US 5,398,690 AGranted

Slaved biopsy device, analysis apparatus, and process

OwnerBobby G. Batten, John A. Companioninventors

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Abstract

A computer controlled rectal biopsy probe is employed to receive an ultrasonic signal from an ultrasonic transmitter which may be carried by a prior art urethral examination and mapping probe. The mapping probe signal is employed by the biopsy probe to position a biopsy needle within the rectal wall in alignment with a suspect prostate tumor detected by the mapping probe. The biopsy needle is computer controlled to penetrate the rectal wall, extend into the center of the suspect tumor, and cut a tissue sample therefrom. The tissue sample is removed through the rectal probe, to an analysis station, without removal of the rectal probe. If found malignant, suitable treatment (medical, radiation or surgical) may be directly applied to the tumor through the rectal probe. Computer analysis of the tissue sample may be performed by optical analysis or by ultrasonic density examination apparatus.

Claims26

Dependent claims

In combination with an ultrasonic system for detecting, identifying and precisely locating tumors in the prostate gland of a patient and including, a control computer positioning and removal mechanism for a ultrasonic transmitter carried by a urethral probe, and a control computer screen visible to the medical personnel utilizing the system, the improvement therewith consisting of:

a computer controlled biopsy system for taking a biopsy of the located tumor;
said biopsy system including a rectal probe movable by and controlled by the computer;
said rectal probe positionable within the rectum of the patient having the suspected tumor;
said rectal probe housing a biopsy needle;
ultrasonic receiver means carried by said rectal probe for receiving ultrasonic signals from the ultrasonic transmitter carried by the urethral probe;
said ultrasonic receiver means carried by said rectal probe assisting in, and serving to indicate, alignment of said biopsy needle with the tumor;
means for extending said biopsy needle from said rectal probe and inserting said biopsy needle through the rectum wall into the prostate to enter and take a tissue sample from the center of the detected tumor;
and
means for retracting the biopsy needle and contained tissue sample from the patient for analysis while leaving the urethral and rectal probes intact.

6 more elements

A system for obtaining a biopsy of a prostate tumor comprising, in combination:

a urethral probe for ultrasonically detecting and locating the position of a tumor within a prostate capsule;
computer means connected to said urethral probe and including a computer screen for displaying an image and relative location of the prostate tumor;
a rectal probe containing a biopsy needle;
said computer means being also connected to said rectal probe and said computer screen displaying an image of said rectal probe relative to said urethral probe;
ultrasonic receiver means carried by said rectal probe for aligning said biopsy needle with the prostate tumor;
means for extending said biopsy needle from said rectal probe to the prostate tumor and for taking a biopsy tissue sample therefrom;
and
means for retracting the biopsy needle and tumor tissue sample through said rectal probe to an analysis station.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.