled to the needle support.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 13 , comprising: advancing the reciprocating needle with a stylet within a bore of the needle; and withdrawing the stylet prior to collecting the tissue.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 13 , comprising reciprocating the needle prior to insertion of the needle into the subject and inserting the reciprocating needle into the subject.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 13 , comprising reciprocating the needle while collecting the tissue.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 13 , further comprising guiding the needle to the site of interest by magnetic resonance imaging.