Biopsy system
AssigneeTyco Healthcare Group LP
InventorFrank Viola
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A biopsy system for retrieving biopsy tissue samples from different regions of the body is disclosed. The biopsy system includes a single use loading unit having a trocar assembly and a knife assembly. A trocar driver is operably connected to the trocar assembly and is actuable to move a trocar between retracted and advanced positions. The trocar driver is disengaged from the trocar assembly prior to firing the trocar into a target tissue mass to reduce drag on the trocar during firing. A knife driver is operably connected to the knife assembly such that when actuated, a knife is both rotatably and axially advanced about the trocar.
Claims10
A biopsy system comprising:
- a) a loading unit defining a longitudinal axis and including a trocar and a knife, the trocar defining a tissue receiving basket;
- b) a trocar driver operably engaged with the trocar, the trocar driver being actuable to move the trocar axially between advanced and retracted positions;
- and
- c) a knife driver operably connected to the knife, the knife driver being actuable to simultaneously rotate and axially move the knife between retracted and advanced positions;
- wherein the trocar driver and the trocar are operably connected through a connecting member, the connecting member being movable to disengage the trocar driver from the trocar.
A method for biopsying tissue comprising the following steps:
- a) providing a biopsy system including a loading unit having a trocar defining a tissue receiving basket and a knife, a trocar driver operably engaged with the trocar to move the trocar between advanced and retracted positions, a knife driver for moving the knife between retracted and advanced positions and a firing mechanism for advancing the trocar into a targeted tissue mass;
- b) positioning the loading unit with the trocar aligned with the targeted tissue mass;
- c) disengaging the trocar driver from operable engagement with the trocar;
- and
- d) activating the firing mechanism to advance the trocar into the targeted tissue mass.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.