# US 12,758,200 B2 · Biopsy system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,758,200 B2 - Document ID: US12758200B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/560,443 - Filed: 2022-05-10 - Published: 2024-07-25 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2021-05-14 - Assignees: Richard Wolf GmbH - Applicants: Richard Wolf GmbH - Inventors: Bernd Claus Weber; Friedrich Hähnle; Matthias Lambertz; Dirk Hüttenberger - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12758200B2 ## CPC - A61B 10/0283: {with vacuum aspiration, e.g. caused by retractable plunger or by connected syringe (A61B10/025, A61B10/0266 take precedence)} - A61B 1/00186: {with imaging filters} - A61B 1/042: {characterised by a proximal camera, e.g. a CCD camera} - A61B 1/043: {for fluorescence imaging} - A61B 1/0638: {providing two or more wavelengths} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A biopsy system (1) includes a biopsy element (3) for taking a sample (33) of tissue (41) to be examined from an organic body, and a fluorescence endoscopy element (5). The fluorescence endoscopy element (5) has a distal section (7), where excitation light is coupled out and fluorescence light is coupled in. The distal section (7) of the fluorescence endoscopy element (5) in the biopsy element (3) is axially positionable in a distal position and in a proximal position. The biopsy element (3) has a receiving space (31) for receiving the sample (33) of the tissue (41) to be examined. The receiving space is closed at the distal end in the distal position of the distal portion (7) of the fluorescence endoscopy element (5) and is open at the distal end in the proximal position of the distal portion (7) of the fluorescence endoscopic element (5). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A biopsy system comprising: a biopsy element for taking a sample of tissue to be examined from an organic body; and a fluorescence endoscopy element comprising a distal section with a decoupling of stimulation light and coupling of fluorescence light, wherein the distal section of the fluorescence endoscopy element is positioned in the biopsy element and is axially positionable in a distal position and in a proximal position, wherein for receiving the sample of the tissue to be examined, the biopsy element comprises a receiving space which in the distal position of the distal section of the fluorescence endoscopy element is distally closed and in the proximal position of the distal section of the fluorescence endoscopy element is distally open, wherein the distal section of the fluorescence endoscopy element comprises a radial seal which is configured to guide the distal section of the fluorescence endoscopy element in the biopsy element, such that in the receiving space, during a pulling back of the distal section of the fluorescence endoscopy element proximally in the biopsy element, a sucking-in effect is produced in the receiving space. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The biopsy system according to claim 1, wherein in the distal position the distal section of the fluorescence endoscopy element completely fills the receiving space. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The biopsy system according to claim 1, wherein the fluorescence endoscopy element is configured to distally extract stimulation light and inject fluorescence light in the distal position of the distal section of the fluorescence endoscopy element, the proximal position of the distal section of the fluorescence endoscopy element and/or any intermediate position of the distal section of the fluorescence endoscopy element. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The biopsy system according to claim 1, wherein a distal end of the distal section of the fluorescence endoscopy element in the distal position closes the receiving space in a flush manner with a distal tip of the biopsy element or distally projects from the distal tip of the biopsy element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The biopsy system according to claim 1, wherein the distal section of the fluorescence endoscopy element is lockable in the distal position and/or the proximal position relative to the biopsy element. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The biopsy system according to claim 1, wherein a distal end of the distal section of the fluorescence endoscopy element is mounted rotationally fixed in a defined rotational position around a distal end longitudinal axis in the biopsy element, at least in a distal position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The biopsy system according to claim 1, wherein a distal end of the distal section of the fluorescence endoscopy element and a distal tip of the biopsy element are bevelled at a same angle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The biopsy system according to claim 7, wherein the angle is acute. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The biopsy system according to claim 1, wherein a distal end of the distal section of the fluorescence endoscopy element and/or the biopsy element is/are configured as a disposable article for single use. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The biopsy system according to claim 1, wherein the fluorescence endoscopy element comprises a light guide with proximal coupling in of stimulation light and/or proximal decoupling of fluorescence light, wherein a distal end of the light guide distally extracts the stimulation light and/or distally couples in the fluorescence light. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The biopsy system according to claim 1, wherein a distal end of the distal section of the fluorescence endoscopy element has a light-emitting diode for decoupling stimulation light and/or an image sensor or a photodiode for coupling in fluorescence light. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The biopsy system according to claim 1, wherein the fluorescence endoscopy element is configured to proximally inject a first stimulation light and/or a second stimulation light, wherein the first stimulation light is on average shorter wave than the second stimulation light, and wherein the fluorescence endoscopy element is configured to produce a first image or a first fluorescence signal of a first tissue area from the first fluorescence light stimulated with the first stimulation light and a second image or a second fluorescence signal from a second tissue area from the second fluorescence light stimulated with the second stimulation light. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The biopsy system according to claim 1, wherein proximally, the fluorescence endoscopy element comprises an optical component which is detachably coupleable or firmly coupled to the distal section of the fluorescence endoscopy element, wherein the optical component comprises a beam splitter with an image path side and an illumination path side, wherein to extract the fluorescence light an image sensor or a photodiode is detachably coupleable or firmly coupled to the image path side, and wherein to inject the stimulation light, a light source is detachably coupleable or firmly coupled to the illumination path side. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The biopsy system according to claim 13, wherein the optical component further comprises an optical longpass filter which transmits the fluorescence light more strongly to the image path side than the stimulation light, and/or comprises an optical shortpass filter which reflects the fluorescence light more strongly to the image path side than the stimulation light. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The biopsy system according to claim 14, wherein the fluorescence endoscopy element comprises an operating unit signal-connected or connectable with the image sensor or the photodiode and/or the light source, wherein the operating unit comprises an optical or acoustic display component, a control and supply component and an operating component. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The biopsy system according to claim 14, wherein the optical component is arranged in a handpiece of the fluorescence endoscopy element to which the distal section of the fluorescence endoscopy element and the biopsy element is/are connected and wherein the handpiece is configured for multiple use. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The biopsy system according to claim 13, wherein the fluorescence endoscopy element comprises an operating unit signal-connected or connectable with the image sensor or the photodiode and/or the light source, wherein the operating unit comprises an optical or acoustic display component, a control and supply component and an operating component. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The biopsy system according to claim 13, wherein the optical component is arranged in a handpiece of the fluorescence endoscopy element to which the distal section of the fluorescence endoscopy element and the biopsy element is/are connected. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The biopsy system according to claim 1, wherein the biopsy system is a system for fine-needle biopsy or fine-needle aspiration biopsy. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The biopsy system according to claim 1, wherein: the fluorescence endoscopy element is configured to indicate a level of a fluorescence signal detected by the fluorescence endoscopy element with the distal section of the fluorescence endoscopy element disposed at the distal position of the distal section of the fluorescence endoscopy element; the fluorescence endoscopy element is configured to indicate a level of the fluorescence signal detected by the fluorescence endoscopy element with the distal section of the fluorescence endoscopy element disposed between the distal position of the distal section of the fluorescence endoscopy element and the proximal position of the distal section of the fluorescence endoscopy element; the fluorescence endoscopy element is configured to indicate a level of the fluorescence signal detected by the fluorescence endoscopy element with the distal section distal section of the fluorescence endoscopy element disposed at the proximal position of the distal section of the fluorescence endoscopy element; and the fluorescence endoscopy element is configured to indicate a weakening of the fluorescence signal during movement of the distal section of the fluorescence endoscopy element between the distal position of the distal section of the fluorescence endoscopy element and the proximal position of the distal section of the fluorescence endoscopy element and/or the fluorescence endoscopy element is configured to indicate a compliance with a defined lower limit for the fluorescence signal with the distal section of the fluorescence endoscopy element at the distal position of the distal section of the fluorescence endoscopy element, with the distal section of the fluorescence endoscopy element disposed between the distal position of the distal section of the fluorescence endoscopy element and the proximal position of the distal section of the fluorescence endoscopy element, and with the distal section of the fluorescence endoscopy element disposed at the proximal position of the distal section of the fluorescence endoscopy element.