The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 18, 2012
Filed:
Dec. 31, 2009
Francois Lacombe, Chaville, FR;
David Hughett, Liberty Township, OH (US);
Chris Tihansky, Doylestown, PA (US);
Magalie Genet, Guyancourt, FR;
Francois Lacombe, Chaville, FR;
David Hughett, Liberty Township, OH (US);
Chris Tihansky, Doylestown, PA (US);
Magalie Genet, Guyancourt, FR;
Manua Kea Technologies, Paris, FR;
Abstract
A method to perform an endoscopic biopsy includes deploying a mechanical forceps through an accessory channel of an endoscope assembly, deploying an optical probe through the accessory channel to an area of investigation, optically evaluating tissue at the area of investigation, actuating the mechanical forceps to grasp a sample of the tissue, and retrieving the mechanical forceps and the optical probe through the accessory channel of the endoscope assembly. A biopsy apparatus includes a delivery conduit, an optical probe configured to investigate the tissue upon a distal end of an optical conduit extending through the delivery conduit, and a forceps assembly slidably engaged over the optical conduit, the forceps assembly comprising jaws configured to operate between a closed position and at least one open position, wherein the jaws of the forceps are urged into the closed position as the forceps are retracted within the delivery conduit.