Abstract: A method for forming a porous implant suitable for a cavity from which tissue has been removed includes incorporating a gas or a pore forming agent into an alginate solution; transferring the alginate solution with the gas or the pore forming agent into a solidified body mold having a desired shape with an outer surface; removing the water from the solidified body; and subjecting the solidified body to a conversion solution to convert the outer surface to a less soluble alginate creating a composition comprising the outer surface having less soluble alginate and a core having more soluble alginate.

Abstract: A biopsy device includes a disposable elongated probe component having a coaxial arrangement of an elongated tubular section and an elongated tissue cutting member, and having a coaxial arrangement of a first driven gear, a second driven gear, and a third driven gear. The first driven gear is configured to rotate the elongated tubular section. The second driven gear is configured to rotate to longitudinally move the elongated tissue cutting member. The third driven gear is configured to rotate or oscillate the elongated tissue cutting member. A driver component has a coaxial arrangement of a first drive gear, a second drive gear, and a third drive gear. The first drive gear is drivably engaged with the first driven gear. The second drive gear is drivably engaged with the second driven gear. The third drive gear is drivably engaged with the third driven gear.

Abstract: A biopsy device includes a cannula and a specimen collector. The cannula has a proximal end and a longitudinal axis. The specimen collector contains the proximal end of the cannula. The specimen collector has a removable sample receiving cartridge that is removable along the longitudinal axis of the cannula to expose the proximal end of the cannula.

Abstract: A biopsy device includes a tissue cutting member slidably disposed within a probe component. The tissue cutting member has a distal tubular portion having a longitudinal axis and a flared distal section. The flared distal section has an inclined distal tip and an outwardly flared distal tubular portion that defines an inner tissue receiving aperture. The inclined distal tip has a beveled front face with a leading tissue cutting edge and a trailing cutting edge. A longitudinally oriented opening is in the flared distal section. The longitudinally oriented opening has an open distal end and is configured to extend from a closed proximal end to the open distal end. The closed proximal end has a relief opening with a transverse dimension larger than a transverse dimension of the longitudinally oriented opening adjacent the relief opening. The longitudinally oriented opening diverges to intersect the trailing cutting edge.

Abstract: A biopsy device for accessing and collecting multiple tissue specimens includes a probe component and a drive component. The probe component includes a probe housing that fits within a housing cover, an elongated distal shaft with a tubular section proximal to a penetrating distal tip, an elongated tissue cutting member, and a first probe gear. The tubular section having an inner lumen, an open tissue receiving aperture, and a proximal extremity configured to be operatively connected to the drive component. The elongated distal shaft secured to the probe housing. The elongated tissue cutting member is slidably disposed within the tubular section. The elongated tissue cutting member having at least one tissue cutting edge and a cutting member inner lumen extending therein. The drive component has a first driver motor and a first driving gear configured to drive the first probe gear in order to orient the open tissue receiving aperture.

Abstract: A biopsy device includes an elongated probe having a central longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end. A tissue penetrating tip includes a proximal base and a sharp distal point. The proximal base is secured to the distal end of the elongated probe. The sharp distal point is distal to the proximal base and is aligned with the central longitudinal axis. The tissue penetrating tip has a plurality of concave surfaces annularly arranged to form at least three adjacent pairs of concave surfaces. Each concave surface of the plurality of concave surfaces extends from the proximal base to the sharp distal point. Each adjacent pair of concave surfaces intersect to form a concave curved cutting edge. Cumulatively, the at least three adjacent pairs of concave surfaces form a plurality of concave curved cutting edges that distally terminate at the sharp distal point.

Abstract: A control console is disclosed for controlling one or more medical devices. The control console communicates to at least one medical device, and at least one peripheral module associated with the medical device if needed. The control console has a microprocessor for processing data to direct an operation of the medical device.

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting one or more tissue specimens includes a tissue specimen collector having a cannula receiving opening, a vacuum opening, and an interior. The vacuum opening is on a first axis, and the cannula receiving opening is on a second axis. A removable tissue specimen retaining member is positioned within the interior of the tissue specimen collector. The removable tissue specimen retaining member has a plurality of openings that are interposed between the first axis of the vacuum opening and the second axis of the cannula receiving opening. The removable tissue specimen retaining member is movable along the second axis. An elongated tissue cutting member extends through the cannula receiving opening of the tissue specimen collector to position a proximal end of the elongated cutting member in the interior above the plurality of openings of the removable tissue specimen retaining member.

Abstract: In one form, the invention is directed to a method for forming a porous implant suitable for a cavity from which tissue has been removed, including mixing soluble alginate and a radiopaque imaging agent with water; incorporating a gas or a pore forming agent into the alginate-water mixture; transferring the alginate-water mixture with the gas or the pore forming agent into a mold to form the mixture into a solid body of desired shape; removing the water from the body; and converting at least part of the soluble alginate to a less soluble alginate. In another form, the invention includes forming a mixture by mixing about 0.5 percent to about 4 percent by weight chitosan into an acidified aqueous solution containing 1 percent to 25 percent by weight acetic acid, along with about 0.5 percent to about 5 percent by weight of a powdered radiopaque imaging agent.

Abstract: A system includes a grid-like, breast-receiving pressure plate having a polygonal opening. A prism is configured to match the polygonal opening. The prism includes a first conduit that has a zero first offset from the prism center and a second conduit that has a second offset from the prism center.

Abstract: A screen providing a graphical user interface (GUI) for a tissue biopsy system includes a circular area and a plurality of GUI areas of variable size located in the circular area. The plurality of GUI areas includes a first GUI area, a second GUI area, and a third GUI area. The first GUI area is configured to represent a first region of the target site from which at least one tissue specimen has been separated from tissue at the target site by a tissue cutting member. The second GUI area is configured to represent a second region from which the tissue cutting member may separate one or more additional tissue specimens from tissue at the target site. The third GUI area is configured to represent a third region in which the tissue cutting member is deployed to separate a tissue specimen from tissue at the target site.

Abstract: A method of detecting a leakage current in an electrosurgical system operating at a high frequency includes: coupling an RF generator to a pair of RF output leads via an electrical interface, the RF generator having an operating frequency; inducing a test signal at an output of the electrical interface, the test signal having a test signal frequency that is less than the operating frequency; and monitoring for a presence of an induced common mode current that would indicate the presence of leakage current.

Abstract: A method for forming a tissue cutting member includes: providing a single longitudinally oriented opening in a side wall in a flared distal section of a distal tubular portion which radially opens to a lumen of the distal tubular portion, the single longitudinally oriented opening having an open distal end and extending from a closed proximal end to the open distal end; and providing a relief opening at the closed proximal end of the single longitudinally oriented opening, the relief opening having a transverse dimension larger than a transverse dimension of the single longitudinally oriented opening adjacent the relief opening, the single longitudinally oriented opening diverging from the closed proximal end to intersect a trailing cutting edge of a beveled front face of the inclined distal tip of the distal tubular portion and facilitating formation of the outwardly flared distal tubular portion.

Abstract: A method for collecting a tissue specimen from a target site within a patient includes rotating an elongated tubular section about a longitudinal axis to provide a desired aperture orientation of a tissue receiving aperture; applying a vacuum within the elongated tubular section to draw tissue at the tissue site through the tissue receiving aperture of the elongated tubular section into the interior thereof; advancing an elongated tissue cutting member longitudinally within the elongated tubular section to cut a tissue specimen from the tissue extending into the elongated tubular section; and applying a vacuum to the proximal end of the elongated tissue cutting member for transporting a cut tissue specimen through the inner lumen of the elongated tissue cutting member to discharge the cut tissue specimen directly from the proximal end of the elongated tissue cutting member into a tissue collection device.

Abstract: A solution for forming a marker or filler mass for an intracorporeal site. The solution contains a polar, water soluble non-aqueous solvent such as dimethyl sulfoxide and a bioabsorbable, essentially water insoluble polymer such as polylactic acid, or copolymers of lactic acid and glycolic acid. The solution may be delivered to the biopsy site by a suitable syringe and delivery tube. The delivery tube is preferably provided with a releasable radiopaque element on the distal tip which can be released within the polymeric marker mass formed in the biopsy cavity.

Abstract: A system for controlling an electrosurgical electrode of a medical device includes a hand-held electrosurgical electrode having cutting probe. A return electrode is positioned remote from the electrosurgical electrode. An RF generator is coupled to the electrosurgical electrode and to the return electrode, and includes an RF amplifier. The RF generator generates an RF signal at a first RF power level for tissue cutting and generates the RF signal at a second RF power level greater than the first RF power level to initiate tissue cutting. A sensor monitors an electrical characteristic associated with the electrosurgical electrode. A controller coupled to the RF amplifier maintains a desired RF power output and a desired RF duty cycle at the first RF power level by adjusting a DC input voltage applied to an output stage of the RF amplifier based on the monitored electrical characteristic associated with the electrosurgical electrode.

Abstract: The invention is directed to devices and methods for separating and collecting a tissue specimen from a patient's target site. The device includes a probe member with a penetrating distal tip and a tissue receiving aperture, and a tissue cutting member which is rotatable disposed within the probe member to cut a tissue specimen drawn into the interior of the device through the aperture. The longitudinal edges of the aperture are preferably sharpened to engage the cutting edges of the tissue cutting member. Vacuum may be provided in the inner lumen of the cutting member to transport tissue therethrough. Rotation, rotational oscillation and/or longitudinal reciprocation of the tissue cutting member is effective to separate a tissue specimen from surrounding tissue. An accessing cannula having an tissue receiving aperture may be concentrically disposed within the probe member and about the tissue cutting member.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a system and device for separating and collecting a tissue specimen from a target site within a patient. The device includes a probe component with an elongated tubular section, a penetrating distal tip and a tissue receiving aperture in the distal end of the tubular section proximal to the distal tip, and a tissue cutting member which is slidably disposed within the probe member to cut a tissue specimen drawn into the interior of the device through the aperture by applying a vacuum to the inner lumen of the tissue cutting member. The device also has a driver component to which the probe component is releasably secured. The driver has a drive member for adjusting the orientation of the tubular section and thus the aperture therein and one or more drive members for moving the tissue cutting member within the tubular section to sever a tissue specimen from tissue extending into the interior of the tubular section through the aperture.

Abstract: A method for controlling an electrosurgical electrode of a medical device includes providing an electrosurgical tissue cutting electrode having an arcuate electrode portion; delivering energy from an RF generator to the electrosurgical electrode, said RF generator including an RF amplifier; monitoring an electrical characteristic associated with said electrosurgical electrode; and establishing a desired RF power output and a desired RF duty cycle at said RF generator by adjusting DC input voltage applied to an output stage of said RF amplifier based on said monitoring to effect tissue cutting by the arcuate electrode portion.

Abstract: An intracorporeal marker system includes a tissue marker pellet comprised of a polysaccharide material. The intracorporeal marker system may also include a fibrous marker of bioabsorbable fibers. In one embodiment, for example, an outer layer of bioabsorbable fibers is disposed around at least part of an inner core of bioabsorbable fibers.