Biopsy forceps with serrated cutting jaws

A biopsy forceps system for sampling tissue, comprising:

• a proximal assembly including an actuator;
• a tension member extending from a distal end to a proximal end coupled to the proximal assembly;
• and
• a distal assembly including first and second jaws movable between an open configuration, in which the jaws are separated from one another to receive target tissue therebetween, and a closed configuration, in which cutting edges of the jaws are moved toward one another to cut a portion of the target tissue from surrounding tissue, the first and second jaws defining a tissue receiving space therebetween to house the cut tissue, the first and second jaws being pivotable relative to one another, each of the jaws including a serrated cutting edge extending therealong, the distal assembly further including an attachment member extending from a distal end to a proximal end directly coupled to the tension member, the attachment member being movably coupled to the first and second jaws so that distal movement of the attachment member moves the jaws to the open configuration while proximal movement thereof moves the jaws to the closed configuration, wherein a plurality of valleys between a plurality of first teeth on a first side of the first jaw define a first line, at least two teeth of the plurality of first teeth have a first height measured from the first line, wherein the at least two teeth of the plurality of first teeth form a first valley between the at least two teeth, and at least two other teeth of the plurality of first teeth have a second height measured from the first line and different from the first height, wherein the at least two other teeth of the plurality of first teeth form a second valley between the at least two other teeth, wherein the first line intersects the first valley and the second valley at a maximum depth of each of the first valley and the second valley,
• wherein actuation of the proximal assembly causes the attachment member to move proximally and distally relative to the first and second jaws.

A method of obtaining a tissue sample, comprising

• inserting a distal portion of a biopsy forceps assembly to a target area within a body, the distal portion including:
• a tension member extending from a proximal end to a distal end;
• and
• an end effector including a first jaw and a second jaw movable between an open configuration, in which the first jaw and the second jaw are separated from one another to receive target tissue therebetween, and a closed configuration, in which cutting edges of the jaws are moved toward one another to cut a portion of the target tissue from surrounding tissue, the first and second jaws defining a tissue receiving space therebetween to house the cut tissue, the first and second jaws being pivotable relative to one another, each of the jaws including a serrated cutting edge comprising a plurality of teeth extending therealong, wherein each of the first jaw and the second jaw extends from a distal end to a proximal end, and wherein one or more first teeth of the plurality of teeth that are positioned at the distal end of the first jaw are larger than one or more first teeth that are positioned proximate the proximal end of the first jaw, and one or more second teeth of the plurality of teeth that are positioned at the distal end of the second jaw are larger than one or more second teeth that are positioned proximate the proximal end of the second jaw,
• wherein the plurality of teeth of the first jaw further includes a first tooth, a second tooth, a third tooth, and a fourth tooth in a row, wherein a first valley is between the first tooth and the second tooth, a second valley is between the second tooth and the third tooth, and a third valley is between the third tooth and the fourth tooth, wherein a maximum depth of each of the first valley, the second valley, and the third valley defines a first line parallel to a base line extending from the distal end to the proximal end of the base of the first jaw, wherein the first tooth and the third tooth have a first height measured relative to the first line, wherein the second tooth and the fourth tooth have a second height measured relative to the first line and different than the first height,
• wherein the end effector further includes an attachment member extending from a distal end to a proximal end directly coupled to the tension member, the attachment member being movably coupled to the first and second jaws so that distal movement of the attachment member moves the jaws to the open configuration while proximal movement thereof moves the jaws to the closed configuration, and
• moving the attachment member proximally relative to the first and second jaws to pivot the jaws to the closed configuration so that the cutting edges of the first jaw and the second jaw sever the target tissue received therebetween from the surrounding tissue.