IP Library › Granted Patent US 6,890,309
Granted Patent B2
US 6,890,309 · App. 10/708,712 · Granted May 10, 2005

Method for scraping cellular material from tissue

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,890,309
App. No.
10/708,712
Granted
May 10, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

A dual action biopsy needle scrapes tissue of cellular thickness from a lesion during forward and rearward reciprocations of the needle along its longitudinal axis of symmetry. A first sharp edge, formed by a beveled distal end of the needle, scrapes tissue during proximal-to-distal travel of the needle. A second sharp edge is provided by a transversely disposed slot formed in the needle near the first sharp edge. The second sharp edge scrapes tissue during distal-to-proximal travel of the needle. In a first embodiment, the second sharp edge is coincident with an exterior surface of the needle. In a second embodiment, the second sharp edge is elevated with respect to the exterior surface and in a third embodiment the second sharp edge is recessed. Additional embodiments include a second slot, a channel, and a hinge for enabling pivotal movement of the second and third sharp edges.

Claims (11)

1. A method for scraping cellular material from tissue, comprising the steps of:

providing a fine needle aspiration biopsy needle of elongate, hollow construction having a proximal end, a beveled distal end, and having a uniform diameter along an extent of said needle;

said beveled distal end being open and forming a first sharp edge adapted to scrape cellular material when said needle is inserted into tissue and displaced from a proximal position to a distal position during insertion;

forming a slot in said needle near said beveled distal end so that said slot is transversely disposed relative to a longitudinal axis of said needle, so that said slot is angled relative to a transverse axis of said needle such that a bottom of said slot is positioned distal to an opening of said slot, and so that said opening of said slot is in open communication with an exterior surface of said needle;

forming said slot so that it includes a second sharp edge adapted to scrape tissue of cellular size when said needle is displaced from a distal position to a proximal position;

communicating a vacuum to said proximal end of said needle so that cellular material removed by said first sharp edge during proximal-to-distal travel of said needle is pulled into a lumen of said needle and so that cellular material removed by said second sharp edge during distal-to-proximal travel of said needle is also pulled into said lumen;

providing a syringe, an endoscope having a proximal end in fluid communication with said syringe, and an elongate guide tube, and positioning said elongate guide tube within an operating channel of said endoscope;

securing said fine needle aspiration biopsy needle to a distal end of said elongate guide tube;

positioning said fine needle aspiration biopsy needle in operative relation to a lesion; and

retracting said elongate guide tube and hence said fine needle aspiration biopsy needle so that cellular material is scraped from said lesion as said fine needle aspiration biopsy needle is pulled from said lesion;

depositing said cellular material onto a slide, staining said cellular material, and subjecting said cellular material to microscopic inspection in the absence of any need to mechanically slice said cellular material.

Assignments (18)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 25, 2024
From: HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ARGON MEDICAL DEVICES, INC.; MEDICAL DEVICE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; MANAN MEDICAL PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 066883/0812 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 17, 2023
From: ARGON MEDICAL DEVICES, INC.; MEDICAL DEVICE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; MANAN MEDICAL PRODUCTS, INC.
To: HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 065612/0206 →
CHANGE OF OWNER/ASSIGNEE ADDRESS Recorded Jan 19, 2023
From: ARGON MEDICAL DEVICES, INC.
To: ARGON MEDICAL DEVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 062437/0600 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF FIRST LIEN SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Sep 13, 2019
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ARGON MEDICAL DEVICES, INC.; MANAN MEDICAL PRODUCTS, INC.; MEDICAL DEVICE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 050375/0599 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECOND LIEN SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Sep 13, 2019
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ARGON MEDICAL DEVICES, INC.; MANAN MEDICAL PRODUCTS, INC.; MEDICAL DEVICE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 050375/0620 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 10, 2018
From: ARGON MEDICAL DEVICES, INC.; MEDICAL DEVICE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; MANAN MEDICAL PRODUCTS, INC.
To: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 046127/0748 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 10, 2018
From: ARGON MEDICAL DEVICES, INC.; MEDICAL DEVICE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; MANAN MEDICAL PRODUCTS, INC.
To: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 046127/0602 →
RELEASE OF SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENTS RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 037827/0460, 037827/0526, 037827/0764, AND 037827/0882 Recorded Jan 23, 2018
From: HEALTHCARE FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS, LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: ARGON MEDICAL DEVICES, INC.; MANAN MEDICAL PRODUCTS, INC.; MEDICAL DEVICE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PROMEX TECHNOLOGIES, LLC; LUTHER MEDICAL PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 045130/0906 →
RELEASE OF FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENTS RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 037703/0001, 037702/0592, 037702/0580, AND 037702/0497 Recorded Jan 23, 2018
From: HEALTHCARE FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS, LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: ARGON MEDICAL DEVICES, INC.; MANAN MEDICAL PRODUCTS, INC.; MEDICAL DEVICE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PROMEX TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 045130/0525 →
RELEASE OF FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENTS RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 037703/0001, 037702/0592, 037702/0580, AND 037702/0497 Recorded Jan 23, 2018
From: HEALTHCARE FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS, LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: ARGON MEDICAL DEVICES, INC.; MANAN MEDICAL PRODUCTS, INC.; MEDICAL DEVICE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PROMEX TECHNOLOGIES, LLC; LUTHER MEDICAL PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 045130/0706 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 17, 2016
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY (AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST BY MERGER TO GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION), AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: MEDICAL DEVICE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 037756/0341 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 16, 2016
From: MEDICAL DEVICE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: HEALTHCARE FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS, LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 037827/0764 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 5, 2016
From: MEDICAL DEVICE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: HEALTHCARE FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS, LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 037702/0580 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 15, 2013
From: DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY
To: ANGIOTECH PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.; AMERICAN MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS HOLDINGS, INC.; ANGIOTECH AMERICA, INC.; ANGIOTECH BIOCOATINGS CORP.; ANGIOTECH PHARMACEUTICALS (US), INC.; B.G. SULZLE, INC.; MANAN MEDICAL PRODUCTS, INC.; MEDICAL DEVICE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; QUILL MEDICAL, INC.; SURGICAL SPECIALTIES CORPORATION; ANGIOTECH INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS CORP.
Reel/Frame 030218/0820 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 12, 2013
From: ARGON MEDICAL DEVICES, INC.; LUTHER MEDICAL PRODUCTS, INC.; MANAN MEDICAL PRODUCTS, INC.; MEDICAL DEVICE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 030208/0278 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 2, 2009
From: ANGIOTECH PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.; AFMEDICA, INC.; AMERICAN MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS HOLDINGS, INC.; ANGIOTECH AMERICA, INC.; ANGIOTECH BIOCOATINGS CORP.; ANGIOTECH CAPITAL, LLC; ANGIOTECH PHARMACEUTICALS (US), INC.; B.G. SULZLE, INC.; CRIMSON CARDINAL CAPITAL, LLC; MANAN MEDICAL PRODUCTS, INC.; MEDICAL DEVICE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; NEUCOLL INC.; QUILL MEDICAL, INC.; SURGICAL SPECIALTIES CORPORATION; 0741693 BRITISH COLUMBIA LTD.; 3091796 NOVA SCOTIA COMPANY; ANGIOTECH INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, CORP.; ANGIOTECH INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP
To: WELLS FARGO FOOTHILL, LLC AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 022329/0310 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 12, 2007
From: BIOPSY SCIENCES, LLC
To: MEDICAL DEVICE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 019407/0822 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 12, 2004
From: FISHER, JOHN S
To: BIOPSY SCIENCES, LLC
Reel/Frame 014494/0251 →