Selective tissue removal tool for use in medical applications and methods for making and using
AssigneeMicrofabrica Inc.
InventorsGregory P. SCHMITZ, Eric C. MILLER, Richard T. CHEN, Ming-Ting WU
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates generally to the field of tissue removal and more particularly to methods and devices for use in medical applications involving selective tissue removal. One exemplary method includes the steps of providing a tissue cutting instrument capable of distinguishing between target tissue to be removed and non-target tissue, urging the instrument against the target tissue and the non-target tissue, and allowing the instrument to cut the target tissue while automatically avoiding cutting of non-target tissue. Various tools for carrying out this method are also described.
Claims82
A method of selectively removing soft target tissue from a body, the method comprising:
- providing an instrument comprising an elongated introducer, a cutter housing located near a distal end of the introducer, and at least one cutter element rotably mounted to the cutter housing;
- rotating the cutter element;
- causing the cutter element and soft target tissue to come into contact with one another such that the rotating cutter element cuts off portions of the soft target tissue, the instrument being configured to cut the tissue in portions having a maximum dimension less than 2 mm across;
- and
- removing the cut tissue portions through a tissue removal lumen extending from adjacent the cutter element and along the introducer.
A method of selectively removing target tissue from a body, the method comprising:
- providing a tissue cutting instrument capable of distinguishing between target tissue to be removed and non-target tissue;
- urging the instrument against the target tissue and the non-target tissue;
- and
- allowing the instrument to cut the target tissue while automatically avoiding cutting of non-target tissue.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.