Abstract: A tissue sensing device for use with an electrosurgical knife is proposed which comprises a proximal end portion, a distal end portion and a grip portion there between. The proximal end portion is configured for attachment to a housing of the electrosurgical knife. The distal end portion is configured for movably supporting a blade of the knife. A distal end of an optical fiber is arranged at the distal end portion of the device and a proximal end of the optical fiber is connectable to an optical console, so that optical measurements can be performed at the distal end portion.

Abstract: A tissue sensing device for use with an electrosurgical knife is proposed which comprises a proximal end portion, a distal end portion and a grip portion there between. The proximal end portion is configured for attachment to a housing of the electrosurgical knife. The distal end portion is configured for movably supporting a blade of the knife. A distal end of an optical fiber is arranged at the distal end portion of the device and a proximal end of the optical fiber is connectable to an optical console, so that optical measurements can be performed at the distal end portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to an active marker device (100) for being introduced into a human tissue and for tracking a region of interest of a human body. The active marker device comprises a light source (101) for emitting light such that the emitted light can be detected by an optical sensor. In this way, the active marker device and/or the region of interest can be tracked by a tracking system comprising the optical sensor. The active marker device (100) further comprises a switch (102) for turning the light source on and off and for operating the light source in a pulsed mode.

Abstract: An active marker device (100) is introducible into a human tissue and for tracking a region of interest of a human body. The active marker device includes a light source (101) for emitting light such that the emitted light can be detected by an optical sensor. In this way, the active marker device and/or the region of interest can be tracked by a tracking system including the optical sensor. The active marker device (100) also includes a switch (102) for turning the light source on and off and for operating the light source in a pulsed mode.

Abstract: A biopsy device with a hollow shaft is suggested, the shaft having a wall and a distal end portion, wherein a sidewardly facing notch is formed in the distal end portion. At least two optical fibers are arranged in the wall of the shaft so that end surfaces of the fibers are arranged in a longitudinal direction at opposite positions with respect to the notch.

Abstract: A tissue sensing device for use with an electrosurgical knife is proposed which comprises a proximal end portion, a distal end portion and a grip portion there between. The proximal end portion is configured for attachment to a housing of the electrosurgical knife. The distal end portion is configured for movably supporting a blade of the knife. A distal end of an optical fiber is arranged at the distal end portion of the device and a proximal end of the optical fiber is connectable to an optical console, so that optical measurements can be performed at the distal end portion.

Abstract: An interventional device, e.g. a Vacuum Assisted Biopsy (VAB) needle, incorporating optical fibers such that biological tissue in a volume at a side of the interventional device can be substantially completely optically probed by optical spectroscopy. In a VAB embodiment, a plurality of optical fiber pairs connected to respective optical ports, are placed at opposite positions along the suction cavity, and they are readout subsequently allowing to make a map of the tissue properties along the place where the tissue will be cut by the VAB needle. Based on decision software in an optical console, it can be determined whether the tissue present in the cutting cavity is completely normal tissue or not, prior to actually performing the biopsy on the tissue. In this way a well defined end point for VAB is created.

Abstract: The invention relates to an active marker device (100) for being introduced into a human tissue and for tracking a region of interest of a human body. The active marker device comprises a light source (101) for emitting light such that the emitted light can be detected by an optical sensor. In this way, the active marker device and/or the region of interest can be tracked by a tracking system comprising the optical sensor. The active marker device (100) further comprises a switch (102) for turning the light source on and off and for operating the light source in a pulsed mode.

Abstract: A biopsy device is proposed comprising a shaft and a tubular member. The shaft is movably, i.e. rotatably as well as shiftably accommodated within the tubular member and comprises a spiral at a distal end portion of the shaft, wherein the spiral is formed by a twisted sheet. Such a spiral may be considered as a laterally open thread having no solid core.

Abstract: A biopsy device with a hollow shaft is suggested, the shaft having a wall and a distal end portion, wherein a sidewardly facing notch is formed in the distal end portion. At least two optical fibers are arranged in the wall of the shaft so that end surfaces of the fibers are arranged in a longitudinal direction at opposite positions with respect to the notch.

Abstract: A needle device includes a hollow shaft, an elongated insert and an operating lever. The hollow shaft has a first distal end portion with a bevel, the elongated insert has a second distal end portion and is movably arranged within the hollow shaft, and the operating lever is shiftable between a first condition and a second condition. Furthermore, the operating lever is interconnected with the elongated insert such that the second distal end portion is located within the hollow shaft and proximally to the bevel when the operating lever is in the first condition, and that the second distal end portion is located outside the hollow shaft and distally to the bevel when the operating lever is in the second condition.

Abstract: An interventional device, e.g. a Vacuum Assisted Biopsy (VAB) needle, incorporating optical fibers such that biological tissue in a volume at a side of the interventional device can be substantially completely optically probed by optical spectroscopy. In a VAB embodiment, a plurality of optical fiber pairs connected to respective optical ports, are placed at opposite positions along the suction cavity, and they are readout subsequently allowing to make a map of the tissue properties along the place where the tissue will be cut by the VAB needle. Based on decision software in an optical console, it can be determined whether the tissue present in the cutting cavity is completely normal tissue or not, prior to actually performing the biopsy on the tissue. In this way a well defined end point for VAB is created.

Abstract: A biopsy device is proposed comprising a shaft and a tubular member. The shaft is movably, i.e. rotatably as well as shiftably accommodated within the tubular member and comprises a spiral at a distal end portion of the shaft, wherein the spiral is formed by a twisted sheet. Such a spiral may be considered as a laterally open thread having no solid core.

Abstract: A needle device according to the invention comprises a hollow shaft, an elongated insert and an operating means. The hollow shaft has a first distal end portion with a bevel, the elongated insert has a second distal end portion and is movably arranged within the hollow shaft, and the operating means is shiftable between a first condition and a second condition. Furthermore, the operating means is interconnected with the elongated insert, so that the second distal end portion is located within the hollow shaft and proximally to the bevel, when the operating means is in the first condition, and that the second distal end portion is located outside the hollow shaft and distally to the bevel, when the operating means is in the second condition.

Abstract: Needles equipped with fibres allow tissue inspection based on optical spectroscopy to diagnose whether tissue is cancerous or not. This requires integration of optical fibers into needles. The problem is how to manufacture the needle having at least one fiber exit at the distal end of the needle, where the fiber does not obstruct the hollow part of the needle if present as well as does not extend beyond the outer cylinder geometry. To solve this problem we propose to manufacture the needle consisting of four parts: an inner cylinder tube, an outer hollow cylinder tube, a needle tip part with integrated fiber exit and a holder part, wherein the hollow spacing between the inner and the outer cylinder is larger or equal to the outer diameter of the fibers, the inner and the outer cylinder are mounted in the holder part and where the tip part is mounted on the two cylinders.