Abstract: A disposable tissue removal device comprises a “tube within a tube” cutting element mounted to a handpiece. The inner cannula of the cutting element defines an inner lumen and terminates in an inwardly beveled, razor-sharp cutting edge. The inner cannula is driven by both a rotary motor and a reciprocating motor. At the end of its stroke, the inner cannula makes contact with the cutting board to completely sever the tissue. An aspiration vacuum is applied to the inner lumen to aspirate excised tissue through the inner cannula and into a collection trap that is removably mounted to the handpiece. The rotary and reciprocating motors are hydraulically powered through a foot pedal operated hydraulic circuit. The entire biopsy device is configured to be disposable. In one embodiment, the cutting element includes a cannula hub that can be connected to a fluid source, such as a valve-controlled saline bag.

Abstract: A system adapted to control the operation of a fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy device provided with a syringe to which is transferred a tissue sample extracted from an internal target in the body of a patient in which the needle is injected. Associated with this biopsy device is an ultrasound imaging instrument having a transducer placed on a body site overlying the internal target and coupled to a CRT monitor. The needle is injected into the patient through a guide passage in the transducer, hence displayed on the CRT screen is an image of the internal target and that of the advancing needle. The biopsy device is controlled by a pneumatic or motor-driven mechanism operatively coupled to a guide tube through which the needle extends, For a first phase of an operating cycle, the mechanism advances the needle toward the target to extract a tissue sample therefrom. In a second operating phase, the mechanism acts to retract the tissue loaded needle from the body of the patient.

Abstract: A method is provided for selecting an operational mode of a surgical biopsy system for removing at least one tissue sample from a surgical patient. For this method the operator uses a surgical biopsy system comprising an elongated hollow piercer and a cutter rotatably and axially positionable relative to the piercer. The piercer has a port for receiving the tissue sample. The surgical biopsy system further comprises a control unit, a display showing a plurality of available operational modes of the surgical biopsy system, and at least one control button remotely located from the control unit and operatively connected to the control unit by a circuit. The method comprises the steps of visualizing icons on a display which are representative of the plurality of operational modes on the display and actuating the control button(s) to scroll through the operational modes on the display to select a desired operational mode.

Abstract: Disclosed is a surgical instrument of the type comprising a probe which has a hole in the side wall and contains a knife in contact with the wall of said hole together with means designed to create a vacuum inside said probe, characterised in that said means designed to create a vacuum inside said probe are integrated into the instrument, which is also equipped with means designed to activate said vacuum-creating means and said knife simultaneously.

Abstract: A tissue excision and cutting apparatus used by being inserted into a trocar for cutting off a part of tissue as a sample piece for such a diagnosis in a laparoscopic surgery or the like. The apparatus comprises a resection blade having an inner hollow cylinder with a cutting blade at its tip end, and a forceps having at its tip end a clamp having a movable jaw capable of opening and closing which is joined to a fixed jaw with a chopping block piece, open-close mechanism having an operation part for opening and closing the movable jaw, and a longitudinal penetrating passage into which the resection blade is inserted and moves back and forth therein.

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 apparatus and method for the biopsy of tissue specimens and, more particularly, a single insertion multiple sample percutaneous biopsy apparatus and method are provided. a tip at a distal end of a vacuum support tube is introduced into a tissue mass. The vacuum support tube is retracted exposing a basket tube bounded by a front washer and a rear washer mounted thereabout forming a tissue basket. The basket tube is supported internally by a thrust tube which provides structure to the apparatus to allow it to penetrate tissue. The thrust tube and the basket tube are in fluid communication and are provided with suction to draw tissue inward. The tissue is then severed by rotating and advancing a knife edge at the distal end of the vacuum support tube. The tissue basket is withdrawn and the tissue sample is removed by rotating the vacuum support tube. The tissue sample is sliced longitudinally, and a stripper scrapes the tissue sample from an opening in the vacuum support tube.

Abstract: A biopsy needle with a conduit for receiving a hard biopsy sample and a fluid biopsy sample. The conduit has a first cross-sectional area. The biopsy needle has an end with a penetrating bit operable for coring the hard biopsy sample. The end has a second cross-sectional area less than the first cross-sectional area. Therefore, the hard biopsy sample has a cross-sectional area substantially equal to the second cross-sectional area A space is thus left between the hard biopsy sample and the conduit when the hard biopsy sample is received therein. The biopsy needle has a retainer located at an interior of the conduit for holding the cored hard biopsy sample within the conduit. The biopsy needle also has an aperture on a sidewall of the conduit for aspirating the fluid biopsy sample into the space.

Abstract: A device and method for treatment of a tissue specimen disposed in surrounding tissue has a tissue specimen isolating tool and a tissue specimen damager. The tissue specimen isolating tool isolates the tissue specimen from the surrounding tissue. The tissue specimen damager damages the tissue, with a possible end result being necrosis. The severing tool may have a cutting member that is extendable to an outwardly radially bowed position about device. The tissue specimen is isolated by rotating the cutting member about the tissue specimen. The cutting member may be functionally connected to a cutting member radio frequency generation source. The tissue specimen damager may damage the tissue specimen using ionizing radiation, cutting devices, thermal treatment devices, chemical treatment devices, or sealing an outer boundary of the tissue specimen.

Abstract: A driven rotary incision scalpel having a pistol handle-shaped housing halves providing for mounting of a small form factor motor having a drive shaft. A gear on the front end of the drive shaft is enmeshed with the inner teeth of a ring gear of a two-stage reduction mount, which in turn drives a bevel gear that is enmeshed with a second driven bevel gear on a hollow rotary scalpel. When a trigger assembly is pulled backward and locked in, the outer barrel simultaneously moves to the rear, causing the front end of the hollow rotary scalpel to extend and switching on the motor that drives the blade at the front end into synchronous rotation.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for intraoperatively performing surgery to create transmural channels in tissue, for example, as in transmyocardial revascularization, are provided using a device including a mechanical end effector and means for stabilizing the end effector in contact with the tissue. The end effector is adapted to cooperate with a source of suction to evacuate tissue severed during the channel forming process, and may optionally include an electrode for cauterizing the tissue surrounding the channel.

Abstract: A surgical biopsy instrument for the extraction of at least one tissue sample from a body is disclosed having a piercing needle for penetrating the body. The piercing needle has a piercing tip and a tissue receiving port. A cutting member having a distal sampling segment is used with the piercing needle. The sampling segment has a cutting edge and a bore therein. The sampling segment is breakable from the cutting member. A tissue sample is acquired within the sampling segment of the cutting member after the tissue sample is taken at the tissue receiving port of the piercing needle. The sampling segment is removed from the piercing needle and the sampling segment containing the tissue sample is removed from the cutting member.

Abstract: A surgical biopsy instrument for the extraction of at least one tissue sample from a body is disclosed having a piercing needle for penetrating the body. The piercing needle has a distal piercing tip and an open proximal end and a passageway extending therebetween. The piercing needle has at least one tissue receiving port adjacent to the piercing tip, and the tissue receiving port communicates with the passageway for the reception of a tissue sample therein. A cutting member is removably disposed within the passageway of the piercing needle and the cutting member has a proximal end and a distal sampling segment. The distal sampling segment has a distal cutting edge and a bore extending therein. The distal sampling segment is moveable across the tissue receiving port of the piercing needle for the cutting of a tissue sample and the tissue sample is received within the bore of the distal sampling segment. The distal sampling segment is breakable from the elongated cutting member.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for performing endoscopic guided fine needle biopsy, in which the needle is automatically controlled by using a pre-biased needle. Upon release of a spring, the needle projects toward tissue, overcoming frictional forces, thanks to high acceleration. This reduces the danger of breaking the needle.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus for removing tissue, which includes (i) an elongated body defining an opening at a distal end and forming a tissue receiving cavity in communication with the opening (ii) a blunt dilator at least partially disposed in the tissue receiving cavity and (iii) a cutting member operatively movable transverse to the elongated body in proximity to the opening.

Abstract: An endoscopic assembly usable with an external first location indicator to assist an operator in positioning a distal end of the assembly at a desired location within a patient and creating a partial vacuum at or collecting a sample from the desired location during an endoscopic procedure, and a method for creating a partial vacuum at or collecting a sample from the desired location within the patient, are shown and described. In one embodiment, the endoscopic assembly has an elongated member and a second position indicator component. The elongated member has a distal end configured to be inserted into the patient and a proximal end portion. A bore extends from the proximal end portion of the elongated member to its distal end. The second position indicator component is sized to slidably engage the bore of the elongated member. The operator can manipulate the second position indicator component to move the position indicator component between first and second positions.

Abstract: A biopsy sampling system and method for aspirating bone marrow and bone cores from a patient with minimal or no perceived pain to the patient. The system includes a bone aspiration needle assembly having a handle and an electrically conductive needle shaft and an electrical nerve stimulator (ENS) which supplies a current of adjustable intensity to the needle shaft. Thus, when the aspirating needle is inserted into the bone marrow cavity of the patient, the stimulator is activated to anesthetize the nerves in the vicinity of the aspiration permitting the extraction to commence with little or no increased pain to the patient. A nonconducting insulating shaft is also disclosed to be placed on the needle shaft in order direct the ENS current to the area of the shaft that can most efficiently anesthetize the pain conducting nerves, i.e. to the tip of the needle shaft.

Abstract: A method is provided for removing at least one tissue sample from a surgical patient using a biopsy instrument. The biopsy instrument comprises an elongated piercer having a piercer lumen extending therethrough. The biopsy instrument further comprises a cutter rotatably and translationally positionable relative to the piercer. The piercer has a port for receiving and transferring the tissue portion into the piercer lumen.

Abstract: A biopsy needle assembly that is an improvement over the Jamshidi biopsy needle assembly is provided. The improved biopsy needle assembly includes a cannula with a uniform diameter internal surface defining an inner biopsy tissue sample receiving and retaining bore having projections thereon, and a stylet having rounded edges with at least one V-shaped groove at a distal cutting tip removably received within the bore of the cannula. The projections may be barbs, annular or spiral ribs that line the inner biopsy tissue sample receiving and retaining bore. The stylet may include a quick release knob for engaging with an improved coupling at the proximal end of the cannula. The improved coupling is substantially cylindrical with a cross handle substantially in the middle thereof. The coupling may also include internal threads engaging a syringe. The improved biopsy needle assembly permits more consistent acquisition of an adequate tissue sample for biopsy and is less painful to the patient.

Abstract: A surgical biopsy instrument for the extraction of at least one tissue sample from a body is described herein. The surgical biopsy instrument has a vacuum source and an outer elongated hollow piercing needle for the penetration of the body. The needle has a proximal end and a distal piercing tip opposite the proximal end. The needle also includes a needle passageway extending between the proximal end and the tip. The needle has a tissue receiving port adjacent to the piercing tip and the tissue receiving port communicates with the needle passageway for reception of the tissue sample. A cutter is moveably disposed relative with the needle. The cutter has a distal cutting blade on the distal end of the cutter. The cutting blade is moveable across the tissue receiving port of the needle to cut the tissue sample. A tissue extractor is connected to the vacuum source and the extractor is moveably disposed relative to the needle.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing a medical procedure comprising an elongated shaft having multiple apertures extending therethrough. The shaft has a proximal end and a distal end. An actuator is positioned within the aperture and has a proximal end and an opposite distal end. A spring jaw is connected to the distal end of the actuator for cutting and collecting biopsy specimens. The spring jaw is closed by advancing the shaft over the jaw while holding the actuator in place. This action cuts the biopsy specimen without moving the cutting jaw away from the desired biopsy site, thus facilitating multiple biopsies. Multiple methods for moving the biopsies from the spring jaw into the storage chamber include facilitated suction by entraining air and fluid through the perforated biopsy jaws and fluid injection from the distal shaft into the jaws that entrains the biopsies as it exits proximally through perforations in the storage chamber.

Abstract: An instrument for obtaining tissue samples from a site deep within the body. The instrument has an elongated proximal portion that is constructed to follow a long, torturous path to the site and has a distal end constructed to sever and remove a tissue sample from the body, including tissue specimens, polyps or the like. The instrument is constructed to take multiple biopsy samples without being withdrawn from the body. The instrument includes a tissue sample retractor. The retractor is axially movable between an extended tissue-engaging position and a retracted position. There is an open passage into which the retractor moves when moving from the extended to the retracted position. The retractor has a distal end portion constructed to engage tissue and apply axial transporting force thereto while moving from the extended to the retracted position. The retractor is constructed to be advanced and retracted repeatedly to accumulate a series of samples in the instrument.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the biopsy of tissue specimens and, more particularly, a single insertion multiple sample percutaneous biopsy apparatus and method are provided. A tip at a distal end of a vacuum support tube is introduced into a tissue mass. The vacuum support tube is retracted exposing a basket tube bounded by a front washer and a rear washer mounted thereabout forming a tissue basket. The basket tube is supported internally by a thrust tube which provides structure to the apparatus to allow it to penetrate tissue. The thrust tube and the basket tube are in fluid communication and are provided with suction to draw tissue inward. The tissue is then severed by rotating and advancing a knife edge at the distal end of the vacuum support tube. The tissue basket is withdrawn and the tissue sample is removed by rotating the vacuum support tube. The tissue sample is sliced longitudinally, and a stripper scrapes the tissue sample from an opening in the vacuum support tube.

Abstract: A biopsy instrument which can be used to take a bone biopsy sample or a soft tissue biopsy sample. The biopsy instrument includes a biopsy needle and a biopsy gun. The biopsy gun includes a firing mechanism for firing the biopsy needle with a minimum force for striking and penetrating the target tissue organ; a cradle that securely holds the biopsy needle with an attached disposable syringe having a plunger; and a triggering mechanism. In operation, the triggering mechanism actuates the firing mechanism causing the cradle together with the needle and the attached syringe to fire forward with a sufficient force such that the needle penetrates the target tissue organ causing a first a first tissue sample to be cored in the needle. The disposable syringe can then be used to obtain a second tissue sample up through the biopsy needle using a vacuum created in the disposable syringe when the plunger is maintained in a rearward position while the syringe fires forward.

Abstract: An endoscopic bipolar multiple sample bioptome includes a relatively long conductive flexible member having a lumen with an axially displaceable conductive wire extending therethrough and covered with an electrically insulating sheath. The proximal ends of the flexible member and wire are coupled to a manual actuation device for axially displacing one of the flexible member and wire relative to the other and the manual actuation device is provided with bipolar electrical couplings for electrically coupling one pole of a current source to the flexible member and the other pole of the current source to the wire. The distal end of the flexible member is mechanically and electrically coupled to a partially conductive cylinder having a distal edge and the distal end of the wire is mechanically and electrically coupled to the jaw assembly. The jaw assembly includes a pair of opposed toothed jaw cups each of which is coupled by a narrow resilient arm to a base member.

Abstract: A device for harvesting bone, including a hollow cylindrical rod having a sharpened distal end, a proximal end with a handle thereon, and a chamber therein extending axially between the proximal and distal ends. A plunger rod is inserted into the proximal end of the cylindrical rod, the plunger rod being slidable axially within the chamber. A sealing support is provided on the proximal end of the hollow cylindrical rod for engaging the plunger rod to establish a slidable hermetic seal therebetween and prevent retrograde flow of air into the chamber from the proximal end of the cylindrical rod. The device also includes a side opening in the cylindrical rod communicating with the chamber, which is connectable to a source of vacuum for evacuating fluid from the chamber into a fluid reservoir connectable to the side opening for collecting fluid therein.

Abstract: An automated tissue sampling device is disclosed which permits its needles to be cocked either simultaneously or sequentially and can be cocked with only one hand. The cocking mechanism is arranged so as to virtually eliminate the possibility that the needles will be cocked in the wrong sequence. The physician can readily confirm, either visually or tactilely, whether the device is uncocked, half cocked, or fully cocked. The disclosed tissue sampling device also comprises two different trigger buttons, one adjacent the front end of the device and the other at the rear, and manipulating either of the two trigger buttons will actuate the device.

Abstract: A needle biopsy device has a suction source, an inner cannula, and an outer cannula. The inner cannula has a biopsy reservoir formed proximate the distal end thereof and also has a lumen formed therein. The lumen provides fluid communication from the suction source to the biopsy reservoir. The outer cannula is slidably disposed about the inner cannula and has a cutter formed at the distal end thereof. The outer cannula has a distal position wherein it substantially covers the biopsy reservoir and has a proximate position wherein the biopsy reservoir is substantially exposed. An actuating mechanism moves the outer cannula from the distal position to the proximate position thereof, facilitates the application of suction from the suction source to the biopsy reservoir and moves the outer cannula from the proximate position to the distal position thereof.

Abstract: A method for using a surgical biopsy instrument for extracting a plurality of tissue samples from a body is disclosed. The instrument has a piercing needle that is initially inserted into the body. The needle has a piercing tip and a plurality of tissue receiving ports, for the reception of tissue samples, circumferentially arranged around the needle adjacent to the piercing tip. A first tissue sample is sampled at the first tissue receiving port and is removed from the instrument. A second tissue sample is sampled at a second tissue receiving port without moving the needle. The second tissue sample is removed from the body in the same manner as the first.

Abstract: A device for harvesting a tendon for cruciate ligament surgery includes an elongated outer member and an inner member disposed within the outer member, such that the outer and inner members are reciprocally movable relative to one another. The outer member has, at its distal end, a cutting edge for cutting connective tissues about the periphery of the tendon. The inner member is provided with a distal end and pathway into which the tendon is received during the harvesting procedure. The device further includes an actuator for moving the outer member and inner member between a non-actuated position, wherein the distal end of the outer member and the distal end of the inner member are at least in substantially even alignment, and an actuated position, wherein the distal end of the outer member is advanced beyond the distal end of the inner member, so as to expose the cutting edge for separating connective tissues about the periphery of the tendon.

Abstract: A biopsy forceps instrument is provided having a proximal actuation handle, a flexible multi-lumen tubular member, at least one control member extending through a lumen, an irrigation means, an aspiration means, and a distal assembly. The proximal actuation handle includes a shaft and a spool slidably mounted on the shaft. The actuation handle is coupled to the proximal ends of both the flexible tubular member and the control member. Lumens of the tubular member form irrigation and aspiration conduits. The distal assembly includes a hollow jaw cup coupled to the aspiration conduit and a hollow movable jaw coupled adjacent the irrigation conduit. The movable jaw is coupled to the control member, such that actuation of the actuation handle moves the movable jaw relative to the jaw cup. Moving the hollow jaws into a closed position provides a substantially fluidtight coupling between the irrigation and aspiration conduits.

Abstract: An automated tissue sampling device is disclosed which permits its needles to be cocked either simultaneously or sequentially and can be cocked with only one hand. The cocking mechanism is arranged so as to virtually eliminate the possibility that the needles will be cocked in the wrong sequence. The physician can readily confirm, either visually or tactilely, whether the device is uncocked, half cocked, or fully cocked. The disclosed tissue sampling device also comprises two different trigger buttons, one adjacent the front end of the device and the other at the rear, and manipulating either of the two trigger buttons will actuate the device.

Abstract: An integrated optical biopsy forceps device and a method for tissue identification by optical analysis and biopsy sampling at a site within the body. The device includes an elongated catheter body for introduction into the body and navigation to an area of interest. An optical fiber extends through the device, from the proximal end, where it may be connected to electro-optical spectral analysis equipment, to a distal tip for illuminating and receiving light energy from tissue at the location of the tip. The distal end of the device has a pair of cutting jaws pivotally mounted at the distal end of the catheter body and controlled by control wires extending through the catheter body to a control handle at the proximal end, or by the optical fiber. The device may be spectroscopically guided to a site of interest within the body.

Abstract: A needle biopsy device has a suction source, an inner cannula, and an outer cannula. The inner cannula has a biopsy reservoir formed proximate the distal end thereof and also has a lumen formed therein. The lumen provides fluid communication from the suction source to the biopsy reservoir. The outer cannula is slidably disposed about the inner cannula and has a cutter formed at the distal end thereof. The outer cannula has a distal position wherein it substantially covers the biopsy reservoir and has a proximate position wherein the biopsy reservoir is substantially exposed. An actuating mechanism moves the outer cannula from the distal position to the proximate position thereof, facilitates the application of suction from the suction source to the biopsy reservoir and moves the outer cannula from the proximate position to the distal position thereof.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus for removing tissue, which includes (i) an elongated body defining an opening at a distal end and forming a tissue receiving cavity in communication with the opening (ii) a blunt dilator at least partially disposed in the tissue receiving cavity and (iii) a cutting member operatively movable transverse to the elongated body in proximity to the opening.

Abstract: A biopsy instrument 40 includes a handle 1 and a disposable biopsy needle set or needle cartridge 20. The needle set includes a cannula 9 with a cannula hub 8 and a stylet 7 with a stylet hub 6. The needle set 20 is positionable within the handle 1 and actuatable thereby for purposes of taking a biopsy tissue sample. The needle set 20 and in particular the hubs 6, 8, in combination with the handle 1, perform the actuation sequence which allows the needle to be projected into the tissue to be biopsied and the cannula to be subsequently urged over the needle to collect the tissue.