Introduction system for minimally invasive surgical instruments

A biopsy system suitable for use with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device, comprising:

• an introducer cannula insertable into a patient's tissue, wherein the introducer cannula includes an open distal end and an open proximal end and wherein the introducer cannula defines a first length;
• an introducer stylet removably disposed within the introducer cannula and configured for tissue penetration and slidable within the introducer cannula, wherein the introducer stylet includes a distal end and a proximal end, and wherein the introducer stylet defines a second length that is substantially longer than the first length such that when the introducer stylet is fully inserted into the introducer cannula, the distal end of the introducer stylet extends through the distal end of the introducer cannula and substantially away from the distal end of the introducer cannula;
• a separate target confirmation device that is selectively insertable within the introducer cannula, wherein the target confirmation device includes a distal end that extends substantially outwardly from the distal end of the introducer cannula when the target confirmation device is engaged with the introducer cannula;
• wherein the target confirmation device further includes a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) identifiable material disposed adjacent to the distal end thereof such that the material is positioned outwardly from the distal end of the introducer cannula when the target confirmation device is positioned within the introducer cannula;
• and
• a separate biopsy device having an outer cannula and an inner cannula disposed within the outer cannula, wherein the inner cannula of the biopsy device includes a cutting edge for severing tissue and the outer cannula of the biopsy device is sized for selective insertion within the introducer cannula through the open proximal end when the introducer stylet and target confirmation device are removed from the introducer cannula.

A medical procedure, comprising:

• inserting an introducer stylet into an outer cannula such that a distal end of the introducer stylet extends substantially outwardly from a distal end of the outer cannula;
• inserting the introducer stylet, with the outer cannula disposed thereon, into a patient's body, thereby creating a pathway to a target tissue;
• removing the introducer stylet from the patient's body, but leaving behind the outer cannula;
• and
• inserting a separate target confirmation device into the patient's body through the outer cannula such that a distal end of the target confirmation device extends substantially outwardly from the distal end of the outer cannula and confirming the location of the target tissue relative to the target confirmation device.

A breast biopsy system for use with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device, comprising:

• a first introducer cannula insertable into a patient's breast tissue, wherein the first introducer cannula has a single lumen and defines an open distal end and an open proximal end;
• a unitary introducer and target confirmation stylet that is slidable in a distal direction into and along the single lumen of the first introducer cannula and which is slidably removable therefrom in a proximal direction, wherein the introducer and target confirmation stylet includes a distal end having a piercing tip configured for breast tissue penetration and a proximal end, and wherein at least a portion of the piercing tip of the introducer and target confirmation stylet extends in the distal direction through and beyond the distal end of the first introducer cannula into a first relative position between the first introducer cannula and the introducer and target confirmation stylet;
• wherein at least one of the first introducer cannula and the introducer and target confirmation stylet includes a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compatible material that is visible under MRI imaging;
• and
• a breast tissue biopsy device that is slidably insertable in the distal direction within the single lumen of the first introducer cannula through the open proximal end only after the introducer and target confirmation stylet is removed in the proximal direction from the first introducer cannula, wherein the biopsy device comprises a handpiece, a second outer cannula and a third inner cutting cannula, and wherein the third inner cutting cannula is rotatable and translatable within the second outer cannula and the second outer cannula has a tissue receiving opening, the third inner cutting cannula has a lumen, and the lumen of the third inner cutting cannula selectively communicates with the tissue receiving opening to excise tissue adjacent the tissue receiving opening of the second outer cannula when the second outer cannula is inserted into a patient's breast tissue.

A medical procedure, comprising:

• locating a target tissue area in a patient's breast using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system;
• providing a unitary introducer and target confirmation stylet having a tissue piercing tip at a distal end thereof and comprising a magnetic resonance imaging compatible material;
• inserting the introducer and target confirmation stylet through a first introducer cannula having an open distal end such that the piercing tip of the introducer and target confirmation stylet extends at least partially through the open distal end of the first introducer cannula;
• inserting the introducer and target confirmation stylet with the first introducer cannula disposed thereon into a patient's body such that the tissue piercing tip of the introducer and target confirmation stylet enters the patient's breast prior to the distal end of the first introducer cannula and moving the introducer and target confirmation stylet with the first introducer cannula thereon through the patient's breast tissue to create a pathway to a target tissue;
• imaging at least a distal end of the introducer and target confirmation stylet while the introducer and target confirmation device is positioned within the patient's breast to confirm the location of the introducer and target confirmation stylet relative to the target tissue;
• slidably removing the introducer and target confirmation stylet from the patient's breast, thereby leaving behind the first introducer cannula such that the distal end of the first introducer cannula remains positioned within the patient's breast;
• providing a biopsy device comprising a handpiece, a second outer cannula, and a third inner cutting cannula, wherein the second outer cannula has a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the second outer cannula is located proximal the handpiece, and the tissue receiving opening is located adjacent the distal end of the second outer cannula, and wherein the third inner cutting cannula has a proximal end, a distal end, a cutting edge formed on the distal end, a lumen, and is selectively rotatable and translatable within the second outer cannula such that the tissue receiving opening of the second outer cannula selectively communicates with the lumen of the third inner cutting cannula;
• inserting the second outer cannula of the biopsy device within the first introducer cannula such that the tissue receiving opening of the second outer cannula extends through the open distal end of the first introducer cannula when the introducer and target confirmation stylet is removed from the first introducer cannula;
• and
• positioning the tissue receiving opening of the second outer cannula in a selected relative position with respect to the target tissue to allow a portion of the target breast tissue to prolapse into the tissue receiving opening;
• moving the third inner cutting cannula distally within the second outer cannula while rotating the third inner cutting cannula relative to the second outer cannula until the cutting edge extends beyond the tissue receiving opening, thereby cutting a portion of the breast tissue that has prolapsed into the tissue receiving opening.