Methods and systems for in situ tissue marking and orientation stabilization
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. Alternatively, the marking step may include a step of delivering dye onto selected portions of the surface of the cut specimen.
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This is a Divisional of application Ser. No. 10/871,790, filed Jun. 17, 2004, which is a Divisional of application Ser. No. 10/155,570, filed May 22, 2002, both applications of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties and from which applications priority is hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C. §1.20.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the marking of soft tissue specimens to preserve or reconstruct the orientation of a soft tissue specimen after the specimen is removed from the patient's body.
2. Description of the Related Art
The marking of a biopsy specimen to indicate the orientation of the specimen within the body may be crucial for later treatment. For example, knowledge of the exact orientation of a biopsy specimen of breast tissue is an important aspect of any breast conserving therapy for breast cancer. A proper biopsy should have good margins of normal, uninvolved breast tissue surrounding the cancerous lesion within the breast. If a margin is “dirty” (close to or involved with the lesion), the risk of recurrence of the cancer increases. What distance actually constitutes a good margin remains controversial. Large margins are safest, but may result in an overly large cavity within the breast, which may result in a less than satisfactory cosmetic result. Smaller margins, on the other hand, result in smaller cavities within the breast, but increase the risk that some of the cells on the periphery of the margin will be found to be involved in the lesion. Moreover, smaller margins may increase the risk of seeding cancerous cells within the breast. For example, 1 cm margins are universally accepted as safe, while some favor the excision of specimens with margins of as little as 1 mm. The National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP), the major study group for breast treatment, has previously endorsed a margin equal to one normal cell between the cancer and the cut edge of the specimen. The mainstream approach, however, appears to call for 5 mm to 10 mm margins between the cancerous lesion and the cut edge of the specimen. Except for some women with Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS), women who undergo biopsies with such margins will also receive post-operative radiation therapy to treat any remaining cancer within the breast.
Best practices indicate that the biopsy specimen should be marked after removal thereof form the patient, in case one or more cut surfaces contain tumor or are close to the tumor. If the surgeon learns from the pathologist that the inferior margin is “positive”, the he or she will take the patient back to the operating room and excise additional tissue from the inferior aspect of the cavity. If the specimen is not adequately marked, then tissue from the entire cavity must be excised. This may lead to the unnecessary excision of a vast amount of normal breast tissue, leading to an unsatisfactory cosmetic result. For at least these reasons, specimen marking for orientation is essential and should be an integral part of any breast (or any other soft tissue) cancer treatment protocol.
Many surgeons mark the excised specimen by sewing a suture onto different sides of the specimen (usually two or three sides). An example of such marking would be a short suture to mark the superior aspect of the specimen, a long suture to mark the lateral aspect thereof and a suture with short and long tails to mark the deep aspect of the specimen. If the surgeon determines that a radiograph or an X-ray is needed to confirm that the excised specimen contains suspicious microcalcifications, the specimen may be sent to a radiology department before the pathologist receives the specimen. The specimen is then typically flattened between two parallel plates to take the radiograph. This completely distorts the specimen, and it will never return to its original shape. This distortion renders the reconstruction of the specimen orientation difficult. For example, after a flattened specimen is returned to the surgeon, the sutures for the superior and lateral aspects may appear on the same side of the specimen.
A second and better way to mark specimens is to mark each side of the excised specimen (6 sides total) with a different color of stain. In this manner, if the specimen is distorted following a radiograph, the colored stain will still dictate the original orientation of the excised specimen within the surrounding tissue.
When a tissue specimen is removed from the breast, it should be removed without disturbing its original orientation within the breast. However, during the actual excision when the specimen is still within the breast, it may twist and/or turn, which changes its orientation even before it is removed. Thus, marking a specimen after removing it from the patient may not preserve the original orientation of the specimen. Therefore, even conscientious marking of an excised specimen may not preserve the true orientation of the lesion within the surrounding tissue. In turn, such marking may lead to confusion, misinformation and ultimately may result in a less than optimal treatment of the patient.
What are needed, therefore, are improved methods and systems for tissue marking. What are also needed are methods, systems and devices for preserving the orientation of tissue specimens.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide methods and systems for tissue marking. It is another object of the present invention to provide methods, systems and devices for preserving the orientation of tissue specimens.
In accordance with the above-described objects and those that will be mentioned and will become apparent below, a soft tissue excisional method may include steps of disposing a probe within tissue from which a tissue specimen is to be taken, the probe including an RF tissue cutting tool configured to selectively bow out of and back into a window defined near a distal tip of the probe; rotating the probe while applying RF energy to the RF cutting tool and selectively bowing the cutting tool out of the window to cut the specimen from the tissue; selectively coagulating selected portions of a surface of the specimen with the RF cutting tool such by that the orientation of the specimen within the body is discernable after the cut specimen is excised from the body.
A step may be carried out of isolating the cut specimen from surrounding tissue by at least partially encapsulating the cut specimen with a thin flexible film deployed in a path of the RF cutting tool.
According to another embodiment, the present invention is also an intra-tissue therapeutic device. The device may include a probe body, the probe body defining an internal tool lumen that emerges from the probe body at a tool port defined near a distal tip of the probe body; a tool actuator, and a tissue specimen stabilization tool mechanically coupled to the tool actuator, the stabilization tool including a barbed tip adapted to selectively slide within the tool lumen and extend out of the tool port to penetrate and stabilize tissue adjacent the tool port.
The internal tool lumen may be generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the probe body near a proximal end thereof and the internal tool lumen may curve away from the axis near the distal tip of the probe body to emerge at the tool port. The device may also include a cutting tool disposed near the tip of the probe body. The cutting tool may include an RF cutting element. The RF cutting element may selectively bow out of and back into a window defined in the probe body, the RF cutting element being adapted to cut a volume of revolution of tissue as the probe body is rotated inside a patient's soft tissue. The barbed tip may be configured to expand when emerging from the tool port. The device may be configured for a single use and may be disposable.
Yet another embodiment of the present invention is a soft tissue intra-tissue therapeutic device. The device may include a cutting tool adapted to cut a specimen from surrounding tissue; a tissue-marking tool adapted to mark the specimen, at least a portion of the marking tool being mechanically coupled to the cutting means, and a tissue isolator, the tissue isolation means being adapted to expand radially form the device and isolate the cut specimen from the surrounding tissue as the device is rotated.
The cutting tool may include a radio frequency (RF) cutting tool. The RF cutting tool may include a distal RF cutting tool disposed at a distal tip of the device. The RF cutting tool may be configured to selectively bow out of and back into a body of the device to cut a volume of revolution of tissue as the device is rotated inside within the tissue. The tissue-marking tool may be configured to deliver dye to a selected portion of a surface of the cut specimen. The tissue-marking tool may be configured to selectively bow out of and back into a body of the device and to follow a path of the cutting tool as the device is rotated. The tissue isolator may include a thin flexible film of material, one end of the film being attached to a body of the device and another end thereof being attached to the tissue-marking tool. The device may further include means for delivering a pharmaceutical agent to the surrounding tissue. The device may also include means for suctioning smoke, blood and/or bodily fluids.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The tissue-marking probe 100 may also include an internal guide 112 (or may define an internal lumen) to enable the marking tool 106 to slide within the removable cutting probe 100 when marking tool actuator 118 is activated. The marking tool actuator 118 is shown as a thumb-activated dial in
As shown in
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the specimen isolator 512 may include a thin flexible film of material. One end of the film may be attached to the body 560 of the probe 500 and another end of the film may be attached to the tissue-marking tool 514. The specimen isolator 512, in this manner, is configured to extend radially from the probe body 560 out of the window 510 when and as the tissue-marking tool 514 is bowed. When the tissue-cutting tool 508 and the assembly including the tissue-marking tool 514 and the specimen isolator 512 are actuated by the same tool actuator 546, the probe 500 may cut and isolate the soft tissue specimen from the surrounding tissue with ease.
The tissue isolator 512, according to an embodiment of the present invention, may initially be stowed in a flattened configuration (best shown in
Functionally, when the probe 500 is inserted into soft tissue and rotated (in the direction of arrows 516, for example), the cutting tool 508 may be caused to bow out of and to extend outwardly from the window 510 when actuated by the tool actuator 546 and caused to cut tissue coming into contact therewith. As the probe 500 rotates and cuts, the specimen isolator and the tissue-marking tool 514 may also be correspondingly deployed by the same (or a separate) tool actuator 546 and caused to precisely follow the trailing edge of the cutting tool 508 (thereby following in its path) as it cuts the soft tissue. During the cutting and specimen isolation procedure, the marking actuator 554 may be selectively actuated by the physician to mark the tissue specimen with dye from the dye extrusion ports 542 as it is being isolated. The probe 500 may also advantageously include a distal dye port 544 to mark the distal end of the specimen. As with the embodiments shown in
After the cutting, marking and/or isolating procedures are concluded, the probe 500 may then be safely retracted from the patient's soft tissue (such as the breast, for example). As the cut specimen is physically isolated from the remaining tissue mass, the probability of seeding the surrounding tissue with potentially abnormal cells is markedly decreased. This probability is also further decreased, as the probe 500 according to the present invention allows the surgeon to obtain adequate margins of healthy tissue surrounding the target lesion by choosing the degree of bowing and extension of the cutting tool 508 under (external or intra-tissue ultrasonic guidance, for example). In this manner, the integrity of the lesion itself is not violated, thereby maintaining tissue architecture intact.
As the tissue isolator 512 is preferably formed of a thin and flexible film, it is able to lay substantially flat against the outer surface of the probe body 500 or within a slightly recessed portion 558 of the probe body 500. The tissue isolator 512, therefore, offers little additional drag and resistance to the probe 500 as it is inserted into the incision made in the patient's skin during or prior to the procedure.
The material for the tissue isolator 512 may be a flexible semi-porous or non-porous material. For example, the tissue isolator may include a synthetic polymer such as a polyorganosiloxane or a polydiorganosiloxane. The material may include an inorganic elastomer, such as a silicone elastomer. The tissue isolator may also include a teraphthalate (PET), a tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) and/or or a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The tissue isolator may have a laminate structure and may include one or more reinforcing layers including, for example, a polyimid, a polyester, Kevlar® and/or a polymer such as the M5 fiber manufactured by Magellan Systems International of Arnhem, The Netherlands, for example. Preferably, the tissue isolator will have a high tensile strength (over 1,000 psi) and a high tear resistance. Moreover, the material selected for the tissue isolator will be able to withstand temperatures in excess of about 180 C, for example. However, the tissue isolator 512 may be formed of a material other than specifically enumerated herein while remaining within the spirit of the present invention. Preferably, the shape and size of the tissue isolator 512 are such as to minimize drag on the probe 500 as it is inserted and rotated into the tissue.
Turning now to
The probes and devices described herein are preferably configured for a single use and are disposable. Alternatively, the probes and devices disclosed herein may be sterilizable and re-usable. Moreover, the probes and devices described herein may be used alone or in combination with other soft tissue excisional systems, such as described in commonly assigned and co-pending application entitled “Excisional Biopsy Devices And Methods” filed on May 4, 2000 and assigned Ser. No. 09/565,611, the disclosure of which is also incorporated herein in its entirety. While the present inventions are well suited to procedures on breast tissue, they are equally well suited to procedures on most any other soft tissue, such as lung tissue, thyroid tissue, liver tissue and/or other tissues.
While the foregoing detailed description has described preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that the above description is illustrative only and not limiting of the disclosed invention. Those of skill in this art will recognize other alternative embodiments and all such embodiments are deemed to fall within the scope of the present invention. Thus, the present invention should be limited only by the claims as set forth below.
Claims
1. A soft tissue excisional method, comprising the steps of:
- disposing a probe within tissue from which a tissue specimen is to be taken, the probe including an RF tissue cutting tool configured to selectively bow out of and back into a window defined near a distal tip of the probe;
- rotating the probe while applying RF energy to the RF cutting tool and selectively bowing the cutting tool out of the window to cut the specimen from the tissue;
- selectively coagulating selected portions of a surface of the specimen with the RF cutting tool such by that the orientation of the specimen within the body is discernable after the cut specimen is excised from the body.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of isolating the cut specimen from surrounding tissue by at least partially encapsulating the cut specimen with a thin flexible film deployed in a path of the RF cutting tool.
3. An intra-tissue therapeutic device, comprising:
- a probe body, the probe body defining an internal tool lumen that emerges from the probe body at a tool port defined near a distal tip of the probe body;
- a tool actuator, and
- a tissue specimen stabilization tool mechanically coupled to the tool actuator, the stabilization tool including a barbed tip adapted to selectively slide within the tool lumen and extend out of the tool port to penetrate and stabilize tissue adjacent the tool port.
4. The device of claim 3, wherein the internal tool lumen is generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the probe body near a proximal end thereof and wherein the internal tool lumen curves away from the axis near the distal tip of the probe body to emerge at the tool port.
5. The device of claim 3, further including a cutting tool disposed near the tip of the probe body.
6. The device of claim 5, wherein the cutting tool includes an RF cutting element.
7. The device of claim 6, wherein the RF cutting element selectively bows out of and back into a window defined in the probe body, the RF cutting element being adapted to cut a volume of revolution of tissue as the probe body is rotated inside a patient's soft tissue.
8. The device of claim 3, wherein the barbed tip is configured to expand when emerging from the tool port.
9. The device of claim 3, wherein the device is configured for a single use and is disposable.
10. A soft tissue intra-tissue therapeutic device, comprising:
- a cutting tool adapted to cut a specimen from surrounding tissue;
- a tissue-marking tool adapted to mark the specimen, at least a portion of the marking tool being mechanically coupled to the cutting means, and
- a tissue isolator, the tissue isolation means being adapted to expand radially form the device and isolate the cut specimen from the surrounding tissue as the device is rotated.
11. The device of claim 10, wherein the cutting tool includes a radio frequency (RF) cutting tool.
12. The device of claim 11, wherein the RF cutting tool includes a distal RF cutting tool disposed at a distal tip of the device.
13. The device of claim 11, wherein the RF cutting tool is configured to selectively bow out of and back into a body of the device to cut a volume of revolution of tissue as the device is rotated inside within the tissue.
14. The device of claim 10, wherein the tissue-marking tool is configured to deliver dye to a selected portion of a surface of the cut specimen.
15. The device of claim 14, wherein the tissue-marking tool is configured to selectively bow out of and back into a body of the device and to follow a path of the cutting tool as the device is rotated.
16. The device of claim 10, wherein the tissue isolator includes a thin flexible film of material, one end of the film being attached to a body of the device and another end thereof being attached to the tissue-marking tool.
17. The device of claim 10, further including means for delivering a pharmaceutical agent to the surrounding tissue.
18. The device of claim 10, further including means for suctioning smoke, blood and/or bodily fluids.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 19, 2007
Publication Date: Aug 23, 2007
Applicant: Rubicor Medical, Inc. (Redwood City, CA)
Inventors: Roberta LEE (Redwood City, CA), James Vetter (Portola Valley, CA), Ary Chernomorsky (Walnut Creek, CA)
Application Number: 11/737,382
International Classification: A61B 18/00 (20060101); A61B 10/00 (20060101);