U.S. patent application number 11/391791 was filed with the patent office on 2006-10-12 for methods and devices for cutting and collecting soft tissue.
This patent application is currently assigned to Rubicor Medical, Inc.. Invention is credited to Scott C. Anderson, Dan Brounstein, Ary S. Chernomorsky, Mark J. Clifford, James W. Vetter.
Application Number | 20060229650 11/391791 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 30117801 |
Filed Date | 2006-10-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060229650 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Vetter; James W. ; et
al. |
October 12, 2006 |
Methods and devices for cutting and collecting soft tissue
Abstract
Devices and methods for cutting and collecting a specimen from a
mass of tissue. The device may include an integrated cut and
collect assembly. The integrated cut and collect assembly includes
a cutting portion and a collection portion that includes a flexible
membrane. The collection portion of the assembly is attached to the
cutting portion thereof. The cutting portion is configured to cut
the specimen from the mass of tissue and the collection portion is
configured to collect the cut specimen and to encapsulate and
isolate the cut specimen within the membrane to enable its safe
retraction from the mass of tissue.
Inventors: |
Vetter; James W.; (Portola
Valley, CA) ; Chernomorsky; Ary S.; (Walnut Creek,
CA) ; Clifford; Mark J.; (Los Altos, CA) ;
Brounstein; Dan; (Fremont, CA) ; Anderson; Scott
C.; (Sunnyvale, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
YOUNG LAW FIRM, P.C.;ALAN W. YOUNG
4370 ALPINE ROAD
SUITE 106
PORTOLA VALLEY
CA
94028
US
|
Assignee: |
Rubicor Medical, Inc.
Redwood City
CA
|
Family ID: |
30117801 |
Appl. No.: |
11/391791 |
Filed: |
March 28, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10272452 |
Oct 16, 2002 |
7044956 |
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11391791 |
Mar 28, 2006 |
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10189277 |
Jul 3, 2002 |
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10272452 |
Oct 16, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
606/180 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 2017/00287
20130101; A61B 2017/008 20130101; A61B 10/0266 20130101; A61B
2018/1407 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
606/180 |
International
Class: |
A61B 17/32 20060101
A61B017/32 |
Claims
1-28. (canceled)
29. A method of removing breast tissue, comprising the steps of:
providing a tissue cutting device having an elongate cutting
element coupled to a shaft, the cutting element being movable
between a bowed position and a retracted position, wherein a
deployed part of the cutting element lies outside the shaft when in
the bowed position, the deployed part of the cutting element having
a cutting side which penetrates the tissue as the shaft is rotated;
introducing the tissue cutting device into a breast; coupling a
power source to the elongate cutting element; moving the elongate
cutting element to the bowed position so that the deployed part of
the cutting element lies outside the shaft; preventing energy from
being transmitted from a portion of the deployed part of the
cutting element for cutting to the tissue while the elongate
cutting element is in the bowed position; and rotating the cutting
device so that the cutting side of the bowed cutting element
penetrates the breast tissue to cut the breast tissue for
removal.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein: the preventing step is carried
out by preventing energy from being transmitted from a radially
inner portion of the cutting element to the tissue.
31. The method of claim 29, wherein: the preventing step is carried
out by partially covering the deployed part of the cutting
element.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein: the preventing step is carried
out by partially covering the deployed part of the cutting element
with insulation which prevents transmission of energy to the
tissue.
33. The method of claim 29, wherein: the preventing step is carried
out by covering the deployed part of the cutting element with an
element which is also movable between bowed and retracted
positions.
34. The method of claim 33, wherein: the preventing step is carried
out with the element positioned adjacent a radially inner side of
the cutting element.
35. The method of claim 33, wherein: the preventing step is carried
out with a tissue collection element preventing contact between the
tissue and the portion of the cutting element; and the rotating
step is carried out to sever tissue which is collected by the
tissue collection element.
36. The method of claim 29, wherein: the preventing step is carried
out with the portion of the cutting element not transmitting energy
being primarily on a trailing side of the cutting element.
37. A device for removing tissue, comprising: a shaft; a cutting
element coupled to the shaft, the cutting element being movable
between a bowed position and a retracted position, wherein a
deployed part of the cutting element lies outside the shaft when in
the bowed position, the deployed part of the cutting element having
a cutting side which penetrates the tissue as the shaft is rotated,
the cutting element having means for preventing energy for cutting
tissue from being transmitted from a portion of the deployed part
of the bowed cutting element to the tissue.
38. The device of claim 37, wherein: the preventing means prevents
energy from being transmitted from a radially inner portion of the
cutting element to the tissue.
39. The device of claim 37, wherein: the preventing means partially
covers the deployed part of the cutting element.
40. The device of claim 37, wherein: the preventing means includes
insulation which partially covers the deployed part of the cutting
element.
41. The device of claim 37, wherein: the preventing means covers
the deployed part of the cutting element with an element which is
also movable between bowed and retracted positions.
42. The device of claim 37, wherein: the preventing means includes
an element positioned adjacent a radially inner side of the cutting
element.
43. The device of claim 37, wherein: the preventing means includes
a tissue collection element which prevents contact between the
tissue being cut and the portion of the cutting element, the tissue
collection element collecting the tissue being cut by the cutting
element.
44. The device of claim 37, wherein: the preventing step means
prevents transmission of energy to the tissue primarily from a
trailing side of the cutting element which is opposite the cutting
side.
45. A device for removing breast tissue, comprising: a shaft; a
cutting element mounted to the shaft, the cutting element being
movable between a bowed position and a straightened position, the
cutting element bowing outward away from the shaft when in the
bowed position, the cutting element having an elongate cutting side
which cuts tissue when the shaft is rotated, the cutting element
having a length which is at least 25 times larger than a width of
the cutting element.
46. The device of claim 45, wherein: the cutting element has an
exposed surface area for transmitting energy to the tissue being
cut, the exposed surface area including a radially inner part and a
radially outer part, the radially outer part being larger than the
radially inner part.
47. The device of claim 45, wherein: only one cutting element is
mounted to the shaft.
48. The device of claim 45, wherein: the cutting element has a
rectangular cross-sectional shape.
49. The device of claim 45, further comprising: a tissue collection
element coupled to at least one of the cutting element and the
shaft, the tissue collection element collecting tissue which is
severed by the cutting element.
50. The device of claim 45, wherein: the length of the cutting
element is at least 40 times larger than the width of the cutting
element.
51. The device of claim 45, wherein: the length of the cutting
element is at least 100 times larger than the width of the cutting
element.
52. The device of claim 45, wherein; the cutting element has an
effective width that is less than the width of the cutting element,
the effective width being a width which is exposed for contact with
the tissue being cut to transmit cutting energy to the tissue.
53-55. (canceled)
56. A method of cutting breast tissue for removal, comprising the
steps of: providing a tissue cutting device having an elongate
cutting element, the cutting element being movable between a bowed
position and a retracted position, the cutting element having a
radially outer side and a radially inner side; introducing the
tissue cutting device into a breast; moving the elongate cutting
element to the bowed position; coupling a power source to the
elongate cutting element; and rotating the cutting element after
the moving step so that the cutting element cuts the breast tissue,
wherein the radially outer side has a larger surface area for
transmitting energy to cut the tissue than the radially inner
side.
57. The method of claim 56, wherein: the rotating step is carried
out with the radially outer side having an exposed part for
transmitting energy to the tissue which is at least 20% larger than
an exposed part of the radially inner side for transmitting energy
to the tissue.
58. The method of claim 56, wherein: the rotating step is carried
out with the radially outer side having an exposed part for
transmitting energy to the tissue which is at least 35% larger than
an exposed part of the radially inner side for transmitting energy
to the tissue.
59. The method of claim 56, wherein: the rotating step is carried
out while partially covering at least part of the radially inner
side of the cutting element.
60. The method of claim 56, wherein: the rotating step is carried
out with a cover positioned adjacent the cutting element, the cover
also being movable between bowed and retracted positions.
61. The method of claim 60, wherein: the preventing step is carried
out with the cover positioned adjacent a radially inner side of the
cutting element.
62. The method of claim 56, wherein: the preventing step is carried
out with the portion of the cutting element not transmitting energy
to the tissue being primarily on a trailing side of the cutting
element.
63. The method of claim 56, wherein: the preventing step is carried
out with a tissue collection element preventing contact between the
tissue and the portion of the cutting element; and the rotating
step is carried out to sever tissue which is collected by the
tissue collection element.
64. The method of claim 56, wherein: the preventing step is carried
out by insulating part of the deployed part of the cutting element
to prevent transmission of energy to the tissue.
65. A device for cutting breast tissue for removal, comprising: a
shaft; and an elongate cutting element mounted to the shaft, the
cutting element being movable between a bowed position and a
retracted position, the cutting element having a radially outer
side and a radially inner side, wherein the radially outer side has
a larger surface area for transmitting energy to cut the tissue
than the radially inner side.
66. The device of claim 65, wherein: the radially outer side has an
exposed part for transmitting energy to the tissue which is at
least 20% larger than an exposed part of radially inner side for
transmitting energy to the tissue.
67. The device of claim 65, wherein: the radially outer side has an
exposed part for transmitting energy to the tissue which is at
least 35% larger than an exposed part of radially inner side for
transmitting energy to the tissue.
68. The device of claim 65, wherein: the radially inner side of the
cutting element is partially covered.
69. The device of claim 65, wherein: the radially inner side is
covered by a cover positioned adjacent the cutting element, the
cover also being movable between bowed and retracted positions.
70. The device of claim 65, wherein: the partially covered portion
of the cutting element is on a trailing side of the cutting
element.
71. The device of claim 65, further comprising: a tissue collection
element for collecting tissue severed by the cutting element.
72. The device of claim 65, wherein: the cutting element has a
deployed part lying outside the shaft in the bowed position,
wherein at least part of the cutting element is covered with
insulation.
73. A device for cutting and collecting a specimen from a mass of
tissue, comprising: an integrated cut and collect assembly, the
integrated cut and collect assembly including a cutting portion and
a collection portion that includes a flexible membrane, the
collection portion being attached to the cutting portion, the
cutting portion being configured to cut the specimen from the mass
of tissue and the collection portion being configured to collect
the cut specimen and to isolate the cut specimen within the
membrane.
74. A method of cutting and isolating a specimen from a mass of
tissue, comprising the steps of: inserting an instrument that
includes an integrated cut and collect assembly into the mass of
tissue, the integrated cut and collect assembly including a cutting
portion and a collection portion that includes a thin flexible
membrane, the collection portion being attached to the cutting
portion, the cutting portion being configured to cut the specimen
from the mass of tissue and the collection portion being configured
to collect the cut specimen from the mass of tissue and to isolate
the cut specimen from the mass of tissue within the membrane,
isolating the specimen from surrounding tissue by cutting the
specimen from the mass of tissue with the cutting portion and
collecting the cut specimen within the flexible membrane of the
collecting portion.
75. A device for cutting and collecting a specimen from a mass of
tissue, comprising: a shaft defining a proximal and a distal end; a
work assembly near the distal end of the shaft, the work assembly
being configured to cut the specimen from the mass of soft tissue
and to isolate the cut specimen from surrounding tissue; a single
actuator near the proximal end of the shaft, the single actuator
being mechanically coupled to the work assembly such that rotation
of the device and operation of the single actuator is effective to
cut, collect and isolate the specimen from the mass of tissue as
the device is rotated.
76. A method of collecting a tissue specimen from a mass of tissue,
comprising the steps of: inserting a surgical instrument into the
mass of tissue to a target location within the mass of tissue, the
instrument including a shaft and a work assembly near a distal end
of the shaft, the work assembly being configured to controllably
cut the specimen from the mass of soft tissue and to isolate the
cut specimen from the mass of tissue within a tissue isolator;
controlling the work assembly of the surgical instrument to cut and
isolate the specimen, and retracting the instrument from the mass
of tissue while the specimen is isolated within the tissue isolator
and at least partially trails the distal end of the shaft.
77. A surgical instrument for retrieving a tissue specimen from a
mass of tissue, comprising: a shaft defining a proximal and a
distal end, and a work assembly coupled to the shaft near the
distal end thereof, the work assembly including: a tissue cutting
portion configured to cut the tissue specimen from the mass of
tissue; a tissue collection portion that includes a membrane, the
membrane being configured to encapsulate and isolate the cut
specimen from the mass of tissue and being adapted to stretch to
enable the encapsulated specimen to at least partially trail the
distal end of the shaft as the surgical instrument is retracted
from the mass of tissue.
Description
[0001] This application is a divisional application of prior
copending application Ser. No. 10/272,172, filed Oct. 16, 2002,
which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/189,277,
filed on Jul. 3, 2002, from which applications priority is hereby
claimed under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.120, and both applications of which
are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention pertains to the field of soft tissue
excisional devices and methods. In particular, the present
invention relates to the field of devices and methods for excising
specimen from soft tissue, such as breast tissue, for example.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Breast cancer is a major threat and concern to women. Early
detection and treatment of suspicious or cancerous lesions in the
breast has been shown to improve long-term survival of the patient.
The trend is, therefore, to encourage women not only to perform
monthly self-breast examination and obtain a yearly breast
examination by a qualified physician, but also to undergo annual
screening mammography commencing at age 40. Mammography is the only
screening modality available today that can detect small,
nonpalpable lesions. These nonpalpable lesions may appear as opaque
densities relative to normal breast parenchyma and fat or as
clusters of microcalcifications.
[0006] The conventional method for diagnosing, localizing and
excising nonpalpable lesions detected by mammography generally
involves a time-consuming, multi-step process. First, the patient
goes to the radiology department where the radiologist finds and
localizes the lesion either using mammography or ultrasound
guidance. Once localized, a radio-opaque wire is inserted into the
breast. The distal end of the wire may include a small hook or
loop. Ideally, this is placed adjacent to the suspicious area to be
biopsied. The patient is then transported to the operating room.
Under general or local anesthesia, the surgeon performs a procedure
called a needle-localized breast biopsy. In the needle-localized
breast biopsy, the surgeon, guided by the wire previously placed in
the patient's breast, excises a mass of tissue around the distal
end of the wire. The specimen is sent to the radiology department
where a specimen radiograph is taken to confirm that the suspicious
lesion is contained within the excised specimen. Meanwhile, the
surgeon, patient, anesthesiologist and operating room staff, wait
in the operating room for confirmation of that fact from the
radiologist before the operation is completed. The suspicious
lesion should ideally be excised in toto with a small margin or rim
of normal breast tissue on all sides. Obtaining good margins of
normal tissue is extremely dependent upon the skill and experience
of the surgeon, and often an excessively large amount of normal
breast tissue is removed to ensure that the lesion is located
within the specimen. This increases the risk of post-operative
complications, including bleeding and permanent breast deformity.
As 80% of breast biopsies today are benign, many women
unnecessarily suffer from permanent scarring and deformity from
such benign breast biopsies.
[0007] More recently, less invasive techniques have been developed
to sample or biopsy the suspicious lesions to obtain a histological
diagnosis. The simplest of the newer techniques is to attempt
visualization of the lesion by external ultrasound. If seen by
external ultrasound, the lesion can be biopsied while being
continuously visualized. This technique allows the physician to see
the biopsy needle as it actually enters the lesion, thus ensuring
that the correct area is sampled. Current sampling systems for use
with external ultrasound guidance include a fine needle aspirate,
core needle biopsy or vacuum-assisted biopsy devices.
[0008] Another conventional technique localizes the suspicious
lesion using stereotactic digital mammography. The patient is
placed prone on a special table that includes a hole to allow the
designated breast to dangle therethrough. The breast is compressed
between two mammography plates, which stabilizes the breast to be
biopsied and allows the digital mammograms to be taken. At least
two images are taken at two angular positions to obtain
stereotactic views. The x, y and z coordinates targeting the lesion
are calculated by a computer. The physician then aligns a special
mechanical stage mounted under the table that places the biopsy
device into the breast to obtain the sample or samples. There are
believed to be three methods available to biopsy lesions using a
stereotactic table: (1) fine needle aspiration, (2) core needle
biopsy and (3) vacuum-assisted core needle biopsy.
[0009] Fine needle aspiration uses a small gauge needle, usually 20
to 25 gauge, to aspirate a small sample of cells from the lesion or
suspicious area. The sample is smeared onto slides that are stained
and examined by a cytopathologist. In this technique, individual
cells in the smears are examined, and tissue architecture or
histology is generally not preserved. Fine needle aspiration is
also very dependent upon the skill and experience of the operator
and can result in a high non-diagnostic rate (up to about 83%), due
to inadequate sample collection or preparation.
[0010] Core needle biopsy uses a larger size needle, usually 14
gauge to sample the lesion. Tissue architecture and histology are
preserved with this method. A side-cutting device, consisting of an
inner trough with an outer cutting cannula is attached to a
spring-loaded device for a rapid semi-automated firing action.
After the lesion is localized, local anesthetic is instilled and a
small incision is made in the skin with a scalpel. The device
enters the breast and the needle tip is guided into the breast up
to the targeted lesion. The device is fired. First, the inner
cannula containing the trough rapidly penetrates the lesion.
Immediately following this, the outer cutting cannula rapidly
advances over the inner cannula cutting a sample of tissue off in
the trough. The whole device is then removed and the sample
retrieved. Multiple penetrations of the core needle through the
breast and into the lesion are required to obtain an adequate
sampling of the lesion. Over 10 samples have been recommended by
some.
[0011] The vacuum-assisted breast biopsy system is a larger
semi-automated side-cutting device. It is usually 11 gauge in
diameter and is more sophisticated than the core needle biopsy
device. Multiple large samples can be obtained from the lesion
without having to reinsert the needle each time. A vacuum is added
to suck the tissue into the trough. The rapid firing action of the
spring-loaded core needle device is replaced with an oscillating
outer cannula that cuts the breast tissue off in the trough. The
physician controls the speed at which the outer cannula advances
over the trough and can rotate the alignment of the trough in a
clockwise fashion to obtain multiple samples.
[0012] If a fine needle aspirate, needle core biopsy or
vacuum-assisted biopsy shows malignancy or a specific benign
diagnosis of atypical hyperplasia, then the patient needs to
undergo another procedure, the traditional needle-localized breast
biopsy, to fully excise the area with an adequate margin of normal
breast tissue. Sometimes the vacuum-assisted device removes the
whole targeted lesion. If this occurs, a small titanium clip should
be placed in the biopsy field. This clip marks the area if a
needle-localized breast biopsy is subsequently required for the
previously mentioned reasons.
[0013] Another method of biopsying the suspicious lesion utilizes a
large end-cutting core device measuring 0.5 cm to 2.0 cm in
diameter. This also uses the stereotactic table for stabilization
and localization. After the lesion coordinates are calculated and
local anesthesia instilled, an incision large enough is permit
entry of the bore is made at the entry site with a scalpel. The
breast tissue is cored down to and past the lesion. Once the
specimen is retrieved, the patient is turned onto her back and the
surgeon cauterizes bleeding vessels under direct vision. The
incision, measuring 0.5 to larger than 2.0 cm is sutured
closed.
[0014] The stereotactic table requires awkward positioning of the
patient and may be extremely uncomfortable. The woman must lie
prone during the entire procedure, which may be impossible for some
patients. In addition, the lesion to be biopsied must be in the
center working area of the mammography plates. This may be
extremely difficult and uncomfortable for the patient if the lesion
is very posterior near the chest wall or high towards the
axilla.
[0015] The woman is subjected to increased radiation exposure as
multiple radiographs are required throughout the course of the
procedure to: (1) confirm that the lesion is within the working
area of the mammography plates, (2) obtain the stereotactic
coordinates (at least two views), (3) verify the positioning of the
biopsy needle prior to obtaining tissue, and (4) verify that the
lesion was indeed sampled. If any difficulty is encountered during
the procedure, additional radiographic exposures are required to
verify correction of the problem.
[0016] Using the core needle biopsy or vacuum-assisted device,
bleeding is controlled only by manual pressure. Bleeding is
generally not an issue with fine needle aspiration, but is a
legitimate complication of the former two methods. Ecchymoses,
breast edema and hematomas can occur. This causes increased
post-procedural pain and delays healing. Rarely, the patient may
require an emergency operation to control and evacuate a tense
hematoma.
[0017] Another major concern is the possibility of tumor
dissemination. The core needle biopsy and vacuum-assisted devices
both cut into the tumor and carve out multiple samples for
examination. While cutting into the tumor, cancerous cells may be
dislodged. Cutting across blood vessels at the same time may allow
the freed cancerous cells access to the blood stream, thus possibly
seeding the tumor beyond its original locus. The long-term
consequences of tumor seeding with the risk of blood borne
metastases are unknown at this time, as the techniques are
relatively new. However, documented instances of cancerous cells
seeding locally into needle tracks exist. There are numerous
reports of metastases growing in needle tracks from previous
biopsies of a cancerous mass. Most of these are from lung or liver
cancers. However, at least one case of mucinous carcinoma of the
breast growing in a needle track has been reported. The long-term
consequences of neoplasm seeding into needle tracks are currently
unknown, again because the techniques are relatively new. Some
recommend excision of the entire needle track, including the skin
entry site, during the definitive surgical procedure for a
diagnosed cancer, whether it is a lumpectomy or a mastectomy.
Others assume that with a lumpectomy, the post-operative radiation
therapy will destroy any displaced cancer cells in the needle
track. With the trend towards treating very small cancers only by
excision and without a post-excision course of radiation therapy,
the risk of cancer cells metastasizing and growing in needle tracks
is very real.
[0018] The large core cutting device (0.5 cm to 2.0 cm) generally
eliminates the risk of needle track seeding as it is designed to
excise the lesion intact. A stereotactic table is required with the
same inherent awkwardness for the patient, as discussed above.
Bleeding is controlled, albeit manually, requiring that the patient
wait until the end of the procedure to be turned over. Compression
is used to stabilize the breast and localize the lesions. The
breast, however, may be torqued and distorted between the
compression plates such that when the plates are removed after the
biopsy, the large core track left behind may not be straight, but
actually tortuous. This can result in permanent breast
deformity.
[0019] The location of the insertion site into the breast is
dictated by the positioning of the breast in the machine and not by
the physician. The entry site is usually away from the cosmetically
preferred nipple-areolar complex and is usually located on the more
exposed areas of the breast. For the fine needle aspirate, core
biopsy and vacuum-assisted devices, the incision is usually very
small and the scar almost unappreciable. However, in the case of
the large core biopsy device (0.5 to 2.0 cm), a large incision is
needed. Such a large incision often results in a non-aesthetically
placed scar.
[0020] The newer conventional minimally invasive breast biopsy
devices have improved in some ways the ability to diagnose
mammographically detected nonpalpable lesions. These devices give
the patient a choice as to how she wants the diagnosis to be made.
Moreover, these devices are substantially less expensive than the
older traditional needle-localized breast biopsy. They are not,
however, the final solution. Due to the above-discussed problems
and risks associated with compression, needle-track seeding, blood
borne metastases, bleeding, radiation exposure and awkwardness of
the stereotactic table, more refined devices and methods are needed
to resolve these issues. Also, the conventional biopsy devices do
not consider margins in their excisions and if cancer is diagnosed,
the patient must undergo a needle-localized breast lumpectomy to
ensure that adequate margins are removed around the cancer. Devices
and methods, therefore, must address the problem of obtaining
adequate margins so that a second procedure is not required.
Margins, moreover, cannot be assessed while the breast is being
compressed.
[0021] Commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,022,362, discloses a novel
approach to soft tissue excisional devices. As disclosed therein,
the excisional device includes independently actuable cutting and
collection tools. As shown therein, the device may include a
cutting tool attached near the distal tip of the device. At least a
distal portion of the cutting tool is configured to selectively bow
out of the window and to retract within the window. One embodiment
of the device described in this patent also includes an
independently actuable tissue collection device that is separate
from the cutting device and that is also externally attached near
the distal end of the device. In this configuration, the tissue
collection device independently collects the tissue severed by the
cutting tool as the excisional is rotated and the cutting tool is
independently bowed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0022] The present invention, according to one embodiment thereof,
is a method of removing breast tissue. The method may include steps
of providing a tissue cutting device having an elongate cutting
element coupled to a shaft, the cutting element being movable
between a bowed position and a retracted position, wherein a
deployed part of the cutting element lies outside the shaft when in
the bowed position, the deployed part of the cutting element having
a cutting side which penetrates the tissue as the shaft is rotated;
introducing the tissue cutting device into a breast; coupling a
power source to the elongate cutting element; moving the elongate
cutting element to the bowed position so that the deployed part of
the cutting element lies outside the shaft; preventing energy from
being transmitted from a portion of the deployed part of the
cutting element for cutting to the tissue while the elongate
cutting element is in the bowed position; and rotating the cutting
device so that the cutting side of the bowed cutting element
penetrates the breast tissue to cut the breast tissue for
removal.
[0023] The preventing step may be carried out by preventing energy
from being transmitted from a radially inner portion of the cutting
element to the tissue. The preventing step may be carried out by
partially covering the deployed part of the cutting element.
Alternatively, the preventing step may be carried out by partially
covering the deployed part of the cutting element with insulation
which may prevent transmission of energy to the tissue.
Alternatively still, the preventing step may be carried out by
covering the deployed part of the cutting element with an element
which may be also movable between bowed and retracted positions.
The preventing step may be carried out with the element positioned
adjacent a radially inner side of the cutting element. The
preventing step may be carried out with a tissue collection element
preventing contact between the tissue and the portion of the
cutting element; and the rotating step may be carried out to sever
tissue which may be collected by the tissue collection element. Or,
the preventing step may be carried out with the portion of the
cutting element not transmitting energy being primarily on a
trailing side of the cutting element.
[0024] According to another embodiment thereof, the present
invention is a device for removing tissue, comprising a shaft; a
cutting element coupled to the shaft, the cutting element being
movable between a bowed position and a retracted position, a
deployed part of the cutting element lies outside the shaft when in
the bowed position, the deployed part of the cutting element having
a cutting side which penetrates the tissue as the shaft may be
rotated, the cutting element having means for preventing energy for
cutting tissue from being transmitted from a portion of the
deployed part of the bowed cutting element to the tissue.
[0025] The preventing means may prevent energy from being
transmitted from a radially inner portion of the cutting element to
the tissue. The preventing means partially may cover the deployed
part of the cutting element. The preventing means may include
insulation which partially may cover the deployed part of the
cutting element. Alternatively, the preventing means may cover the
deployed part of the cutting element with an element which may be
also movable between bowed and retracted positions. The preventing
means may include an element positioned adjacent a radially inner
side of the cutting element. According to still another embodiment,
the preventing means may include a tissue collection element which
may prevent contact between the tissue being cut and the portion of
the cutting element, the tissue collection element collecting the
tissue being cut by the cutting element. The preventing step means
may prevent transmission of energy to the tissue primarily from a
trailing side of the cutting element which may be opposite the
cutting side.
[0026] According to another embodiment, the present invention is a
device for removing breast tissue, comprising: a shaft; a cutting
element mounted to the shaft, the cutting element being movable
between a bowed position and a straightened position, the cutting
element bowing outward away from the shaft when in the bowed
position, the cutting element having an elongate cutting side which
cuts tissue when the shaft may be rotated, the cutting element
having a length which may be at least 25 times larger than a width
of the cutting element.
[0027] The cutting element may have an exposed surface area for
transmitting energy to the tissue being cut, the exposed surface
area including a radially inner part and a radially outer part, the
radially outer part being larger than the radially inner part. Only
one cutting element may be mounted to the shaft. The cutting
element may have a rectangular cross-sectional shape. The device
may also include a tissue collection element coupled to at least
one of the cutting element and the shaft, the tissue collection
element collecting tissue which may be severed by the cutting
element. The length of the cutting element may be at least 40 times
larger than the width of the cutting element, for example. The
length of the cutting element may be at least 100 times larger than
the width of the cutting element, for example. The cutting element
may have an effective width that is less than the width of the
cutting element, the effective width being a width which is exposed
for contact with the tissue being cut to transmit cutting energy to
the tissue. The length of the cutting element may be at least 25
times larger than the effective width.
[0028] The present invention, according to yet another embodiment
thereof, is a method of cutting breast tissue for removal,
comprising the steps of: providing a tissue cutting device having
an elongate cutting element, the cutting element being movable
between a bowed position and a retracted position, the cutting
element having a radially outer side and a radially inner side;
introducing the tissue cutting device into a breast; moving the
elongate cutting element to the bowed position; coupling a power
source to the elongate cutting element; and rotating the cutting
element after the moving step so that the cutting element cuts the
breast tissue, the radially outer side has a larger surface area
for transmitting energy to cut the tissue than the radially inner
side.
[0029] The rotating step may be carried out with the radially outer
side having an exposed part for transmitting energy to the tissue
which may be at least 20% larger than an exposed part of radially
inner side for transmitting energy to the tissue. The rotating step
may be carried out with the radially outer side having an exposed
part for transmitting energy to the tissue which may be at least
35% larger than an exposed part of radially inner side for
transmitting energy to the tissue. The rotating step may be carried
out while partially covering at least part of the radially inner
side of the cutting element. The rotating step may be carried out
with a cover positioned adjacent the cutting element, the cover
also being movable between bowed and retracted positions. The
preventing step may be carried out with the cover positioned
adjacent a radially inner side of the cutting element. The
preventing step may be carried out with the portion of the cutting
element not transmitting energy to the tissue being primarily on a
trailing side of the cutting element. The preventing step may be
carried out with a tissue collection element preventing contact
between the tissue and the portion of the cutting element; and the
rotating step may be carried out to sever tissue which may be
collected by the tissue collection element. The preventing step may
be carried out by insulating part of the deployed part of the
cutting element to prevent transmission of energy to the
tissue.
[0030] Another embodiment of the present invention is a device for
cutting breast tissue for removal, comprising: a shaft; and an
elongate cutting element mounted to the shaft, the cutting element
being movable between a bowed position and a retracted position,
the cutting element having a radially outer side and a radially
inner side, the radially outer side has a larger surface area for
transmitting energy to cut the tissue than the radially inner
side.
[0031] The radially outer side may have an exposed part for
transmitting energy to the tissue which may be at least 20% larger
than an exposed part of radially inner side for transmitting energy
to the tissue. The radially outer side may have an exposed part for
transmitting energy to the tissue which may be at least 35% larger
than an exposed part of radially inner side for transmitting energy
to the tissue. The radially inner side of the cutting element may
be partially covered. The radially inner side may be covered by a
cover positioned adjacent the cutting element, the cover also being
movable between bowed and retracted positions. The partially
covered portion of the cutting element may be on a trailing side of
the cutting element. The device may also include a tissue
collection element for collecting tissue severed by the cutting
element. The cutting element may have a deployed part lying outside
the shaft in the bowed position, and at least part of the cutting
element may be covered with insulation.
[0032] The present invention, according to yet another embodiment,
is a device for cutting and collecting a specimen from a mass of
tissue, comprising: an integrated cut and collect assembly, the
integrated cut and collect assembly including a cutting portion and
a collection portion that may include a flexible membrane, the
collection portion being attached to the cutting portion, the
cutting portion being configured to cut the specimen from the mass
of tissue and the collection portion being configured to collect
the cut specimen and to isolate the cut specimen within the
membrane.
[0033] According to another embodiment, a method of cutting and
isolating a specimen from a mass of tissue may include steps of
inserting an instrument that may include an integrated cut and
collect assembly into the mass of tissue, the integrated cut and
collect assembly including a cutting portion and a collection
portion that may include a thin flexible membrane, the collection
portion being attached to the cutting portion, the cutting portion
being configured to cut the specimen from the mass of tissue and
the collection portion being configured to collect the cut specimen
from the mass of tissue and to isolate the cut specimen from the
mass of tissue within the membrane, and isolating the specimen from
surrounding tissue by cutting the specimen from the mass of tissue
with the cutting portion and collecting the cut specimen within the
flexible membrane of the collecting portion.
[0034] A device for cutting and collecting a specimen from a mass
of tissue may include a shaft defining a proximal and a distal end;
a work assembly near the distal end of the shaft, the work assembly
being configured to cut the specimen from the mass of soft tissue
and to isolate the cut specimen from surrounding tissue; a single
actuator near the proximal end of the shaft, the single actuator
being mechanically coupled to the work assembly such that rotation
of the device and operation of the single actuator may be effective
to cut, collect and isolate the specimen from the mass of tissue as
the device may be rotated.
[0035] Another embodiment is a method of collecting a tissue
specimen from a mass of tissue, comprising the steps of: inserting
a surgical instrument into the mass of tissue to a target location
within the mass of tissue, the instrument including a shaft and a
work assembly near a distal end of the shaft, the work assembly
being configured to controllably cut the specimen from the mass of
soft tissue and to isolate the cut specimen from the mass of tissue
within a tissue isolator; controlling the work assembly of the
surgical instrument to cut and isolate the specimen, and retracting
the instrument from the mass of tissue while the specimen may be
isolated within the tissue isolator and at least partially trails
the distal end of the shaft.
[0036] Lastly, a surgical instrument for retrieving a tissue
specimen from a mass of tissue may include a shaft defining a
proximal and a distal end, and a work assembly coupled to the shaft
near the distal end thereof, the work assembly including: a tissue
cutting portion configured to cut the tissue specimen from the mass
of tissue; a tissue collection portion that may include a membrane,
the membrane being configured to encapsulate and isolate the cut
specimen from the mass of tissue and being adapted to stretch to
enable the encapsulated specimen to at least partially trail the
distal end of the shaft as the surgical instrument may be retracted
from the mass of tissue.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0037] For a further understanding of the objects and advantages of
the present invention, reference should be made to the following
detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
figures, in which:
[0038] FIG. 1A is perspective view of an excisional device
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0039] FIG. 1B is a partial enlarged view of the excisional device
of FIG. 1A, in which the integrated cut and collect assembly
thereof is in an expanded configuration.
[0040] FIG. 1C shows the device of FIG. 1B with an element for
retracting tissue away from the ribbon 116.
[0041] FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional side view of an excisional
device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0042] FIG. 2B is a perspective view of a portion of the integrated
cut and collect assembly of FIG. 2A.
[0043] FIG. 2C is a perspective view of the collection portion of
the integrated cut and collect assembly, showing the manner in
which the flexible membrane may be attached to the assembly and the
outer surface of the shaft of the present excisional device,
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0044] FIG. 2D is a cross-sectional view showing the relative
positions of the ribbons.
[0045] FIG. 2E shows an alternative view of FIG. 2D along the
cross-section of FIG. 1B.
[0046] FIG. 2F shows another alternative view of FIG. 2D.
[0047] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an excisional device
according to an embodiment of the present invention, with the
integrated cut and collect assembly in the retracted position.
[0048] FIG. 4 shows the excisional device of FIG. 3, with the
integrated cut and collect assembly in an expanded position.
[0049] FIG. 5 shows the excisional device of FIG. 3, with the
integrated cut and collect assembly in a fully expanded
position.
[0050] FIG. 6 shows an exemplary configuration of the integrated
cut and collect assembly of the present invention, detailing the
manner in which the collecting portion may be attached to the
cutting portion of the integrated cut and collect assembly.
[0051] FIG. 7 shows another exemplary configuration of the
integrated cut and collect assembly of the present invention.
[0052] FIG. 8A shows yet another exemplary configuration of the
integrated cut and collect assembly of the present invention,
detailing the manner in which the collecting portion may be
attached to the cutting portion of the integrated cut and collect
assembly.
[0053] FIG. 8B shows still another exemplary configuration of the
integrated cut and collect assembly of the present invention,
detailing the manner in which the collecting portion may be
attached to the cutting portion of the integrated cut and collect
assembly.
[0054] FIG. 8C shows a perspective and a cross sectional view of
still another exemplary configuration of the integrated cut and
collect assembly of the present invention.
[0055] FIG. 8D shows yet another exemplary configuration of the
integrated cut and collect assembly of the present invention,
detailing the manner in which the collecting portion may be
attached to the cutting portion of the integrated cut and collect
assembly.
[0056] FIG. 8E shows a still further exemplary configuration of the
integrated cut and collect assembly of the present invention.
[0057] FIG. 9 illustrates aspects of the present method for cutting
and collecting a tissue specimen from a mass of tissue, according
to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0058] FIG. 10 illustrates further aspects of the present method
for cutting and collecting a tissue specimen from a mass of tissue,
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0059] FIG. 11 illustrates still further aspects of the present
method for cutting and collecting a tissue specimen from a mass of
tissue, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0060] FIG. 12 illustrates further aspects of the present method
for cutting and collecting a tissue specimen from a mass of tissue,
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0061] FIG. 13 illustrates further aspects of the present method
for cutting and collecting a tissue specimen from a mass of tissue,
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0062] FIG. 14 illustrates further aspects of the present method
for cutting and collecting a tissue specimen from a mass of tissue,
according to an embodiment of the present invention in which the
collected and isolated (encapsulated) tissue specimen trails the
distal tip of the excisional device as it is retracted from the
tissue.
[0063] FIG. 15 illustrates further aspects of the present method
for cutting and collecting a tissue specimen from a mass of tissue,
according to another embodiment of the present invention in which
the collected and isolated tissue specimen trails the distal end of
the excisional device as it is retracted from the tissue.
[0064] FIG. 16 illustrates still further aspects of the present
method for cutting and collecting a tissue specimen from a mass of
tissue, in which the excisional device containing the tissue
specimen has been fully removed from the tissue mass from which the
specimen was cut, collected and isolated.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0065] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an excisional device
according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the
excisional device 100 includes a proximal section 102 that may be
configured to fit the physician's hand. Extending from the proximal
section 102 is a shaft 104 that may be terminated by a distal tip
106. However, an introducer may be used for the initial incision,
whereupon the tip 106 may be omitted from the device 100. The
distal tip 106 is configured so as to easily penetrate a mass of
tissue, and may feature curvilinear cutting surfaces (best seen in
FIG. 1B). The distal tip 106 may be configured to be energized by a
radio frequency (RF) energy source, supplied via the electrical
cord 122. However, the distal tip 106 need not be energized, as the
sharpness of the cutting surfaces of the distal tip 106 is
generally sufficient to easily penetrate the tissue to the target
excision site. The distal tip 106 may be configured to be
retractable and extendable, so as to reduce trauma. An integrated
cut and collect assembly 108 is mounted near the distal tip 106 or
near the distal most portion of the shaft 104. According to the
present invention, the integrated cutting and collection assembly
108 is configured to cut a tissue specimen (a piece of tissue or a
lesion) from the mass of tissue (such as, for example, breast
tissue), to collect the cut specimen and to isolate the cut
specimen from the surrounding tissue by, for example, encapsulating
the same within a flexible bag-shaped membrane. Although the
present invention finds advantageous utility in terms of excisional
procedures on the female breast, it is understood that the present
invention is not limited thereto. Indeed, the present methods and
devices may be advantageously employed and deployed within most any
mass of soft tissue. Moreover, although the present excisional
device described and shown herein is presented as a hand held
excisional device, it is to be understood that the proximal section
102 may be suitably modified to fit within a stereotactic unit for
automated, semi-automated or manual operation.
[0066] According to the present invention, the integrated cut and
collect assembly 108 includes a cutting portion and a collection
portion that includes a flexible membrane 114. The collection
portion of integrated cut and collect assembly 108 is attached to
the cutting portion. As shown most clearly in FIG. 1B, the
collection portion may be attached to the cutting portion,
according to an embodiment of the present invention, by a small
ring member 124 encircling both the cutting portion and part of the
collecting portion so as to insure that the cutting and collection
portions of the integrated cut and collect assembly 108 move
together. As noted above, the cutting portion is configured to cut
the specimen from the mass of tissue and the collection portion is
configured to collect the cut specimen and to isolate the cut
specimen from surrounding tissue. This isolation from surrounding
tissue, according to the present invention, is carried out by a
flexible membrane 114 that forms a part of the collecting portion
of the integrated cut and collect assembly 108, as described in
detail below.
[0067] The integrated cut and collect assembly 108 may be
mechanically coupled to an actuator 112 such that operation of the
actuator 112 causes a deployment of the integrated cut and collect
assembly 108 from the retracted position shown in FIG. 1A in which
the integrated cut and collect assembly 108 is at least partially
retracted within a trough 120 defined within the shaft 104 to a
selectable expanded position away from the shaft 104, as shown in
FIG. 1B. For example, by pushing the actuator 112 in the distal
direction (i.e., toward the distal tip 106), the integrated cut and
collect assembly 108 transitions from the retracted position shown
in FIG. 1A to a selectable variable expanded position illustrated
in FIG. 1B in which the integrated cut and collect assembly 108
bows out radially relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft
104 (i.e., in the direction of arrow 110 in FIG. 1A). The degree of
bowing (expansion) of the integrated cut and collect assembly 108
depends upon the travel imposed upon the actuator 112 by the
physician. In this manner, the physician may match the degree of
expansion of the integrated cut and collect assembly 108 to the
size of the targeted lesion or the size of the desired specimen
within the mass of tissue. The degree of expansion may be varied at
will during the excisional procedure by means of direct observation
by means of ultrasound or some other imaging or guidance modality
disposed within the shaft 104 or external to the device 100.
[0068] The cutting portion may include a ribbon 116 that is pushed
out of the trough 120 to assume the bowed shape of FIG. 1B. The
ribbon may be energized by an RF energy source so as to efficiently
cut the specimen from the mass of tissue. A standard, off the shelf
and widely available RF generator, such as a ValleyLab Force FX
Generator from ValleyLab of Boulder, Colo. may advantageously be
used to energize the cutting portion of the integrated cut and
collect assembly 108 of the present invention, although other RF
generators may also be employed to energize the cutting portion of
the integrated cut and collect assembly 108 and/or the tip 106
described herein. As the excisional device is rotated during the
cutting of the specimen, the ribbon 116 of the cutting portion
preferably forms the leading edge of the integrated cut and collect
assembly 108. The collecting portion of the integrated cut and
collect assembly 108 may also include a ribbon that is mechanically
coupled to the cutting portion thereof, shown in FIG. 1B at
reference numeral 118. The ribbon 118 of the collecting portion may
at least partially overlap the ribbon 116 of the cutting portion.
Attached to the collecting ribbon 118 and/or to the ribbon 116 of
the cutting portion is a flexible membrane 114, which serves to
collect and to isolate the collected specimen by drawing over the
cut specimen and encapsulating same. The flexible membrane 114 may
be shaped as a bag (a container that is closed on all sides except
a selectively openable and closable opening) whose opening may be
attached to both the shaft 104 and the collecting ribbon 118 and/or
the ribbon 116 of the cutting portion of the integrated cut and
collect assembly 108. Although the embodiment of the present
invention shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B includes a cutting ribbon 116
and a collecting ribbon 118, both ribbons are expanded and
retracted substantially simultaneously as they are mechanically
coupled to one another to form the integrated cut and collect
assembly 108, a single mechanical expandable and retractable loop.
Alternatively, only a single ribbon may be present and the flexible
membrane attached directly to such single ribbon, as detailed
herein below. By virtue of this configuration, when the integrated
cut and collect assembly 108 is in the expanded position (FIG. 1B),
the bag is in an open configuration in which the tissue cut by the
cutting portion is received and collected in the bag formed by the
flexible membrane 114 as the device is rotated. However, when the
integrated cut and collect assembly 108 is in the retracted
position (FIG. 1A), the opening of the bag formed by the flexible
membrane 114 is pinched shut or substantially shut, thereby
trapping and encapsulating the collected specimen therein and
isolating (or substantially isolating) the collected specimen from
the surrounding tissue.
[0069] FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional side view of an excisional
device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As
shown, the actuator 112 may be mechanically coupled to the
integrated cut and collect assembly 108 so that when the actuator
is pushed in the proximal direction, the integrated cut and collect
assembly 108 retracts within the trough 120 defined within the
shaft 104. Conversely, when the actuator 112 is pushed in the
distal direction, the integrated cut and collect assembly 108 is
pushed out of the trough 120 and expands out of the trough 120 to
assume the bowed shape shown in FIG. 2A. The ribbon or ribbons of
the integrated cut and collect assembly 108 may extend back to the
actuator 112 through a first lumen 204 defined within the shaft 104
and may be attached to the actuator 112 to thereby enable movement
of the actuator 112 to expand and retract the integrated cut and
collect assembly 108. Alternatively, the ribbon 118 of the
collecting portion of the integrated cut and collect assembly 108
may only extend a fraction of the length of the cutting ribbon 116.
However, as the two ribbons are mechanically coupled to one
another, expansion of the cutting ribbon 116 causes the
simultaneous expansion of the collecting ribbon 118 without the
collecting ribbon 118 being directly attached to the actuator
112.
[0070] A second lumen 206 may also be defined within the shaft 104.
The second lumen 206 may be used, for example, to evacuate smoke
and/or bodily fluids from the excision site within the mass of
tissue. Alternatively the second lumen 206 defined within the shaft
104 may be used to deliver a pharmaceutical agent to the excisional
site, such as, for example, an anesthetic, an analgesic and/or some
other agent. Other uses may be found for such lumen. An inflatable
balloon 208 may be coupled to the shaft 104. The balloon 208 may be
inflated with, for example, a gas (air, an inert gas or carbon
dioxide, for example) or a fluid such as saline. The balloon may
serve several functions. For example, the balloon 208 may be
configured to massage the mass of tissue by pulsating the inflation
of the balloon, may be configured as a cooling sleeve, may be
configured as a tissue expander, may be configured to stabilize the
device when inserted in tissue, may be configured to seal the
incision through which the device is inserted, to provide
hemostatis, and/or to reduce capacitive coupling to reduce tissue
heating. The balloon 208 may be inflated from a lumen defined
within the excisional device and supplied to the device via a
suitable port defined in the proximal end of the device. The
actuator 112 may define one or more protrusions 212 and an interior
surface of the device may include corresponding crenellations that
are collectively and cooperatively configured to provide a number
of set stops to the actuator 112 along its travel path and
optionally a tactile feedback for the physician, who can set the
integrated cut and collect assembly 108 to predetermined degrees of
expansion without looking at the device during the excisional
procedure. Indeed, during the procedure, as the physician expands
the integrated cut and collect assembly 108, he or she will feel
periodic increases in resistance followed by a tactile and/or
audible release as the protrusions 212 slip into the crenellations
210.
[0071] FIG. 2B is a perspective view of a detail of the integrated
cut and collect assembly 108 of FIG. 2A. According to this
embodiment, the cutting ribbon includes a first cutter ribbon 116A
and a second cutter ribbon 116B that may be welded (or otherwise
attached) to the first cutter ribbon 116A, as shown by weld 224.
Together, the first cutter ribbon 116A and the second cutter ribbon
116B constitute the leading (and cutting) edge of the integrated
cut and collect assembly 108. Behind this leading edge is the
collecting portion of the integrated cut and collect assembly 108.
Specifically, behind the leading edge of the cutting portion is
disposed the ribbon 118 to which the flexible membrane 114 is
attached. The ribbon 118 to which the flexible membrane 114 is
attached may also be welded (or otherwise attached) to the first
cutter ribbon 116A, as also shown at 224. The first ribbon 116A may
be relatively wider than the second ribbon 116B, so as to
completely overlap both the second ribbon 116B and the ribbon 118
to which the flexible membrane 114 is attached. This gives the
integrated cut and collect assembly 108 necessary rigidity, while
allowing the second ribbon 116B and the ribbon 118 to be reduced in
size, thereby reducing space and bulk. The three ribbons 116A, 116B
and 118 are preferably kept at a voltage equipotential, so as to
decrease the possibility of arcing when RF power is applied to the
integrated cut and collect assembly 108. According to an
advantageous embodiment of the present invention, only the first
ribbon 116A need be coupled to the actuator 112. As the second
ribbon 116B and the ribbon 118 are mechanically coupled to the
first ribbon 116A, they will move in unison with the first ribbon
116A as the actuator 112 is moved by the physician or the
stereotactic unit to which the device 100 may be coupled. The
device may, of course, omit one of the ribbons 116A, 116B such as
ribbon 116B as shown in FIGS. 2E and 2F leaving only ribbon 116A
for cutting tissue. The description of ribbon 116 as used herein
shall apply to ribbon 116A and/or ribbon 116B as shown in FIGS. 2C,
2E and 2F as applicable.
[0072] FIG. 2C is a perspective view of the collection portion of
the integrated cut and collect assembly, showing the manner in
which the flexible membrane 114 may be attached within the assembly
108 and to the outer surface of the shaft 104 of the present
excisional device 100, according to an embodiment of the present
invention. As shown therein, the flexible membrane 114 may include
a lumen forming portion 224 through which the ribbon 118 (see FIG.
2B) is inserted, to provide rigidity to the mouth or opening 222 of
the collecting portion of the integrated cut and collect assembly
108. The ribbon 118 is attached to the cutting ribbon 116 (116A,
116B) so as to expand and retract therewith under the action of the
actuator 112. The flexible membrane 114 also includes a shaft
attachment tab 220, which is configured to attach the flexible
membrane 114 to the shaft 104 of the present excisional device. For
example, the shaft attachment tab 220 may be attached to the shaft
104 through a mechanically and biologically appropriate adhesive.
The remainder of the flexible membrane 114 may be shaped as a bag,
the opening or mouth 222 thereof being delimited by the shaft
attachment tab 220 and the lumen forming portion 225 through which
the ribbon 118 runs. Therefore, when the actuator 112 causes the
integrated cut and collect assembly 108 to expand, the opening 222
of the integrated cut and collect assembly 108 is opened and when
the actuator 112 causes the integrated cut and collect assembly 108
to retract at least partially within the shaft 104, the mouth 222
of the bag formed by the flexible membrane 114 closes, effectively
encapsulating and isolating whatever tissue, specimen or lesion has
been cut and collected therein. The tissue is isolated, as the
lumen forming portion 224, when the integrated cut and collect
assembly 108 is in the retracted state, may be pressed against the
shaft 104, thereby interposing a layer of the flexible membrane 114
between the collected tissue and the surrounding tissue.
[0073] As an alternative, the flexible membrane 114 may be attached
to an exterior surface of the device 100 and to a tube defining a
lumen running at least a portion of the length of the second ribbon
118. The flexible membrane may be attached thereto by means of an
adhesive, for example. Other means and structures for attaching the
flexible membrane 114 to the cutting portion of the integrated cut
and collect assembly 108 are disclosed herein below.
[0074] FIG. 2D is a perspective view of a shaft 104 of the present
excisional device, showing further aspects thereof. As shown
therein, the shaft 104 defines a trough 120 near the distal end
thereof. Preferably, the trough 120 includes a ledge portion 121
that is cut out of the shaft 104. The ledge 121 allows additional
room to accommodate the membrane 114 when the integrated cut and
collect assembly 108 retracts within the trough 120. The ledge 121
within the trough 120 enables the integrated cut and collect
assembly 108 to more fully retract within the trough 120 than would
otherwise be possible without the ledge 121 by providing additional
space for the membrane 114. Without the ledge 121, the bulk of the
membrane 114 could hamper the full retraction of the integrated cut
and collect assembly 108 into the trough 120. The integrated cut
and collect assembly 108 is preferably at least partially retracted
within the trough 120 when the cutting portion thereof is first
energized, prior to initiating cutting of tissue. This separates
the tissue to be cut from the cutting portion of the integrated cut
and collect assembly 108 until the assembly has been sufficiently
energized to efficiently cut through the tissue. The trough 120 is
also instrumental is allowing the present excisional device to
utilize a standard RF generator (e.g., one that does not rely upon
feedback from an impedance sensor or the like to vary the applied
power), such as the ValleyLab Force FX Generator discussed above.
Keeping the integrated cut and collect assembly 108 at least
partially retracted within the trough 120 also prevents excessive
thermally-induced tissue damage, as all or most of the surface area
of the cutting portion of the integrated cut and collect assembly
108 is kept away from the tissue until the cutting portion is fully
energized (i.e., until the current density at the cutting portion
of the integrated cut and collect assembly 108 is sufficient to
initiate and maintain arcing). Other means and structures for
enabling the RF cutting portion of the integrated cut and collect
assembly 108 are disclosed in commonly assigned and co-pending
application Ser. No. 09/732,848, filed Dec. 7, 2000, which
application is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety.
[0075] FIGS. 3-5 collectively show the operation of integrated cut
and collect assembly of the present excisional device. As shown in
FIG. 3, the actuator 112 is in its proximal most position and the
integrated cut and collect assembly 108 mechanically coupled
thereto is in the substantially retracted position wherein both the
cutting and collecting portions thereof are at least partially
retracted within through 120 defined within the shaft 104. The
flexible membrane 114 of the collecting portion may initially be
folded, (at least partially) stowed in the trough 120 defined
within the shaft 104, or simply loose. As the membrane 114 is
preferably thin, smooth and flexible, it does not significantly
hamper the insertion of the instrument as it penetrates the tissue
mass. As shown in FIG. 4, sliding the actuator 112 in the distal
direction causes the integrated cut and collect assembly 108 to
expand in the direction shown by arrow 110. This expansion causes
the cutting portion of the assembly 108 to bow radially out from
the shaft 104 and the deployment of the flexible membrane 114 of
the collecting portion. As the flexible membrane 114 is attached
both to the outer surface of the shaft 104 and to the integrated
cut and collect assembly 108, expansion of the integrated cut and
collect assembly 108 opens the mouth of the bag shaped flexible
membrane 114 and retraction thereof (FIG. 3) closes the mouth
thereof. FIG. 4 shows the device 100 in a configuration wherein the
actuator 112 is engaged to its distal most position and the
integrated cut and collect assembly 108 is fully expanded. By
varying the position of the actuator 112, the physician may achieve
a fine grained control over the deployment of the integrated cut
and collect assembly 108 to suit even an irregularly-shaped and
sized specimen or lesion to be cut, collected, isolated and
retrieved.
[0076] The integrated cut and collect assembly 108, according to
the present invention, may include one or more mechanically coupled
ribbons or wires. For example, the device 100 may include a first
ribbon 116 of the cutting portion and a second ribbon 118 to which
the flexible membrane 114 is attached. Alternatively, the flexible
membrane 114 may be attached to a trailing edge of the ribbon 116
of the cutting portion of the integrated cut and collect assembly
108. In such an embodiment, the integrated cut and collect assembly
108 does not include separate but mechanically coupled cutting and
collecting portions, but instead includes only a single ribbon 116
or other (RF) cutting element to which the flexible membrane 114 is
attached. Other methods and means of attaching the flexible
membrane to the cutting portion are disclosed hereunder. Such
methods and means may draw upon the physical mechanical structure
of the cutting portion, the collecting portion, the ribbon 116
and/or 118 and the material of the flexible membrane 114.
[0077] FIG. 6 shows an exemplary configuration of the integrated
cut and collect assembly of the present invention, detailing one
possible manner in which the collecting portion may be attached to
the cutting portion of the integrated cut and collect assembly 108.
As shown therein, the integrated cut and collect assembly 108 may
include only a single ribbon 116. This single ribbon 116 forms the
cutting portion of the assembly 108. According to this embodiment,
the ribbon 116 may be configured as a flexible tube with a
longitudinal slit 606 through which the flexible membrane 114
emerges. The flexible membrane 114, according to this embodiment,
may include a locally thicker (bulbous, for example) portion 602
that is disposed within the interior lumen 608 defined by the
tube-shaped ribbon 116. The slit 606 is oriented such that the
flexible membrane 114 extends out of the trailing edge 612 of the
ribbon 116. As the ribbon 116 is expanded and energized and the
excisional device 100 rotated, the leading edge 610 of the ribbon
116 cuts through the tissue, while the flexible membrane 114 is
deployed and trails behind, collecting, isolating and encapsulating
the cut tissue. The ribbon 116 need not be shaped as a tube, but
may assume any shape that efficiently cuts through the tissue and
secures the flexible membrane 114 thereto. Moreover, the ribbon
need not completely encircle the locally thicker portion 602 of the
flexible membrane 114. The ribbon 116 may be advantageously formed
of a conductive and resilient material such as stainless steel,
titanium, tungsten or a shape memory metal, such as a nickel
titanium alloy sold under the name of Nitinol.RTM., for
example.
[0078] As an alternative to the solid ribbon 116, the cutting
portion of the integrated cut and collect assembly 108 may include
or be formed of a plurality of wires or ribbons braided in such a
manner as to form the tissue cutting ribbon, as shown at 702 in
FIG. 7. To provide additional rigidity, a central reinforcing
ribbon or mandrel 704 may be disposed within the interior lumen
formed by the braided ribbon 702. As shown in FIG. 7, the locally
thicker portion 706 of the flexible membrane 114 may be formed
around the central reinforcing ribbon 704.
[0079] FIG. 8A shows another embodiment of the integrated cut and
collect assembly 108. As shown, the flexible membrane 114 of the
collecting portion may be sandwiched between two flexible plates
806, 808. Rivets, pins and/or welds 808 secure the two plates 804,
806 to one another with the flexible membrane 114 therebetween. The
plates 804, 806 are preferably sufficiently flexible to selectively
assume the retracted shape and the expanded and bowed shape of the
integrated cut and collect assembly 108, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5,
respectively. The assembly of FIG. 8A may also include a solid or
braided conductive (shown) ribbon or wire 802. The ribbon 802 may
also be sandwiched between the two plates 804, 806 and held
securely in place. In this case, the ribbon 802 defines the leading
edge of the integrated cut and collect assembly 108 and the
flexible membrane 114 the trailing edge thereof. The plates 804,
806 and the rivets, welds or pins 808 may be formed of a conductive
material. In that case, when the ribbon 802 is energized with RF
energy, the ribbon 802 and the plates 804, 806 are at a same
voltage potential, which prevents or decreases the probability of
arcing between the plates 804, 806 and the ribbon 802.
Alternatively, only the wire or ribbon 802 may be formed of a
conductive material and the plates 804, 806 and the rivets, welds
or pins formed of an insulating material. In this case, only then
wire or ribbon 802 is energized and cuts through the tissue.
[0080] FIG. 8B shows yet another embodiment of the integrated cut
and collect assembly 108, in which the collecting portion is
directly attached to the cutting portion thereof. As shown therein,
the cutting portion of the integrated cut and collect assembly 108
may include a windowed conductive plate 802. This conductive
(metal, for example) plate 820 is preferably a thin plate in which
openings 822 are defined. The thin plate 820, according to this
embodiment, forms the cutting portion of the integrated cut and
collect assembly 108. This cutting portion may be formed by bending
the plate 820 along the longitudinal axis 824 to secure the
flexible membrane 114 between the free edges thereof. The leading
edge of the integrated cut and collect assembly 108, therefore, may
be formed by the bent plate 820 whereas the trailing edge thereof
includes the flexible membrane 114. The openings 822 in the plate
820 may facilitate the bending thereof, so as to allow the flexible
membrane 114 to be securely attached thereto. Crimping of the free
edges of the plate 820 and/or an adhesive may be used to secure the
flexible membrane 114 to the plate 820. The windows or openings 822
may be defined within the plate 820 by stamping, through a
photoetching technique or by cutting, as those of skill in this art
will recognize.
[0081] FIG. 8C shows a perspective and a cross sectional view of
still another exemplary configuration of the integrated cut and
collect assembly of the present invention. As shown therein, the
cutting portion of the integrated cut and collect assembly 108 may
be an elliptical cylinder that defines an interior lumen 853. The
cutting portion 824 may be energized with RF energy, as discussed
above. A mandrel 854 may be disposed within the cutting portion
824. A slot 828 is defined only within the trailing edge 858, and
not within the leading (cutting) edge 860 of the cutting portion
851 of the integrated cut and collect assembly 108. The flexible
membrane 114 loops around the mandrel and emerges from the cutting
portion 824 from the slot 828. The flexible membrane 114 may be
bonded at 862 after looping around the mandrel 854. Alternatively,
the mandrel 854 may be inserted in a lumen formed by the flexible
membrane 114. As with the other embodiments discussed relative to
FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, the flexible membrane may also be attached to the
outer surface of the shaft 104 by means of a tab, such as shown at
reference numeral 220 in FIG. 2C, so as to allow the bag-shaped
flexible membrane 114 to selectively open and close upon being
acted upon by actuator 112.
[0082] FIG. 8D shows yet another exemplary configuration of the
integrated cut and collect assembly of the present invention,
detailing the manner in which the collecting portion may be
attached to the cutting portion of the integrated cut and collect
assembly. As shown therein, the integrated cut and collect assembly
108 may be configured as a single ribbon 876 that defines a cutting
portion 872 and a collecting portion 874. The single ribbon 876 may
be split at least along the length of the trough 120 of the shaft
104. The distal ends of the cutting portion 872 and of the
collecting portion 874 may be rejoined or may remain separate. The
membrane 114 may define a lumen in which the free end of the
collecting portion 874 may be introduced. Alternatively, the
membrane 114 may be wrapped around the collecting portion 874 and
secured thereto by means of an adhesive. The cutting portion 872 of
the single ribbon 876 forms the leading edge of the integrated cut
and collect assembly 108 as the device is rotated within the tissue
and the specimen cut from the surrounding mass of tissue.
[0083] FIG. 8E shows another exemplary configuration of the
integrated cut and collect assembly 108 of the present invention.
The top figure of FIG. 8E shows the integrated cut and collect
assembly 108 in the retracted position whereas the bottom figure
shows the integrated cut and collect assembly 108 in the expanded
position. As shown in the top figure, the membrane 114, when the
integrated cut and collect assembly 108 is in the retracted
position, is stretched across the trough 120. In this embodiment,
the cutting portion of the integrated cut and collect assembly 108
may include a cutting ribbon 116 that emerges through the membrane
114 through a first slit therethrough and returns to the trough 120
through a second slit or opening defined therethrough. The cutting
ribbon 116, therefore, is configured to be exposed to the tissue to
be cut when the device is inserted within the patient and is
located on a first external-facing surface of the membrane 114. The
collecting portion of the integrated cut and collect assembly 108
may also include a collecting ribbon 118 that is located on a
second surface of the membrane 114. The membrane may be attached to
the shaft 104 such that when the integrated cut and collect
assembly 108 is expanded in the radial direction relative to the
shaft 104, the collecting ribbon 118 stretches the membrane 114 and
causes the bag-shaped membrane 114 to define the mouth 222 (see
FIG. 2C) of the collecting portion. After opening of the mouth or
opening 222 by expansion of the integrated cut and collect assembly
108 and the stretching of the membrane 114 and after tissue has
been collecting in the membrane 114, the integrated cut and collect
assembly 108 may be retracted at least partially within the trough
120, causing the membrane 114 to return to the configuration shown
in the top drawing of FIG. 8E. That is, the membrane 114 stretches
back over the trough 120, thereby at least partially isolating the
collected specimen from the surrounding tissue. In this embodiment,
the collecting ribbon 118 may not be attached to the membrane 114.
Indeed, the collecting ribbon 118 may only act upon the membrane
114 to stretch the membrane 114 open by pushing on it in the radial
direction. When the specimen has been collected and the integrated
cut and collect assembly integrated cutting and collecting assembly
108 retracted at least partially within the trough 120, the
resilient nature of the membrane 114 causes the membrane to stretch
back over the trough 120.
[0084] The foregoing has detailed a number of exemplary embodiments
of the integrated cut and collect assembly 108. Those of skill in
the art, however, may devise other alternative configurations and
structures to integrate the cutting and collecting functions of
reference numeral 108 into a single, mechanically coupled assembly
that is actuable by a single actuator, such as shown at 112. All
such alternative configurations, however, are deemed to fall within
the purview of the present invention.
[0085] FIGS. 9-16 show aspects of the present method for isolating
a tissue specimen from surrounding tissue, according to embodiments
of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 9, the excisional device
100 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be
inserted through the skin 902 (or through the outermost tissue
surface of the mass or organ from which the specimen is to be
collected), either by making a prior incision therein or by
allowing the distal tip 106 of the device 100 to make the initial
cut. The distal tip 106 may be energized with RF energy during the
insertion of the device 100 into the mass of tissue 908, but need
not be. Satisfactory results are obtained by equipping the distal
tip 106 with sharp blades and a conical shape, without the need for
an RF energized tip. The integrated cut and collect assembly 108
should be initially in the retracted position, to enable it to
readily penetrate the mass of tissue and advance to the target area
(in this exemplary case, lesion 904) with the smallest possible
profile. The shaft 104 may then be advanced (either through manual
physician control or by means of a stereotactic setup) to a
position wherein the integrated cut and collect assembly 108 is
adjacent the target 904 and the target is approximately positioned
in the middle of the integrated cut and collect assembly 108. As
shown in FIG. 10, when the integrated cut and collect assembly 108
of the device 100 is positioned adjacent the target lesion 904, the
integrated cut and collect assembly 108 may be expanded in the
direction indicated by 110 by acting upon the actuator 112, after
having fully energized the integrated cut and collect assembly 108
with RF energy, preferably while the integrated cut and collect
assembly 108 is at least partially retracted within the trough 120.
The integrated cut and collect assembly 108 may be expanded to up
to its maximum expansion or to a selectable degree of expansion,
advantageously under real time ultrasonic guidance and/or under
another imaging modality. As shown at FIG. 11, the present
excisional device 100 may then be rotated in the direction
indicated by arrow 1102, while the integrated cut and collect
assembly 108 remains energized with RF energy. In this manner, the
leading edge of the RF-energized integrated cut and collect
assembly 108 cuts through the tissue. Preferably the integrated cut
and collect assembly 108 is expanded to a sufficient degree so as
to cut a margin of healthy tissue around the target lesion 904, so
as to decrease the probability of seeding abnormal cells (e.g.,
cancerous or pre-cancerous) into and around the excision site and
the retraction path. As shown in FIG. 11, as the energized
integrated cut and collect assembly 108 is rotated, it cuts around
the lesion 904. As the trailing edge of the integrated cut and
collect assembly 108 has deployed the collecting portion thereof,
the cut lesion or specimen 904 is collected in the open bag formed
by the trailing and close ended flexible membrane 114. As shown in
FIGS. 12 and 13, the rotation 1102 of the device 100 may be
continued as needed (preferably under ultrasonic guidance) until
the specimen 904 has been at least partially severed from the
surrounding tissue 906. At this point, the specimen 904 has been at
least partially collected within the bag-shaped flexible membrane
114 of the collecting portion of the integrated cut and collect
assembly 108. As shown at FIG. 14, to fully sever the specimen 904
from the surrounding tissue 906, the integrated cut and collect
assembly 108, while still RF energized, may be retracted by acting
proximally upon the actuator 112, thus causing the integrated cut
and collect assembly 108 to move in the direction 1104 to capture
and encapsulate the specimen 904 within the flexible membrane 114.
As the bag-shaped flexible membrane is now closed, the cut and
collected specimen is effectively isolated and encapsulated (or
substantially isolated and encapsulated) from the surrounding
tissue 906. Indeed, the cut and collected specimen 904 is now
separated from the surrounding tissue by a layer of the flexible
membrane 114. The RF to the integrated cut and collect assembly 108
may now be turned off.
[0086] As shown in FIG. 14, the cut, collected, encapsulated and
isolated specimen 904 may then be recovered by retracting the
device 100 from the mass of tissue 908 by moving the device 100
along the direction indicated at 1106. As shown in FIG. 14, the
material of the flexible membrane 114 may be sufficiently elastic
so as to allow the cut, collected and physically isolated specimen
to stretch so as to at least partially trail the distal tip 106 as
the device 100 is retracted along the insertion path through the
mass of tissue 908, as shown at 1502 in FIG. 14. By configuring the
integrated cut and collect assembly 108 so as to allow the specimen
filled bag-shaped flexible membrane 114 to trail the distal tip
106, the initial incision into the skin and the diameter of the
insertion and retraction path may be kept small, as neither the
retraction path nor the incision need accommodate the full
aggregate width of the shaft 104, the integrated cut and collect
assembly 108 and the isolated specimen 904.
[0087] As shown in FIG. 15, the specimen-filled flexible membrane
of the collecting portion of the integrated cut and collect
assembly 108 may be configured so that it does not substantially
trail the distal tip, or only does so partially during retraction
of the device 100 from the mass of tissue from which the specimen
was cut. The material of the flexible membrane 114 (as detailed
below) and the configuration thereof may be chosen so as to achieve
the desired behavior during the collecting, isolating and
retracting phases of the present method. FIG. 16 shows a fully
retracted device 100, containing a collected and isolated specimen
904 in which the tissue architecture has been maintained
substantially intact. After full retraction of the device 100 from
the mass of tissue, the incision within the skin 904 may be treated
and closed according to standard surgical practices. During the
excisional method detailed relative to FIGS. 9-16, the second lumen
206 (shown in FIG. 2A) within the shaft 104 may be used, for
example, to evacuate smoke and/or bodily fluids (e.g., blood) from
the excision site within the mass of tissue 908. Alternatively the
second lumen 206 defined within the shaft 104 may be used to
deliver a pharmaceutical agent to the excisional site, such as, for
example, an anesthetic, an analgesic and/or some other agent. The
inflatable balloon 208 shown in FIG. 2A may be may be inflated
with, for example, a gas (air or carbon dioxide, for example) or a
fluid (such as saline, for example). The balloon 208 may assist in
stabilizing the present excisional device within the tissue mass
after insertion therein and/or to provide some degree of hemostasis
during the excisional procedure.
[0088] The flexible membrane 114 is preferably non-conductive and
stable at high temperatures. For example, the material used in the
flexible membrane should be RF resistant (i.e., have the ability to
withstand the temperatures generated by the RF-energized cutting
portion of the integrated cut and collect assembly integrated
cutting and collecting assembly 108). The flexible membrane 11,
therefore, should be stable (i.e., acceptably maintains its
structural integrity and does not unacceptably melt, deform, burn
or lose cohesion, tensile or shear strength) at temperatures at
which the energized cutting portion operates. According to one
embodiment of the present invention, the flexible membrane includes
a non-main chain carbon based polymeric material, such as a
silicone elastomer (such as polydimethylsiloxane, for example) or a
silicone-containing elastomer. For example, the flexible membrane
114 of the collecting portion of the integrated cut and collect
assembly 108 may include one or more of the following materials: an
organic, inorganic or organic-inorganic polymer such as a silicone
elastomer or a silicone-containing elastomer, a teraphthalate, a
tetrafluoroethylene, a polytetrafluoroethylene, a polyimid, a
polyester, a polyolephin, Kevlar.RTM. and/or M5.RTM., for example.
The flexible membrane 114 may have a laminar structure that
includes one or more reinforcing layers. Such reinforcing layers
may include, for example, any of the above-listed materials and/or
polyester, polyurethane or polyimid, for example. For example, the
flexible membrane 114 may include NuSil 10-6640, a material
manufactured by NuSil Technology of Carpinteria, Calif. The
thickness of the flexible membrane may be freely chosen according
to the desired characteristics of the collecting portion of the
integrated cut and collect assembly 108. For example, the flexible
membrane 114 may be between about 0.0005 and about 0.1 inches. For
example, the flexible membrane 114 may be chosen to have a
thickness between about 0.0007 and 0.005 inches. For example, the
flexible membrane 114 may be selected to have a thickness of
between 0.001 and 0.015 inches.
[0089] When an adhesive is used to secure the flexible membrane to
other structures of the device or the integrated cut and collect
assembly 108, a strong, biologically inert and safe adhesive may be
used. Advantageously, a silicone containing or based adhesive or a
cyanoacrylate containing or based adhesive may be used with good
results.
[0090] In an aspect of the present invention, and as can be
appreciated from the description and drawings provided herein, the
devices and methods of the present invention may provide for
retraction of tissue away from the ribbon 116 which cuts tissue.
For example, FIGS. 1B, 1C, 2B, 2C, 2E and 2F show the ribbon 118
holding the membrane 114 partially or completely covering part of
the ribbon 116 such as a radially inner side RI. The ribbon 118
and/or a tissue collection assembly 115 prevents tissue from
contacting part of the radially inner RI side of the cutting ribbon
116 and, in particular, the trailing edge TE or trailing side TS of
the ribbon 116 opposite the cutting side CS. This feature can
provide advantages when starting or re-starting the RF cutting
ribbon 116 when the ribbon 116 is already within tissue. By
reducing the overall surface area of the RF cutting ribbon 116 that
is exposed to tissue, the current density along other parts of the
ribbon 116 may be sufficient to start the device using a
conventional RF generator, optionally with an increased voltage
applied to the ribbon 116. This cannot be said of many prior art
bowed RF cutting elements that provide cutting blades or ribbons
exposed on both the radially inner and outer sides. Other means of
reducing the surface area of the RF cutting ribbon 116 that is
exposed to tissue are disclosed in commonly assigned and copending
application Ser. No. 09/732,848, filed Dec. 7, 2000, which
application is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety.
[0091] In another method and device of the present invention, the
device may have a thickened portion 117 that trails the cutting
side CS of the ribbon 116. The thickened portion 117 retracts
tissue away from the ribbon 116 providing the advantage described
above. The thickened portion 117 may be at least two or even three
times larger than the thickness of the ribbon 116. The thickened
portion 117 may be recessed from the cutting side CS by a distance
of less than 0.25 inch or even less than 0.10 inch (FIG. 2E) or
about 0.015 inch although any configuration may be used. Referring
to FIG. 1B, the thickened portion is provided by the ribbon 118 and
membrane 114 which cover the radially inner side RI of the ribbon
116 through which energy to cut tissue is transmitted. The
thickened portion 117 may also simply be provided by the membrane
114 itself or another part of the tissue collection assembly 115.
As the membrane is drawn over the tissue being collected, the
collapsed membrane 114 can also retract tissue away from the ribbon
116.
[0092] Referring to FIG. 1C, the device may also provide for
retraction of tissue away from the radially outer RO side of the
ribbon 116. The device of FIG. 1C is the same as the device of FIG.
1B except that the member 124 has been replaced by an element 125
which extends radially outward from the ribbon 116. The element 125
is essentially a U-shaped sleeve of material having an opening to
fit around the trailing side of the ribbon 116. The sleeve does not
transmit RF energy to cut tissue and, in this sense, insulates the
ribbon as well as providing retraction away from the cutting side
CS. Of course, the element 125 providing retraction of tissue may
also transmit RF to cut tissue without departing from various
aspects of the invention. The element 125 may be retained by ribbon
116, ribbon 118, member 124, or the tissue collection assembly 115
such as the membrane 114. Finally, as can be readily appreciated,
the ribbon 118 may be separately movable from the ribbon 116 with a
separate actuator having similar structure as actuator for ribbon
116 thereby allowing the user to selectively cover parts of the
ribbon 116. In still another aspect of the devices and methods of
the present invention, the devices may reduce transmission of
energy to cut tissue through parts of the cutting ribbon 116 to the
tissue so that the current density is increased at other portions
thereof to initiate RF cutting. The tissue retraction devices
described above also provide a gap between the ribbon 116 and
tissue which can help initiate RF cutting by providing an ionizing
path between the tissue and ribbon. For example, the gap may be
simply filled with air, argon, saline or another suitable gas or
liquid.
[0093] Another way of preventing transmission of energy from parts
of the ribbon 116 to the tissue is to coat the ribbon 116 with a
coating 119 such as silicone, ceramic and PTFE. The coating 119 may
be applied to any part of the ribbon 116. For example, the trailing
side of the ribbon 116 may be coated to essentially coat half the
ribbon 116. By coating the ribbon 116 in this manner, half of the
cutting ribbon 116 remains exposed for transmitting cutting energy
to the tissue. As used herein, the effective width shall mean the
part of the ribbon that is exposed to tissue. By coating half the
ribbon, for example, the effective width is half the width of the
ribbon 116. When partially covering, coating or retracting tissue
away from the radially inner and/or radially outer side, one side
may have an exposed part which is at least 20% larger, and even 35%
larger, than an exposed part of the other side. Of course, the
radially outer side may also be completely covered, coated or
tissue may be retracted completely away from the radially inner
side without departing from numerous aspects of the invention. For
example, if the ribbon is recessed only a small amount, such as
0.015 inch, and covered by the membrane 114 the radially inner side
will completely covered as shown in FIG. 2F. Finally, other ways of
preventing transmission of RF energy to the tissue and/or
retracting tissue away from the cutting element can be appreciated
from commonly assigned and copending application Ser. No.
10/098,014, filed on Mar. 14, 2002, and commonly assigned and
copending application Ser. No. 10/066,428, filed on Jan. 31, 2002,
both applications of which are hereby incorporated herein by
reference in their entirety.
[0094] In a further aspect of the present invention, the cutting
ribbon 116 has an exposed length which cuts tissue which may be 25,
40 or even 100 times larger than the ribbon 116 width or effective
width and a length to thickness ratio twice as large. The
relatively thin, elongate ribbon 116 maintains sufficient
mechanical stability and integrity to sweep through many tissue
types. A problem encountered by more robust ribbons known in some
prior art is that these ribbons may have difficulty initiating an
RF arc within tissue since the ribbons have such large surface
areas in contact with tissue. For a given applied voltage, the
large surface area reduces the likelihood that the current density
will be sufficient to initiate RF cutting using common RF
generators. The relatively narrow ribbons of the present invention
minimize this problem. Although the ribbon 116 is relatively small,
the present invention may be used to remove relatively large tissue
masses. In a preferred embodiment, for example, the ribbon 116 has
a length of about 1.9 inch, a width of about 0.027 inch and a
thickness of about 0.012 inch, which provides a length to width
ratio of about 70 to 1 and a length to thickness ratio of over 158
to 1. Of course, the cutting element (ribbon 116) may be configured
in a number of different sizes without departing from the
invention. When using the device to extract relatively large intact
portions of tissue from the breast, the cutting element preferably
has a tissue-exposed length of about 1.5 to 5.5 inch. The cutting
element is preferably made of stainless steel such as 304 stainless
steel, but may, of course, be made of or include any other suitable
material such as tungsten, titanium or another stainless steel. The
device preferably has only one cutting element mounted to the
shaft, or stated another way, has one cutting surface or cutting
edge, although more cutting elements or ribbons may be used with
some aspects of the present invention.
[0095] While the foregoing detailed description has described
preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is to be
understood that the above description is illustrative only and not
limiting of the disclosed invention. For example, the shape of the
flexible membrane 114 may differ from that described and depicted
herein, as may the structure of the integrated cut and collect
assembly 108. Those of skill in this art will recognize other
alternative embodiments and all such embodiments are deemed to fall
within the scope of the present invention. Thus, the present
invention should be limited only by the claims as set forth
below.
* * * * *