Abstract: Methods and systems for delivering a cryogenic fluid to an inner surface of a surgical excision cavity, such as following breast tumor removal, are described. A single or dual balloon configuration can be utilized to deliver a cryogenic fluid to necrose tissue surrounding the tumor cavity in order to reduce the risk of recurrence of the cancer. The balloon can be optimally configured for maximum contact with the breast tumor bed.

Abstract: An imaging system induces an increased visibility of the fluid-containing ducts of the breast to enhance the imaging of the ducts, to improve differentiation of the ducts from the surrounding tissue and to detect lesions present within the duct. The imaging system includes a noninvasive fluid visibility increasing module configured for increasing the visibility of a fluid contained within one or more ducts of the breast and an increased fluid visibility detector configured for detecting the one or more ducts having increased fluid visibility to identify the one or more ducts within the ductal system of the breast. The imaging system further includes an image processor capable of rendering a three-dimensional map of the ductal system of the breast.

Abstract: An excisional biopsy device includes a tubular member having a window near a distal tip thereof; a cutting tool, a distal end of the cutting tool being attached near the distal tip of the tubular member, at least a distal portion of the cutting tool being configured to selectively bow out of the window and to retract within the window; and a tissue collection device externally attached at least to the tubular member, the tissue collection device collecting tissue excised by the cutting tool as the biopsy device is rotated and the cutting tool is bowed.

Abstract: An excisional biopsy device includes a tubular member having a window near a distal tip thereof; a cutting tool, a distal end of the cutting tool being attached near the distal tip of the tubular member, at least a distal portion of the cutting tool being configured to selectively bow out of the window and to retract within the window; and a tissue collection device externally attached at least to the tubular member, the tissue collection device collecting tissue excised by the cutting tool as the biopsy device is rotated and the cutting tool is bowed.

Abstract: A method of marking an orientation of a cut specimen of tissue prior to excision thereof from a body includes steps of disposing a tissue-marking probe in the body adjacent the cut specimen, the tissue-marking probe including a tissue-marking tool configured to selectively mark the cut specimen. A surface of the cut specimen is then marked with the tissue-marking tool such that the orientation of the cut specimen within the body is discernable after the cut specimen is excised from the body. The tissue-marking tool may be configured to selectively bow out of and back into a window defined near a distal tip of the probe and the marking step may include a step of selectively bowing the tissue-marking tool out of the window and following the surface of the cut specimen while rotating the probe. The tissue-marking tool may include an RF cutting tool and the marking step may include a step of coagulating or cauterizing a selected portion of the surface of the cut specimen with the RF cutting tool.

Abstract: A system and method for providing personalized information to a consumer includes a contactless device containing electronic consumer data, a contactless device reader, a service platform connected to the contactless device reader for processing the consumer data and creating customized information from the consumer data, and an output device including a display for outputting the customized information to the consumer.

Abstract: A device for collecting a tissue specimen from a patient includes a shaft having an outer surface that defines an outer perimeter, and a tissue collection element coupled to the shaft, the tissue collection element being configured to collect the tissue specimen such that the collected tissue specimen is disposed along the shaft and outside of the outer perimeter of the shaft.

Abstract: An excisional biopsy device includes a tubular member having a window near a distal tip thereof; a cutting tool, a distal end of the cutting tool being attached near the distal tip of the tubular member, at least a distal portion of the cutting tool being configured to selectively bow out of the window and to retract within the window; and a tissue collection device externally attached at least to the tubular member, the tissue collection device collecting tissue excised by the cutting tool as the biopsy device is rotated and the cutting tool is bowed.

Abstract: A method of marking an orientation of a cut specimen of tissue prior to excision thereof from a body includes steps of disposing a tissue-marking probe in the body adjacent the cut specimen, the tissue-marking probe including a tissue-marking tool configured to selectively mark the cut specimen. A surface of the cut specimen is then marked with the tissue-marking tool such that the orientation of the cut specimen within the body is discernable after the cut specimen is excised from the body. The tissue-marking tool may be configured to selectively bow out of and back into a window defined near a distal tip of the probe and the marking step may include a step of selectively bowing the tissue-marking tool out of the window and following the surface of the cut specimen while rotating the probe. The tissue-marking tool may include an RF cutting tool and the marking step may include a step of coagulating or cauterizing a selected portion of the surface of the cut specimen with the RF cutting tool.

Abstract: Devices and methods for efficient severing or cutting of a material or substance, such as soft tissue, suitable for use in open surgical and/or minimally invasive procedures, such as percutaneous procedures in breast tissue, are disclosed. A tissue cutting device may generally include a probe, a cutting assembly configured to be in a storage configuration or a preformed cutting configuration for cutting the specimen, a tissue fixator and a specimen retriever. When in the cutting configuration, the cutting assembly may be configured to move and cut the specimen relative to the tissue fixator along an axis of the probe. The tissue fixator may facilitate in stabilizing a region of tissue during cutting of the specimen. The region of tissue may be the specimen and/or tissue adjacent to and/or near the specimen. The specimen retriever may optionally be coupled to the cutting assembly and integrated as part of the tissue fixator.

Abstract: Devices and methods for a minimally invasive procedure for cutting tissue are disclosed. The device generally includes a probe with a distal exit at an exit angle relative to the probe, a cutting loop with shape memory having a preconfigured shape, and a loop securing mechanism to secure the cutting loop in a penetrating configuration and to release the cutting loop into a cutting configuration. The cutting loop is generally within a profile of the probe in the penetrating configuration. In the cutting configuration, the cutting loop extends through the cutting loop exit and generally returns to the preconfigured shape at a cutting angle generally defined by the exit angle. The cutting loop securing mechanism may be, for example, a cover slidable over the probe, a slidable member extending from a distal tip of the probe, or a groove defined in the probe proximal to the cutting loop exit.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the orientation of soft tissue such as breast tissue for enhanced accuracy of imaging and/or procedures such as a biopsy or excision are disclosed. The system for orientating and maintaining the orientation of soft tissue generally includes a frame defining an opening, the frame being configured to orient and immobilize an area of soft tissue positioned on one side of the opening, an attachment mechanism to secure the frame to an attachment region defined by the area of soft tissue or by a skin surface overlying the area of soft tissue, to facilitate orienting and immobilizing the area of soft tissue, and an imaging device to image the area of soft tissue. The opening may allow a probe of the imaging device or imaging energy transmitted by the imaging device to be movable therein for image scanning of the soft tissue. The probe, e.g., an ultrasound transducer can be rotated within the frame such that the probe scans at least either of two perpendicular directions within the frame.

Abstract: An electrically activated surgical device includes a probe body, an active element and a structure for selectively electrically insulating and/or physically isolating the active element from the patient's tissue when the device is in use. The probe body defines an outer surface, a proximal end, a distal end and a window defined within the outer surface near or at the distal end. The active element is electrically connected to a power source and is configured to selectively assume a non-deployed configuration and a variable deployed configuration in which the active element at least partially emerges from the window out of the probe body. The insulating structure selectively insulates the active element from the patient's tissue when the device is inserted therein.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the orientation of soft tissue such as breast tissue for enhanced accuracy of imaging and/or procedures such as a biopsy or excision are disclosed. The system for orientating and maintaining the orientation of soft tissue generally includes a frame defining an opening, the frame being configured to orient and immobilize an area of soft tissue positioned on one side of the opening, an attachment mechanism to secure the frame to an attachment region defined by the area of soft tissue or by a skin surface overlying the area of soft tissue, to facilitate orienting and immobilizing the area of soft tissue, and an imaging device to image the area of soft tissue. The opening may allow a probe of the imaging device or imaging energy transmitted by the imaging device to be movable therein for image scanning of the soft tissue. The probe, e.g., an ultrasound transducer can be rotated within the frame such that the probe scans at least either of two perpendicular directions within the frame.

Abstract: Minimally invasive devices and methods for cutting a volume of soft tissue such as a biopsy or a therapeutic excision of cancer are disclosed. The device generally includes a probe, a cutting loop with sufficient elasticity, shape memory or superelastic property such that the loop returns to a cutting configuration when released from a storage configuration, and a loop holder to hold and rotate the cutting loop about a loop holder axis when the cutting loop is in the cutting configuration so as to adjust a loop angle between the probe axis and the cutting loop. The method generally includes positioning the tissue cutting device adjacent the volume of tissue, releasing the cutting loop from the storage configuration to the cutting configuration, rotating the cutting loop to adjust the loop angle, and moving the tissue cutting device to cut the volume of tissue.

Abstract: Devices for efficient severing or cutting of a material or substance such as soft tissue suitable for use in open surgical and/or minimally invasive procedures are disclosed. A cutting assembly generally includes a first and second cutting blades each having an inner surface and at least one set of cutting teeth, the first inner surface being in contact with the second inner surface so that the sets of cutting teeth of the first and second cutting blades are aligned with and configured to cooperate with each other when at least one of the cutting blades moves, e.g., rotates and/or oscillates, relative to the other. A tissue cutting device generally includes a probe and the cutting assembly configured to be in a storage configuration or in a cutting configuration. The cutting assembly may provide a coagulation mechanism.

Abstract: An excisional biopsy system includes a tubular member that has a proximal end and a distal end in which one or more windows are defined. A first removable probe has a proximal portion that includes a cutting tool extender and a distal portion that includes a cutting tool. The first removable probe may be configured to fit at least partially within the tubular member to enable the cutting tool to selectively bow out of and to retract within one of the windows when the cutting tool extender is activated. A second removable probe has a proximal section that includes a tissue collection device extender and a distal section that includes a tissue collection device. The second removable probe may also be configured to fit at least partially within the tubular member to enable the tissue collection device to extend out of and to retract within one of the windows when the tissue collection device extender is activated. A third removable probe may also be provided.

Abstract: An excisional biopsy system includes a tubular member that has a proximal end and a distal end in which one or more windows are defined. A first removable probe has a proximal portion that includes a cutting tool extender and a distal portion that includes a cutting tool. The first removable probe may be configured to fit at least partially within the tubular member to enable the cutting tool to selectively bow out of and to retract within one of the windows when the cutting tool extender is activated. A second removable probe has a proximal section that includes a tissue collection device extender and a distal section that includes a tissue collection device. The second removable probe may also be configured to fit at least partially within the tubular member to enable the tissue collection device to extend out of and to retract within one of the windows when the tissue collection device extender is activated. A third removable probe may also be provided.

Abstract: A method of marking an orientation of a cut specimen of tissue prior to excision thereof from a body includes steps of disposing a tissue-marking probe in the body adjacent the cut specimen, the tissue-marking probe including a tissue-marking tool configured to selectively mark the cut specimen. A surface of the cut specimen is then marked with the tissue-marking tool such that the orientation of the cut specimen within the body is discernable after the cut specimen is excised from the body. The tissue-marking tool may be configured to selectively bow out of and back into a window defined near a distal tip of the probe and the marking step may include a step of selectively bowing the tissue-marking tool out of the window and following the surface of the cut specimen while rotating the probe. The tissue-marking tool may include an RF cutting tool and the marking step may include a step of coagulating or cauterizing a selected portion of the surface of the cut specimen with the RF cutting tool.

Abstract: An excisional biopsy device includes a tubular member having a window near a distal tip thereof; a cutting tool, a distal end of the cutting tool being attached near the distal tip of the tubular member, at least a distal portion of the cutting tool being configured to selectively bow out of the window and to retract within the window; and a tissue collection device externally attached at least to the tubular member, the tissue collection device collecting tissue excised by the cutting tool as the biopsy device is rotated and the cutting tool is bowed.