IP Library Granted Patent US 8,192,370
Granted Patent B2
US 8,192,370 · App. 12/258,815 · Granted Jun 5, 2012

Biopsy apparatus

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,192,370
App. No.
12/258,815
Granted
Jun 5, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A biopsy apparatus having a disposable cutting element and a reusable handpiece is disclosed. The disposable cutting element includes an inner cannula that defines an inner lumen and terminates in a cutting edge. The inner cannula is slidably disposed within an outer cannula that defines an outer lumen that has a tissue-receiving opening. The inner cannula is driven by a rotary motor and a reciprocating motor. Both motors are constructed of a MRI compatible material.

Claims (31)

1. A biopsy apparatus, comprising:

a disposable cutting element and a reusable handpiece;

wherein the disposable cutting element includes an outer cannula defining an outer lumen, a tissue-receiving opening proximate a distal end of the outer cannula communicating with the outer lumen, and an inner cannula slidably disposed within the outer lumen and defining an inner lumen from an open distal end to an open proximal end opposite the distal end, wherein the inner cannula includes a cutting edge at the open distal end operable to sever tissue projecting through the tissue-receiving opening, and a tissue aspiration path in the inner lumen, the tissue aspiration path extending from the open distal end of the inner cannula to the open proximal end of the inner cannula to allow a tissue sample to be aspirated from the open distal end of the inner cannula to the open proximal end of the inner cannula; and

wherein the reusable handpiece includes a first MRI compatible device detachably coupled to the inner cannula to rotate the inner cannula within the outer cannula, and a second MRI compatible device detachably coupled to the inner cannula to translate the inner cannula within the outer cannula while the inner cannula rotates.

2. The biopsy apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first MRI compatible device and the second MRI compatible comprises a pneumatic motor.

3. The biopsy apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first MRI compatible device is a pneumatic rotary motor and the second MRI compatible device is a pneumatic reciprocating motor.

4. The biopsy apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first MRI compatible device is a hydraulic rotary motor.

5. The biopsy apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second MRI compatible device is a hydraulic reciprocating motor.

6. The biopsy apparatus of claim 1 , further including;

a drive gear having a plurality of longitudinal teeth disposed about a portion of a length of the inner cannula, wherein the first MRI compatible device is coupled to the drive gear teeth to rotate the drive gear and the inner cannula.

7. The biopsy apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising an idler gear, wherein the first MRI compatible device is a hydraulic rotary motor, and the idler gear is coupled to the drive gear teeth and to the idler gear such that when the hydraulic rotary motor rotates, the idler gear, the drive gear, and the inner cannula rotate.

8. The biopsy apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the hydraulic reciprocating motor includes a hydraulic cylinder and a piston slidably disposed within the hydraulic cylinder.

9. The biopsy apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first MRI compatible device is a hydraulic rotary motor and the second MRI compatible device is a hydraulic reciprocating motor.

10. The biopsy apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a vacuum source and a tissue collection chamber, wherein the vacuum source is in fluid communication with the tissue collection chamber and the inner cannula lumen, and the proximal end of the inner cannula is movably disposed within the tissue collection chamber.

11. The biopsy apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the tissue collection chamber comprises a filter.

12. The biopsy apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reusable handpiece comprises an idler gear for detachably coupling the first MRI compatible device to the inner cannula such that when the reusable handpiece is coupled to the disposable cutting element, the idler gear is detachably coupled to the inner cannula.

13. The biopsy apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising a drive gear having a plurality of longitudinal teeth disposed about a portion of a length of the inner cannula, such that when the reusable handpiece is coupled to the disposable cutting element, the idler gear is detachably coupled to the drive gear teeth.

14. The biopsy apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reusable handpiece comprises a push rod for detachably coupling the second MRI compatible device to the inner cannula, such that when the reusable handpiece is coupled to the disposable cutting element, the push rod is detachably coupled to the inner cannula.

15. The biopsy apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising a drive gear disposed about the inner cannula, the drive gear having an annular recess, such that when the reusable handpiece is coupled to the disposable cutting element, the push rod is detachably coupled to the drive gear annular recess.

16. The biopsy apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the push rod has a forked end, and when the reusable handpiece is coupled to the disposable cutting element, the forked end is detachably coupled to the drive gear annular recess.

17. A biopsy apparatus, comprising:

a disposable cutting element and a reusable handpiece;

wherein the disposable cutting element includes an outer cannula defining an outer lumen, a tissue-receiving opening proximate a distal end of the outer cannula communicating with the outer lumen, and an inner cannula slidably disposed within the outer lumen and defining an inner lumen from an open distal end to an open proximal end opposite the distal end, wherein the inner cannula includes a cutting edge at the open distal end operable to sever tissue projecting through the tissue-receiving opening,

wherein the reusable handpiece includes within the reusable handpiece a first MRI compatible device and a second MRI compatible device, the first MRI compatible device detachably coupled to said inner cannula to rotate the inner cannula within the outer cannula, the second MRI compatible device detachably coupled to the inner cannula to translate the inner cannula within the outer cannula while the inner cannula rotates, the first MRI compatible device has an axis of rotation that is spaced apart from the disposable cutter, and the second MRI compatible device has an axis of translation that is spaced apart from the disposable cutter.

18. The biopsy apparatus of claim 17 , wherein at least one of the first MRI compatible device and the second MRI compatible device comprises a pneumatic motor.

19. The biopsy apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the first MRI compatible device is a pneumatic rotary motor, and the second MRI compatible device is a pneumatic reciprocating motor.

20. The biopsy apparatus of claim 17 , further comprising a tissue aspiration path in the inner lumen from the open distal end of the inner cannula to the open proximal end of the inner cannula.

21. The biopsy apparatus of claim 17 , wherein at least one of the first MRI compatible device and the second MRI compatible device comprises a hydraulic motor.

22. The biopsy apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the first MRI compatible device is a hydraulic rotary motor, and the second MRI compatible device is a hydraulic reciprocating motor.

23. The biopsy apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the reusable handpiece comprises an idler gear for detachably coupling the first MRI compatible device to the inner cannula such that when the reusable handpiece is coupled to the disposable cutting element, the idler gear is detachably coupled to the inner cannula.

24. The biopsy device of claim 17 , wherein the reusable handpiece comprises a push rod for detachably coupling the second MRI compatible device to the inner cannula, such that when the reusable handpiece is coupled to the disposable cutting element, the push rod is detachably coupled to the inner cannula.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2026
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: HOLOGIC, INC., ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND AS SUCCESSOR-BY-MERGER TO DIRECT RADIOGRAPHY CORP.; CYTYC CORPORATION, ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND AS SUCCESSOR-BY-MERGER TO BIOLUCENT, LLC; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS, LLC, AS SUCCESSOR-BY-CONVERSION TO CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED, ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND AS SUCCESSOR-BY-MERGER TO THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GEN-PROBE PRODESSE, INC.; SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 075566/0039 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT PATENT NO. 8081301 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 028810 FRAME: 0745. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Nov 9, 2017
From: HOLOGIC, INC.; BIOLUCENT, LLC; CYTYC CORPORATION; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.; THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA
Reel/Frame 044432/0565 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT PATENT NO. 8081301 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 035820 FRAME: 0239. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST RELEASE. Recorded Nov 9, 2017
From: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: HOLOGIC, INC.; BIOLUCENT, LLC; CYTYC CORPORATION; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.; THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 044727/0529 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 7, 2015
From: HOLOGIC, INC.; BIOLUCENT, LLC; CYTYC CORPORATION; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; DIRECT RADIOGRAPHY CORP.; GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED; GEN-PROBE PRODESSE, INC.; SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.; THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 036307/0199 →
SECURITY INTEREST RELEASE REEL/FRAME 028810/0745 Recorded Jun 4, 2015
From: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: HOLOGIC, INC.; BIOLUCENT, LLC; CYTYC CORPORATION; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.; THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 035820/0239 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 1, 2012
From: HOLOGIC, INC.; BIOLUCENT, LLC; CYTYC CORPORATION; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.; THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA
Reel/Frame 028810/0745 →
TERMINATION OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENTS AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTERESTS Recorded Aug 26, 2010
From: GOLDMAN SACHS CREDIT PARTNERS, L.P., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: HOLOGIC, INC.; R2 TECHNOLOGY, INC.; SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.; BIOLUCENT, LLC; DIRECT RADIOGRAPHY CORP.; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS II LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; CYTYC CORPORATION; CYTYC SURGICAL PRODUCTS III, INC.; CYTYC PRENATAL PRODUCTS CORP.; THIRD WAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 024892/0001 →
FOURTH SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 1, 2008
From: SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
To: GOLDMAN SACHS CREDIT PARTNERS L.P., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 021907/0257 →