US6432064B1 — Biopsy instrument with tissue marking element

Claim 1

Independent Claim 110 words

A biopsy probe for collection of at least one soft tissue sample from a surgical patient, said biopsy probe comprising: a) a handle having a distal end and a proximal end; b) an elongated needle, located at said distal end of said handle, said needle having a sharpened distal end for piercing tissue and a bowl proximal thereto for receiving a tissue mass; c) a cutter for severing a tissue mass received in said bowl; and d) at least one tissue marker element associated with a surface of said bowl, said tissue marker element adapted to apply a mark to an exterior of a tissue mass received in said bowl.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 110 words

A biopsy probe for collection of at least one soft tissue sample from a surgical patient, said biopsy probe comprising: a) a handle having a distal end and a proximal end; b) an elongated needle, located at said distal end of said handle, said needle having a sharpened distal end for piercing tissue and a bowl proximal thereto for receiving a tissue mass; c) a cutter for severing a tissue mass received in said bowl; and d) at least one tissue marker element associated with a surface of said bowl, said tissue marker element adapted to apply a mark to an exterior of a tissue mass received in said bowl.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 23 words

The biopsy probe of claim 1 wherein said at least one tissue marker element is disposed within a distal end of said bowl.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 23 words

The biopsy probe of claim 1 wherein said at least one tissue marker element is disposed within a proximal end of said bowl.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 21 words

The biopsy probe of claim 1 wherein said at least one tissue marker element comprises a RF element for marking tissue.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 21 words

The biopsy probe of claim 1 wherein said at least one tissue marker element comprises a heating element for marking tissue.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 21 words

The biopsy probe of claim 1 wherein said at least one issue marker element comprises a dye applicator for marking tissue.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 12 words

The biopsy probe of claim 1 further including multiple tissue marker elements.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 173 words

A biopsy probe for collection of at least one soft tissue sample from a surgical patient, said biopsy probe comprising: a) a driver portion having a distal end and a proximal end; b) an elongated needle at said distal end of said driver portion, said needle having a sharpened distal end for piercing tissue, and a bowl proximal thereto for receiving a tissue mass, said needle further including upper and lower lumens extending longitudinally therethrough, said lower lumen in fluid communication with a bottom of said bowl; c) a vacuum source for applying a vacuum through said lower lumen to facilitate prolapse of a tissue mass into said bowl; d) a cutter disposed coaxially on a longitudinal axis of said upper lumen, said cutter being moveable relative to said upper lumen for severing a tissue mass received in said bowl; e) at least one tissue marker element associated with a surface of said bowl, said tissue marker element adapted to apply a mark to an exterior of a tissue mass within said bowl.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 173 words

A biopsy probe for collection of at least one soft tissue sample from a surgical patient, said biopsy probe comprising: a) a driver portion having a distal end and a proximal end; b) an elongated needle at said distal end of said driver portion, said needle having a sharpened distal end for piercing tissue, and a bowl proximal thereto for receiving a tissue mass, said needle further including upper and lower lumens extending longitudinally therethrough, said lower lumen in fluid communication with a bottom of said bowl; c) a vacuum source for applying a vacuum through said lower lumen to facilitate prolapse of a tissue mass into said bowl; d) a cutter disposed coaxially on a longitudinal axis of said upper lumen, said cutter being moveable relative to said upper lumen for severing a tissue mass received in said bowl; e) at least one tissue marker element associated with a surface of said bowl, said tissue marker element adapted to apply a mark to an exterior of a tissue mass within said bowl.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 23 words

The biopsy probe of claim 8 wherein said at least one tissue marker element is located at a distal end of said bowl.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 23 words

The biopsy probe of claim 8 wherein said at least one tissue marker element is located at a proximal end of said bowl.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 21 words

The biopsy probe of claim 8 wherein said at least one tissue marker element comprises a RF element for marking tissue.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 21 words

The biopsy probe of claim 8 wherein said at least one tissue marker element comprises a heating element for marking tissue.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 21 words

The biopsy probe of claim 8 wherein said at least one tissue marker element comprises a dye applicator for marking tissue.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 12 words

The biopsy probe of claim 8 further including multiple tissue marker elements.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 68 words

The biopsy probe of claim 8 wherein said at least one tissue marker element is disposed within an aperture at said bottom of said bowl, said marker element comprising: a) a marker rod and an insulator ring surrounding said marker rod; b) a first conductor wire connecting said marker rod to an RF energy source; c) a second conductor wire connecting said needle to said RF energy source.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 74 words

The biopsy probe of claim 8 wherein said at least one tissue marker element is disposed within an aperture at said bottom of said bowl, said marker element comprising: a) a marker rod and an insulator ring surrounding said marker rod; b) a first conductor wire connecting said marker rod to an RF energy source; and c) a second conductor wire adapted to be connected between a surgical patient and said RF energy source.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 64 words

The biopsy probe of claim 8 wherein said at least one tissue marker element is disposed within an aperture at said bottom of said bowl, said marker element comprising: a heater housing; a) a heater fixed to said heater housing; b) an insulator ring surrounding said heater housing; and c) at least one conductor wire connected between said heater and an electric current source.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 63 words

The biopsy probe of claim 8 wherein said at least one tissue marker element is disposed within an aperture at said bottom of said bowl, said marker element comprising: a) a flange connected to said aperture; b) a tube connected between said flange and a dye reservoir; c) means for injecting dye from said reservoir, through said tube and onto a tissue sample.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 68 words

A method of using a biopsy probe to take a tissue specimen percutaneously and applying a mark in situ to said tissue specimen comprising the steps of: a) gathering a tissue specimen with a tissue receiving bowl; b) marking the radial position of the tissue specimen within said tissue receiving bowl by marking the tissue specimen on an exterior thereof; and c) severing and retrieving the tissue specimen.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 68 words

A method of using a biopsy probe to take a tissue specimen percutaneously and applying a mark in situ to said tissue specimen comprising the steps of: a) gathering a tissue specimen with a tissue receiving bowl; b) marking the radial position of the tissue specimen within said tissue receiving bowl by marking the tissue specimen on an exterior thereof; and c) severing and retrieving the tissue specimen.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method of claim 19 wherein marking the radial position of the tissue specimen by marking the tissue specimen on an exterior thereof is done by marking a distal end of said tissue specimen.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method of claim 19 wherein marking the radial position of the tissue specimen by marking the tissue specimen on an exterior thereof is done by marking a proximal end of said tissue specimen.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of marking the radial position of the tissue specimen by marking the tissue specimen on an exterior thereof multiple times.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2005-08-12	2006-02-11	2006-08-13	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2009-08-12	2010-02-11	2010-08-13	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2013-08-12	2014-02-11	2014-08-13	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Biopsy instrument with tissue marking element

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