Ethicon Endo-surgery, Inc.

Devicor Medical Products, Inc.

Randy M Raczek

John A Hibner

Mark A Burdorff

Anthony T Nguyen

Chris K Quatrochi

A method is provided for removing at least one tissue sample from a surgical patient using a biopsy instrument. The biopsy instrument comprises an elongated piercer having a piercer lumen extending therethrough. The biopsy instrument further comprises a cutter rotatably and translationally positionable relative to the piercer. The piercer has a port for receiving and transferring the tissue portion into the piercer lumen. In one embodiment of the present invention, the method for using the biopsy instrument comprises the steps of engaging tissue in the port; translating the cutter at a first, predetermined translational speed from a first position to a second position proximal to the port; measuring the translational speed of the cutter; translating the cutter at a second, predetermined translational speed from the second position to a third position proximal to the port; translating the cutter at a third, predetermined translational speed from the third position to a fourth position distal to the port; rotating the cutter at a predetermined rotation speed; measuring the rotational speed of the cutter; and modifying the translational speed of the cutter when the rotational speed of the cutter varies from the predetermined rotational speed by more than a first, predetermined differential rotational speed.

Control method for an automated surgical biopsy device

The present invention is a control apparatus for removing at least one tissue sample from a surgical patient using a surgical biopsy device. The biopsy device comprises an elongated piercer having a piercer lumen extending therethrough, and a cutter rotatably and axially positionable relative to the piercer. The piercer has a port for receiving and transferring the tissue sample into the piercer lumen. The biopsy device further comprises a rotation motor for rotating the cutter and a translation motor for translating the cutter in the axial direction. In one embodiment of the present invention, the control apparatus comprises a computing device for the coordinated control of the rotation and translation motors. The control apparatus further comprises a first sensor operationally connected to the rotation motor for supplying a rotation signal to the computing device for measuring the rotational speed of the cutter. The control apparatus further comprises a second sensor operationally connected to the translation motor for supplying a translation signal to the computing device for measuring the translational position and translational speed of the cutter. The control apparatus further comprises a first driver for driving the translation motor in response to a translation command from the computing device, and a second driver for driving the rotation motor in response to a rotation command from the computing device. The control apparatus automatically modifies the rotational speed and the translational speed of the cutter in response to the translational position and rotational resistance acting on the cutter.

Growing community of inventors

Schaumburg, IL, United States of America

Randy M Raczek