Abstract: The invention described herein is an image-guided, vacuum assisted, percutaneous, coring, cable driven breast biopsy instrument which may be conveniently mounted to an x-ray machine. The biopsy instrument described herein incorporates incorporates a firing mechanism to rapidly advance the biopsy probe into the breast.

Abstract: An intravenous catheter introducer assembly having a safety feature to prevent accidental needle sticks. The introducer assembly includes a needle assembly having a groove disposed on its outer surface. The introducer includes a protector made of a hollow member having an open distal end and an inwardly disposed resilient flange or a clip disposed thereon. The protector is coaxially slidably disposed around the needle with the flange abutting the outer surface of the needle and adapted to engage the groove when a catheter assembly is removed from the needle.

Abstract: The present application is directed to an image-guided, vacuum assisted, percutaneous, coring, cable driven breast biopsy instrument which may be conveniently mounted to an x-ray machine wherein the biopsy instrument incorporates a rotation knob at the proximal end of the instrument to manually rotate the distal end of the probe, thus allowing the clinician to conveniently position the tissue port next to the tissue to be sampled.

Abstract: An intravenous catheter introducer assembly having a safety feature to prevent accidental needle sticks. The introducer assembly includes a needle assembly having a groove disposed on its outer surface. The introducer includes a protector made of a hollow member having an open distal end and a inwardly disposed resilient flange disposed thereon. The protector is coaxially slidably disposed around the needle with the flange abutting the outer surface of the needle and adapted to engage the groove when a catheter assembly is removed from the needle assembly.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved cable driven surgical biopsy device wherein a transmission assembly is disposed at a proximal end of the biopsy device. The transmission assembly being adapted to convert rotational motion of a cable entering the biopsy device of a substantially right angle into rotational energy to drive the axial cutter in the biopsy device.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is provided a biopsy device and method for the collection of at least one tissue sample from a surgical patient. The device includes a frame and an elongated piercing element attached to the distal end of the frame. The piercing element has a distal end, a proximal end and a lumen extending at least partially therethrough. The piercing element has a sharpened member at its distal end for piercing tissue, and a port proximal thereto which exposes the lumen. The device further includes an elongated cutter and tissue remover disposed coaxially and slidably within the lumen of the piercing element for harvesting a tissue mass disposed within the port of the piercing element and depositing the tissue mass proximal to the port for retrieval.

Abstract: The present application is directed to an image-guided, vacuum assisted, percutaneous, coring, cable driven breast biopsy instrument which may be conveniently mounted to an x-ray machine wherein the biopsy instrument incorporates a rotation knob at the proximal end of the instrument to manually rotate the distal end of the probe, thus allowing the clinician to conveniently position the tissue port next to the tissue to be sampled.

Abstract: The invention described herein is an image-guided, vacuum assisted, percutaneous, coring, cable driven breast biopsy instrument which may be conveniently mounted to an x-ray machine. The biopsy instrument described herein incorporates incorporates a firing mechanism to rapidly advance the biopsy probe into the breast.

Abstract: An intravenous catheter introducer assembly having a safety feature to prevent accidental needle sticks. The introducer assembly includes a needle assembly having an elongated hollow tubular needle with a proximal end attached to a catheter hub and a distal end extending therefrom. The needle has a groove disposed on its outer surface The introducer includes a protector made of a hollow member having an open distal end and a inwardly disposed resilient flange disposed thereon. The protector is coaxially slidably disposed around the needle with the flange abutting the outer surface of the needle. The introducer also includes a catheter assembly having an elongated hollow tubular catheter with a proximal end attached to a catheter hub and a distal end extending therefrom. The catheter is coaxially disposed about the needle.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is provided a biopsy device and method for the collection of at least one tissue sample from a surgical patient. The device includes a frame and an elongated piercing element attached to the distal end of the frame. The piercing element has distal end, a proximal end and a lumen extending at least partially therethrough. The piercing element has a sharpened member at its distal end for piercing tissue, and a port proximal thereto which exposes the lumen. The device further includes an elongated cutter and tissue remover disposed coaxially and slidably within the lumen of the piercing element for harvesting a tissue mass disposed within the port of the piercing element and depositing the tissue mass proximal to the port for retrieval.

Abstract: The present application is directed to an image-guided, vacuum assisted, percutaneous, coring, cable driven breast biopsy instrument which may be conveniently mounted to an x-ray machine wherein the biopsy instrument incorporates a rotation knob at the proximal end of the instrument to manually rotate the distal end of the probe, thus allowing the clinician to conveniently position the tissue port next to the tissue to be sampled.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved cable driven surgical biopsy device wherein a transmission assembly is disposed at a proximal end of the biopsy device. The transmission assembly being adapted to convert rotational motion of a cable entering the biopsy device of a substantially right angle into rotational energy to drive the axial cutter in the biopsy device.

Abstract: A safety-shielded trocar having an obturator with a linear cutting edge surface defining a base width substantially less than the diameter of the safety shield is disclosed. When the trocar is inserted through tissue, the tissue dilates from the width of the linear incision to accommodate the size of the safety shield of the trocar, thus making it possible to provide an access opening greater than the incisional width made by the linear cutting edge surface of the obturator. In a preferred embodiment, the safety shield has a shield tip region which is asymmetric to facilitate the dilation of the tissue as the trocar is inserted.

Abstract: A safety-shielded trocar having an obturator with a linear cutting edge surface defining a base width substantially less than the diameter of the safety shield is disclosed. When the trocar is inserted through tissue, the tissue dilates from the width of the linear incision to accommodate the size of the safety shield of the trocar, thus making it possible to provide an access opening greater than the incisional width made by the linear cutting edge surface of the obturator. In a preferred embodiment, the safety shield has a shield tip region which is asymmetric to facilitate the dilation of the tissue as the trocar is inserted.

Abstract: A safety trocar is provided which includes a spring-loaded shield that shields the cutting tip of the obturator after the obturator penetrates tissue. The distal end of the shield is conical in profile and contains a slot which conforms to the geometry of the cutting tip. The obturator tip contains a knife edge blade which extends the length of the cannula inner diameter. Ideally, the knife is made of an amorphous metal, and may be serrated at its edge. In one embodiment, the knife edge is contacted directly to a portion of the safety shield.

Abstract: A trocar having an obturator with an obturator housing, a piercing tip and a rigid stem is disclosed. The piercing tip has a cutting edge surface and first and second spaced-apart legs generally parallel to each other extending away from the cutting edge surface. The stem is attached to the obturator housing at a first end of the obturator, and the legs of the piercing tip straddle the stem at an opposite end of the obturator. The straddling of the legs about the stem of the obturator fixes the piercing tip to the stem. The attachment of the piercing tip to the stem provides a secure attachment. The trocar is easy to manufacture and assemble, and the component parts can be readily disassembled. The piercing tip attachment is especially advantageous when the piercing tip is configured generally as a razor blade.

Abstract: An adaptor cap assembly is provided for a trocar, consisting of a base which contains an opening which is the same size as the opening of the trocar cannula handle. There is also a cap integrally attached to the base which contains a gasketing assembly wherein the assembly is of a smaller diameter than the diameter of the trocar cannula handle opening as well as the opening in the base of the adaptor cap assembly. This cap is hingedly attached to the base so that it can be flipped by using the thumb either into or out of alignment with the openings of the trocar cannula handle and the base of the adaptor cap assembly. Thus, this mechanism can be used so that a smaller diameter instrument can be placed within a larger diameter opening (with the adaptor cap in place), or, the adaptor cap can be moved out of place so that a larger diameter mechanism can be inserted within the adaptor cap assembly and into the trocar cannula handle, with both the base and the trocar cannula handle having the same size opening.

Abstract: Trocar assembly devices are disclosed that include an improved elastomeric seal member to maintain sealing engagement during off-centering or radial motion of instruments extending therethrough. The seal members include an inner section and an outer section. The inner section has an opening formed therein to permit an elongate instrument to pass therethrough in sealing engagement therewith. In accordance with certain embodiments, a corrugated portion is formed in the outer section. In accordance with certain embodiments an annular floating ring separates the inner section from the outer section.

Abstract: A reducer seal which fits within the cannula handle of the trocar. Contained on the reducer seal there is a seal retainer. Contained on the seal retainer there is a track and movable on the track there is a slide. The reducer track is attached to the trocar housing. The reducer seal retainer is attached to the slide and holds the reducer seal in place. The reducer slide then snaps onto the reducer track. In an "open" position the reducer slide is held away from an opening in the reducer. Detents on the reducer track hold the reducer in this position. Transverse motion moves the reducer into an active or "closed" position. The reducer seal slides into frictional engagement on the sealing surface of the reducer track. The reducer has a smaller diameter opening than the trocar cannula.

Abstract: A retractable obturator trocar with a puncturing tip is provided. Preferably the obturator includes a safety shield covering the puncturing tip in an unarmed position and permitting the tip to extend distally from the safety shield in an armed position. The obturator preferably includes a spool retracting mechanism which causes the distally extended obturator to retract into the safety shield when a force is applied to the puncturing tip. The obturator may also be manually disengaged. The safety shield and obturator preferably extend out of the distal end of the cannula whether the trocar is armed or unarmed.