| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20090131817 | DEPLOYMENT DEVICE INTERFACE FOR BIOPSY DEVICE - A biopsy device includes a tissue sample holder and a cutter defining a cutter lumen. In one example, the tissue sample holder has a manifold, a plurality of chambers that are configured to separately hold tissue samples, and a cup configured to cover the manifold and chambers. The tissue sample holder is rotatable to successively align the chambers with the cutter lumen. A longitudinal passage extends along the manifold, and is positioned between two of the chambers. The manifold may be rotated to align the passage with the cutter lumen and with an opening in the cup. The passage of the manifold and the opening in the cup are configured to permit a portion of an instrument to be inserted through the opening and passage and into the cutter lumen. The instrument may be used to introduce one or more markers or medicine, etc., to a biopsy site. | 05-21-2009 |
| 20090131822 | Biopsy Device With Sharps Reduction Feature - A biopsy device includes a cannula, a cutter disposed within the cannula, a needle hub having a gear for rotating the cannula, a mechanism for rotating and translating the cutter within the cannula, and a body portion. The cutter rotation and translation mechanism includes a first component that is secured to the cutter and a second component that is secured to the body portion. The body portion includes a tab that is configured to retain the axial position of the cannula and needle hub relative to the body until the tab is depressed or removed. The body is configured to permit the cannula and the needle hub to be pulled axially from the body only after the tab has been depressed or removed. The cutter can then be pulled axially from the body by unscrewing the first component of the cutter rotation and translation mechanism from the second component. | 05-21-2009 |
| 20090131824 | Biopsy Device With Fine Pitch Drive Train - A biopsy device includes a cutter and a probe body. A cutter rotation and translation mechanism may include a sleeve that is secured to the cutter, a nut that is secured to the body, and first and second gears. The sleeve includes portion having external threads and a portion having external flats. The nut has internal threads that are configured to engage the threads of the sleeve, such that the cutter translates longitudinally when the sleeve rotates within the nut. The threads have a fine pitch (e.g., 40-50 threads per inch). The first gear is slid onto the portion of the sleeve that has flats, and is configured to rotate with the sleeve yet translate along the sleeve. The second gear is coupled with a motor. The second gear is configured to mesh with the first gear to rotate the sleeve, thereby concomitantly rotating and translating the cutter. | 05-21-2009 |
| 20090270725 | Devices Useful In Imaging - Biopsy devices and methods useful with Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Breast Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI) are disclosed. A biopsy device including a flexible tube having a side aperture, and a PET or BSGI imageable material disposed within the flexible tube is disclosed. A biopsy method is disclosed that includes advancing a flexible tube having a PET or BSGI imageable material distally through the biopsy device. Various other embodiments and applications are disclosed. | 10-29-2009 |
| 20090270726 | Methods For Imaging - Biopsy devices and methods useful with Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Breast Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI) are disclosed. A biopsy device including a flexible tube having a side aperture, and a PET or BSGI imageable material disposed within the flexible tube is disclosed. A biopsy method is disclosed that includes advancing a flexible tube having a PET or BSGI imageable material distally through the biopsy device. Various other embodiments and applications are disclosed. | 10-29-2009 |
| 20090270760 | Biopsy Devices - Biopsy devices and methods useful with Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Breast Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI) are disclosed. A biopsy device including a flexible tube having a side aperture, and a PET or BSGI imageable material disposed within the flexible tube is disclosed. A biopsy method is disclosed that includes advancing a flexible tube having a PET or BSGI imageable material distally through the biopsy device. Various other embodiments and applications are disclosed. | 10-29-2009 |
| 20090318832 | Biopsy Devices with Universal Probe - A biopsy device comprises a probe that is configured to couple with a holster. The probe comprises a needle, a cutter, and a body portion. The needle is rotatable and translatable relative to the body portion. The holster has a locking feature that is configured to prevent the needle from rotating relative to the body portion upon coupling of the probe with the holster. The locking feature may also be configured to prevent the needle from translating relative to the body portion upon coupling of the probe with the holster. The same probe may thus be used with a holster intended for use in a fixture-based, stereotactic setting, in which rotation and translation of the needle may be desired; and with a holster intended for use in a handheld, ultrasound-guided setting, in which rotation and translation of the needle may be less desired if not undesirable. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20100317995 | Method of Tetherless Biopsy Device Operation - A method of biopsy device operation comprises rotating a first rotating member at a first rotational speed to rotate a cutter. A second rotating member is rotated at a second rotational speed to translate the cutter. The first and second members are rotated simultaneously and in the same direction. The first rotating member rotates with the cutter, while the second rotating member rotates about the first rotating member. The difference between the first and second rotational speeds, as well as threaded engagement between the first and second rotating members, provides the translation of the cutter. A method of biopsy device operation also comprises moving a shuttle valve slider to selectively vent or seal the second lumen of a needle. The shuttle valve slider is responsive to translation of the cutter, though some degree of lost motion is provided between the shuttle valve slider and the cutter. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20100317997 | Tetherless Biopsy Device with Reusable Portion - A biopsy device comprises a body, a needle, and a cutter actuation mechanism. The needle extends distally from the body. The cutter actuation mechanism rotates and translates the cutter relative to the body and relative to the needle. The cutter has an overmold presenting a lead screw and a hex portion. The cutter actuation mechanism comprises a first gear disposed about the hex portion of the overmold and a second gear engaged with the lead screw of the overmold by a nut that is integral with the second gear. The cutter actuation mechanism is operable to simultaneously rotate the first gear relative to the body at a first rotational speed and the second gear relative to the body at a second rotational speed. With the lead screw and the nut rotating at different rotational speeds, the lead screw rotates relative to the nut at a third rotational speed. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20100317998 | Valve Mechanism for Tetherless Biopsy Device - A biopsy device comprises a body, a needle, a cutter, and a shuttle valve slider. The needle has a first lumen and a second lumen. The cutter translates relative to the needle. The shuttle valve slider translates in response to translation of the cutter. The shuttle valve slider vents the second lumen when the shuttle valve slider is in a first longitudinal position and substantially seals the second lumen relative to atmospheric air when the shuttle valve slider is in a second longitudinal position. A degree of lost motion is provided between the cutter and the shuttle valve slider, such that the cutter moves the shuttle valve slider only when the cutter moves through a first part of the cutter's range of motion; and such that the cutter does not move the shuttle valve slider when the cutter moves through a second part of the cutter's range of motion. | 12-16-2010 |
