Boston Scientific Corporation

Symbiosis Corporation

Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.

Scimed Life Systems, Inc.

Bruce H Diamond

Troy William Roberts

Alyssa J Dassa

Matthew A Palmer

William Joseph Shaw

Charles B Warich

Donald E Robinson

John R Whittier

Rodney C Tullett

Sylvestre Cordoba

A biopsy forceps () has a handle (), a bite device (), and a pair of tissue cutting jaws () that are separated by an elongate sheath (). The tissue cutting jaws () may be opened and closed to obtain a tissue sample. The bite device () with tissue cutting jaws () is removable from the distal end of the forceps () so that a physician can use a different pair of tissue cutting jaws () for each sample obtained.

Biopsy forceps with removable jaw segments

The invention features an assembly for taking a biopsy sample from a site within the body of a patient. The assembly includes a resecting device having a cutter near its distal end for resecting and containing a tissue sample and a sheath exterior to the resecting device and sized to be present within the body with the resecting device. The sheath includes an electrode element electrically isolated from the resecting device and disposed on the sheath's outer surface for cauterizing tissue. The electrode element may reside on the outer sheath, the distal end or both the outer sheath and the distal end of the assembly. The resecting device and the sheath cooperate to permit sequential resecting of a tissue sample from a resecting site and cauterizing of the site with the cutter sufficiently spaced from the electrode element to avoid heat damage to the tissue sample.

Biopsy sampler

The invention features an assembly for taking a biopsy sample from a site within the body of a patient. The assembly includes a resecting device having a cutter near its distal end for resecting and containing a tissue sample and a sheath exterior to the resecting device and sized to be present within the body with the resecting device. The sheath includes an electrode element electrically isolated from the resecting device and disposed on the sheath's outer surface for cauterizing tissue. The resecting device and the sheath cooperate to permit sequential resecting of a tissue sample from a resecting site and cauterizing of the site with the cutter sufficiently spaced from the electrode element to avoid heat damage to the tissue sample.

In an aspect, the invention relates to an instrument for obtaining tissue samples from a site deep within the body. The instrument has an elongated proximal portion that is constructed to follow a long, torturous path to the site and has a distal end constructed to sever and remove a tissue sample from the body, including tissue specimens, polyps or the like. The improvement includes that the instrument is constructed to take multiple biopsy samples without being withdrawn from the body. The instrument includes a tissue sample retractor. The retractor is axially movable between an extended tissue-engaging position and a retracted position. There is an open passage into which the retractor moves when moving from the extended to the retracted position. The retractor has a distal end portion constructed to engage tissue and apply axial transporting force thereto while moving from the extended to the retracted position. The retractor is constructed to be advanced and retracted repeatedly to accumulate a series of samples in the instrument.

Multiple biopsy sampling device

Flexible microsurgical instruments incorporating a sheath having tactile and visual position indicators are disclosed. A flexible lubricous sheath which covers at least a distal portion of the flexible coil of the instrument is provided with either contrasting colored stripes or palpable ridges, or both, which are located a predetermined distance from the distal end of the instrument. When the coil is removed from an endoscope, the practitioner or the assistant observes the coil as it is withdrawn and notices the appearance of the stripes as an indication that the distal end of the instrument is not far away. Upon observing the stripes, the practitioner or the assistant may then slowly remove the remainder of the coil to avoid whipping the distal end as it exits the endoscope. Alternatively, the practitioner or assistant may grasp the coil between a thumb and fingers to feel for the palpable ridges as the coil is withdrawn from the endoscope or feel for vibration of the coil as the textured portion exits the endoscope. Preferred aspects of the invention include: covering the entire flexible coil with the sheath, locating the indicator(s) approximately eight to ten inches from the distal end of the instrument, applying the tactile indicator by hot stamping the sheath and applying the visual indicator with pigment bearing polymeric based tape.

Flexible microsurgical instruments incorporating a sheath having tactile

The invention features a device for obtaining tissue samples from a site deep within the body having a proximal portion constructed to follow a long torturous path to the site and a distal portion constructed with a jaw arrangement that can be opened and closed to sever a sample, including tissue specimens, polyps and the like, from the surface. The device is constructed for severing and storing at least three successive samples. The device includes a sample storing and retaining element in the space encompassed by the jaws. The element is fixed to maintain an orientation extending generally distally along a selected length to a distal end and has a profile along the length for engaging multiple samples arranged axially in the order in which they were severed from the surface with sufficient frictional force to substantially retain the samples from moving distally from the space encompassed by the jaws when the jaws are opened to sever a successive sample from the surface.

Multiple biopsy sampling forceps

An end cap is provided for an endoscopic biopsy forceps instrument having a long coil and a jaw assembly. The end cap is provided with a cup portion, an attachment clip, and preferably a suction cup. The cup portion fits over the closed jaws of the biopsy forceps and has an open end and a closed end, and side walls. The attachment clip extends perpendicularly from the side walls of the cup portion and fits around one or more sections of the biopsy forceps coil, thereby stabilizing the forceps jaw and coil for packaging. The attachment clip can also be used for attaching the cap to the coil of the biopsy forceps instrument when the cap is off of the jaws so that the cap is readily available for later retrieval. The suction cup is coupled to the top of the cup portion and is used both to prevent misplacement and loss of the cap, and to expedite recapping after usage.

Growing community of inventors

Brookline, MA, United States of America

Bruce H Diamond