US 5,685,320 A · Lateral biopsy device

Abstract

A lateral biopsy device for retrieving tissue samples atraumatically from remote locations within a patient's body. The biopsy device comprises an elongated flexible catheter which terminates at its distal tip in an annular cutting edge. Disposed within the central lumen of the catheter is an elongated flexible shaft which is somewhat longer than the catheter. An anvil having a rounded outer tip is securely attached to the distal end of the shaft. The anvil includes an annular surface that contacts the annular cutting edge of the catheter when the shaft is retracted with respect to the catheter. Gripping means attached to the proximal end of the shaft are also included to better enable the operator to advance and retract the anvil with respect to the annular cutting edge at the distal end of the catheter. A tissue sample positioned between the anvil and the distal end of the catheter is cut and removed when the annular surface of the anvil contacts the annular cutting edge of the catheter.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A biopsy device comprising:

an elongated flexible catheter having a proximal end and an opposite other distal end, said catheter having a substantially unobstructed lumen extending from said proximal end to said distal end;
a flexible shaft slidably disposed within said lumen, said flexible shaft having a proximal end and an opposite other distal end;
an anvil connected to said distal end of the flexible shaft, said anvil having a smoothly rounded outer surface, said outer surface extending distally from said distal end of said catheter for aiding in the atraumatic insertion of the biopsy device;
said lumen having a diameter significantly larger than said shaft extending from said proximal end to said distal end for passing materials through said lumen adjacent said shaft;
and
cutting means for cutting tissue near said distal end of said catheter, said cutting means being actuated when said shaft is moved axially relative to said catheter toward said proximal end of said catheter.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Lateral biopsy device

Life of this patent

Lateral biopsy device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19