Biopsy hand tool for capturing tissue sample

A hand tool for taking a sample of body tissue, comprising, in combination:

• a) a handle;
• b) an outer elongate tube having proximal and distal end portions, with the proximal end portion of the outer elongate tube being fixed to a portion of the handle and with the distal end portion of the outer elongate tube having a cutting edge and an opening formed by said cutting edge such that when the distal end portion of the outer elongate tube is manipulated into the body tissue, the sample of body tissue is at least partially cut by the cutting edge of the outer elongate tube and received into the hand tool;
• c) an inner elongate tube inside of and in close relationship with the outer elongate tube, with the inner elongate tube having proximal and distal end portions, with the proximal end portion of the inner elongate tube being fixed to a portion of the handle and with the distal end portion of the inner tube being adjacent to the distal end portion of the outer tube and having an opening interacting with the opening of the outer elongate tube and through which the sample is received when cut by the cutting edge of the outer elongate tube, with the opening of the inner elongate tube being formed by a distal edge, with at least a portion of the distal edge being a cutting edge such that movement of the inner elongate tube relative to the outer elongate tube permits the cutting edge of the inner elongate tube to further cut the body tissue sample to increase the chances that the body tissue sample is separated from the body for withdrawal therefrom in the tool, and with the opening of the inner elongate tube being at least partially closed by the distal end portion of the outer elongate tube after such movement to capture the sample of body tissue;
• and
• d) wherein the distal end portion of the inner elongate tube includes a sample-receiving portion having a first diameter when viewed in the axial direction and wherein the cutting edge of the outer elongate tube has a second diameter when viewed in the axial direction, with the second diameter being less than the first diameter such that the diameter of the body tissue sample cut by the first cutting edge is less than the diameter of the sample receiving portion of the inner tube when the tool is manipulated in the axial direction whereby the architecture of the body tissue sample remains unaltered.

A hand tool for taking a sample of body tissue, comprising, in combination:

• a) a handle;
• b) an outer elongate tube having proximal and distal end portions, with the proximal end portion of the outer elongate tube being fixed to a portion of the handle and with the distal end portion of the outer elongate tube having a cutting edge and an opening formed by said cutting edge such that when the distal end portion of the outer elongate tube is manipulated into the body tissue, the sample of body tissue is at least partially cut by the cutting edge of the outer elongate tube and received into the hand tool;
• c) an inner elongate tube inside of and in close relationship with the outer elongate tube, with the inner elongate tube having proximal and distal end portions, with the proximal end portion of the inner elongate tube being fixed to a portion of the handle and with the distal end portion of the inner tube being adjacent to the distal end portion of the outer tube and having an opening interacting with the opening of the outer elongate tube and through which the sample is received when cut by the cutting edge of the outer elongate tube, with the opening of the inner elongate tube being formed by a distal edge, with at least a portion of the distal edge being a cutting edge such that movement of the inner elongate tube relative to the outer elongate tube permits the cutting edge of the inner elongate tube to further cut the body tissue sample to increase the chances that the body tissue sample is separated from the body for withdrawal therefrom in the tool, and with the opening of the inner elongate tube being at least partially closed by the distal end portion of the outer elongate tube after such movement to capture the sample of body tissue;
• and
• d) wherein each distal end portion of the outer and inner elongate tubes has an axis and first and second opposing sides, with the opening of each distal end portion being of a smaller diameter than its respective tube, with the edge forming each opening being tangential to the first opposing side of its respective tube, and with the axis and first and second opposing sides being in a plane;
• and with each distal end portion including a tapering portion extending from its respective opening to a cylindrical portion of its respective distal end portion, with the cylindrical portion being tangential to its respective first opposing side, with each tapering portion having a slope relative to the axis, with the slope being greatest where the tapering portion intersects the plane, with the slope progressively decreasing from such an intersection to the first opposing side of each tube which is tangential to its respective cylindrical portion, whereby the distal end portion of the inner elongate tube is readily rotatable within the distal end portion of the outer elongate tube.

A hand tool for taking a sample of body tissue, comprising, in combination:

• a) a handle;
• b) an outer elongate tube having proximal and distal end portions, with the proximal end portion of the outer elongate tube being fixed to a portion of the handle and with the distal end portion of the outer elongate tube having a cutting edge and an opening formed by said cutting edge such that when the distal end portion of the outer elongate tube is manipulated into the body tissue, the sample of body tissue is at least partially cut by the cutting edge of the outer elongate tube and received into the hand tool;
• c) an inner elongate tube inside of and in close relationship with the outer elongate tube, with the inner elongate tube having proximal and distal end portions, with the proximal end portion of the inner elongate tube being fixed to a portion of the handle and with the distal end portion of the inner tube being adjacent to the distal end portion of the outer tube and having an opening interacting with the opening of the outer elongate tube and through which the sample is received when cut by the cutting edge of the outer elongate tube, with the opening of the inner elongate tube being formed by a distal edge, with at least a portion of the distal edge being a cutting edge such that movement of the inner elongate tube relative to the outer elongate tube permits the cutting edge of the inner elongate tube to further cut the body tissue sample to increase the chances that the body tissue sample is separated from the body for withdrawal therefrom in the tool, and with the opening of the inner elongate tube being at least partially closed by the distal end portion of the outer elongate tube after such movement to capture the sample of body tissue;
• and
• d) wherein the inner elongate tube includes an axis, and wherein the distal edge of the inner elongate tube includes a greater distal edge section located at a greater axial distance from the handle and a lesser distal edge section located at a lesser axial distance from the handle, with the distal edge curving from the greater distal section to the lesser distal section.

A hand tool for taking a sample of body tissue, comprising, in combination:

• a) a handle;
• b) an outer elongate tube having proximal and distal end portions, with the proximal end portion of the outer elongate tube being fixed to a portion of the handle and with the distal end portion of the outer elongate tube having a cutting edge and an opening formed by said cutting edge such that when the distal end portion of the outer elongate tube is manipulated into the body tissue, the sample of body tissue is at least partially cut by the cutting edge of the outer elongate tube and received into the hand tool;
• c) an inner elongate tube inside of and in close relationship with the outer elongate tube, with the inner elongate tube having proximal and distal end portions, with the proximal end portion of the inner elongate tube being fixed to a portion of the handle and with the distal end portion of the inner tube being adjacent to the distal end portion of the outer tube and having an opening interacting with the opening of the outer elongate tube and through which the sample is received when cut by the cutting edge of the outer elongate tube, with the opening of the inner elongate tube being formed by a distal edge, with at least a portion of the distal edge being a cutting edge such that movement of the inner elongate tube relative to the outer elongate tube permits the cutting edge of the inner elongate tube to further cut the body tissue sample to increase the chances that the body tissue sample is separated from the body for withdrawal therefrom in the tool, and with the opening of the inner elongate tube being at least partially closed by the distal end portion of the outer elongate tube after such movement to capture the sample of body tissue;
• and
• d) wherein the outer elongate tube includes an inner surface and wherein the inner elongate tube includes an outer surface in close relationship with the inner surface of the outer tube, with the cutting edge of the outer elongate tube including a cutting tip substantially in line with its inner surface, with the cutting edge of the inner elongate tube including a cutting tip substantially in line with its outer surface such that the cutting edges form substantially the shape of a wedge to wedge body tissue apart.

A hand tool for taking a sample of body tissue, comprising, in combination:

• a) a handle;
• b) an outer elongate tube having proximal and distal end portions, with the proximal end portion of the outer elongate tube being fixed to a portion of the handle and with the distal end portion of the outer elongate tube having a cutting edge and an opening formed by said cutting edge such that when the distal end portion of the outer elongate tube is manipulated into the body tissue, the sample of body tissue is at least partially cut by the cutting edge of the outer elongate tube and received into the hand tool;
• c) an inner elongate tube inside of and in close relationship with the outer elongate tube, with the inner elongate tube having proximal and distal end portions, with the proximal end portion of the inner elongate tube being fixed to a portion of the handle and with the distal end portion of the inner tube being adjacent to the distal end portion of the outer tube and having an opening interacting with the opening of the outer elongate tube and through which the sample is received when cut by the cutting edge of the outer elongate tube, with the opening of the inner elongate tube being formed by a distal edge, with at least a portion of the distal edge being a cutting edge such that movement of the inner elongate tube relative to the outer elongate tube permits the cutting edge of the inner elongate tube to further cut the body tissue sample to increase the chances that the body tissue sample is separated from the body for withdrawal therefrom in the tool, and with the opening of the inner elongate tube being at least partially closed by the distal end portion of the outer elongate tube after such movement to capture the sample of body tissue;
• and
• d) wherein the cutting edge of the outer elongate tube, when viewed in the axial direction, forms a first shape having a first periphery, and wherein the cutting edge of the inner elongate tube, after relative rotation of the tubes for 180.degree., extends across the periphery when viewed in the axial direction so as to separate the first shape into at least two parts.

A hand tool for taking a sample of body tissue, comprising, in combination:

• a) a handle;
• b) an outer elongate tube having proximal and distal end portions, with the proximal end portion of the outer elongate tube being fixed to a portion of the handle and with the distal end portion of the outer elongate tube having a cutting edge and an opening formed by said cutting edge such that when the distal end portion of the outer elongate tube is manipulated into the body tissue, the sample of body tissue is at least partially cut by the cutting edge of the outer elongate tube and received into the hand tool;
• c) an inner elongate tube inside of and in close relationship with the outer elongate tube, with the inner elongate tube having proximal and distal end portions, with the proximal end portion of the inner elongate tube being fixed to a portion of the handle and with the distal end portion of the inner tube being adjacent to the distal end portion of the outer tube and having an opening interacting with the opening of the outer elongate tube and through which the sample is received when cut by the cutting edge of the outer elongate tube, with the opening of the inner elongate tube being formed by a distal edge, with at least a portion of the distal edge being a cutting edge such that movement of the inner elongate tube relative to the outer elongate tube permits the cutting edge of the inner elongate tube to further cut the body tissue sample to increase the chances that the body tissue sample is separated from the body for withdrawal therefrom in the tool, and with the opening of the inner elongate tube being at least partially closed by the distal end portion of the outer elongate tube after such movement to capture the sample of body tissue;
• d) with the inner tube being advanceable from a first fixed position forwardly relative to the outer tube to a second fixed position;
• and
• e) with the distal end portion of the outer tube having a curved portion having a slope oblique to the axis of the outer tube;
• and the distal end portion of the inner tube being resilient and engagable with the curved portion such that the distal end portion of the inner tube is directed obliquely to the axis of the outer tube when the inner tube is advanced to the second fixed position.

A hand tool for taking a sample of body tissue, comprising, in combination:

• a) a handle;
• b) an outer elongate tube with proximal and distal end portions, with the proximal distal end portion being fixed to a portion of the handle, with the distal end portion of the outer tube comprising a cutting edge for cutting the sample of body tissue, with the cutting edge forming an opening in the distal end portion of the outer tube through which the sample is received;
• c) an inner elongate tube inside of the outer elongate tube and in close relationship therewith, with the inner elongate tube having proximal and distal end portions, with the proximal end portion of the inner elongate tube being fixed to a portion of the handle, with the distal end portion of the inner elongate tube being adjacent to and disposable inside of the distal end portion of the outer elongate tube, with the distal end portion of the inner elongate tube comprising an opening with a distal edge, with at least a portion of the distal edge forming a cutting edge, with the distal end portion of the inner elongate tube further comprising a sample-receiving portion of a greater diameter than the opening of the outer elongate tube for receiving the body tissue sample such that the architecture of the body tissue sample remains unaltered, with the openings interacting with each other prior to relative movement of the tubes and with each of the distal end portions of the tubes at least partially closing off the opening of the other tube after at least partial movement of the tubes relative to each other to at least partially capture the body tissue sample in the hand tool;
• and
• d) a stylus in the inner elongate tube and having proximal and distal end portions, with the proximal end portion of the stylus fixed to a portion of the handle, with the distal end portion of the stylus being disposed beyond the opening of the outer elongate tube for penetrating body tissue prior to the outer and inner elongate tubes cutting and capturing the body tissue sample.

A method for taking a sample of body tissue with a cannula, with the cannula having a first and second distal end portions movable relative to each other with respective cutting edges, with the first distal end portion being a tube portion having an opening defined by the first cutting edge, with the method comprising, in combination, the steps of:

• a) inserting the cannula in the axial direction into the tissue such that the cutting edge of the tube portion makes a cut in the body tissue in the axial direction, with body tissue cut by the tube portion being received into the opening and into the cannula, with the body tissue in the cannula remaining connected through the opening to body tissue outside of the cannula;
• b) moving the distal end portions relative to each other such that the cutting edge of the second distal end portion makes a cut in the body tissue at an angle relative to the axial direction such that the body tissue in the cannula is at least partially cut from the body tissue outside of the cannula and such that at least one of the distal end portions at least partially closes off the opening to capture the sample;
• and
• c) wherein the step of moving the distal end portions relative to each other comprises the step of sliding the distal end portions relative to each other in generally a longitudinal direction and at an angle to the axial direction to make the cut in the body tissue at an angle relative to the axial direction.

A hand tool for taking a sample of body tissue, comprising, in combination:

• a) a handle;
• b) a stylus for forming a hole in the tissue prior to the sample being taken by the tool, with the stylus having proximal and distal end portions, with the proximal end portion engaged to a portion of the handle, with the distal end portion of the stylus comprising, in combination:
• a cutting edge with a lateral portion, a distal tip on a longitudinal portion of the cutting edge, and a scoop formed radially inwardly of the cutting edge;
• and
• c) wherein the scoop comprises a central region and a surface, with the surface of the scoop from the lateral portion of the cutting edge to the central region having a greater slope than the surface of the scoop from the tip to the central region.