Cryogenic probe
A medical apparatus and method useful for obtaining a tissue sample are provided. The apparatus can include a rotating and trasnslating cutter, a probe, and an outer sheath. The probe can be cooled, such as with a cryogenic substance. The sheath can shield surrounding tissue from the outer surface of the rotating cutter.
1 . A biopsy device comprising:
a handpiece;
an outer cannular cutter supported for translation relative to the handpiece;
a cryogenic probe disposed at least partially within the outer cannular cutter; and
a cannula sheath disposed around at least a portion of the outer cannular cutter.
2 . A biopsy device comprising:
a probe adapted to receive a cryogenic material;
a hollow cutter disposed about at least a portion of the probe, wherein the cutter is movable with respect to the probe to sever tissue; and
a sheath movable with the hollow cutter.
3 . The biopsy device of claim 2 wherein the hollow cutter is translatable and rotatable with respect to the probe.
4 . The biopsy device of claim 2 wherein the sheath is translatable with respect to the probe.
5 . The biopsy device of claim 2 wherein the sheath is non-rotatable with respect to surrounding tissue when the probe, cutter, and sheath are disposed in tissue.
6 . The biopsy device of claim 2 wherein the sheath and hollow cutter are adapted to translate together relative to the probe.
7 . A method for providing a biopsy sample comprising the steps of:
positioning a probe into tissue to be sampled;
cooling tissue adjacent to a portion of the probe;
advancing and rotating a hollow cutter over a portion of the probe to sever a sample of the cooled tissue from the surrounding tissue; and
shielding the surrounding tissue from the rotating hollow cutter.
8 . The method of claim 7 wherein the step of cooling comprises freezing the tissue.
9 . The method of claim 7 wherein the step of cooling comprises providing a cryogenic material.
10 . The method of claim 7 further comprising warming the severed tissue sample.
11 . The method of claim 7 wherein the step of shielding the surrounding tissue comprises advancing a non-rotating sheath over a portion of the hollow cutter.
12 . The method of claim 11 wherein the step of advancing the non-rotating sheath comprises advancing the non-rotating sheath simultaneously with advancing the hollow cutter.