Punch biopsy tool with transverse cutter and angular adjustment
A punch biopsy tool includes an upper housing, lower housing, and a circular cutter attached to the lower housing configured to make a circular incision around a target tissue. A transverse cutter performs removal of the target tissue sample. An axially movable upper shaft member within the upper housing pivotally attaches to an intermediate linkage member. A lower linkage member is pivotally connected to an end of the intermediate linkage member. The transverse cutter may be formed by a pair of blades connected to the lower linkage member. Means for adjusting an angular orientation of the upper housing relative to the lower housing may be included such as an accordion shaped material or pivotable joint. Alternatively, the upper housing may be formed at a predetermined angle relative to the lower housing. The punch biopsy tool is suited for obtaining hard to reach tissue samples including, but limited to, oral lesions.
1 . A punch biopsy tool comprising:
an upper housing;
an intermediate housing;
a lower housing, wherein the upper housing, the intermediate housing and the lower housing together form an outer housing;
a circular cutter attached to the lower housing, wherein the circular cutter is configured to make a circular cut;
a transverse cutter pivotally attached within the lower housing and the circular cutter and configured to make a transverse cut spanning a diameter of the circular cutter;
mechanical means for actuating the transverse cutter; and
means for adjusting an angular orientation of the upper housing relative to the lower housing.
2 . The punch biopsy tool according to claim 1 , wherein the transverse cutter includes a pair of blades pivotally mounted within the lower housing.
3 . The punch biopsy tool according to claim 1 , wherein the means for adjusting angular orientation of the upper housing relative to the lower housing includes a flexible material having an accordion shape forming the intermediate housing, wherein the accordion shape includes peaks, valleys, and annular ribs formed by the peaks and valleys.
4 . The punch biopsy tool according to claim 1 , further comprising an upper shaft member axially movable within the upper housing and an intermediate linkage member having an upper end pivotally connected to a lower end of the upper shaft member, wherein the intermediate linkage member is positioned within the outer housing.
5 . The punch biopsy tool according to claim 4 , further comprising a lower linkage member having an upper end pivotally connected to a lower end of the intermediate linkage member, wherein the lower linkage member is positioned within the outer housing.
6 . The punch biopsy tool according to claim 5 , wherein the transverse cutter is formed by a pair of blades connected to the lower linkage member and pivotally connected to the lower housing.
7 . The punch biopsy tool according to claim 6 , further comprising a spiral-shaped tissue gripping attachment mounted within the lower housing.
8 . The punch biopsy tool according to claim 7 , wherein the means for adjusting an angular orientation of the upper housing relative to the lower housing is a flexible accordion shape material including peaks defining an outermost diameter, valleys defining an inner diameter, and annular ribs formed by the peaks and valleys.
9 . The punch biopsy tool according to claim 3 , wherein the flexible material having an accordion shape is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of a polymer, an elastomer, or an elastomeric material.
10 . The punch biopsy tool according to claim 7 , wherein the means for adjusting an angular orientation of the upper housing relative to the lower housing includes a pivotable joint including spherical joint connectors.
11 . A punch biopsy tool comprising:
an upper housing;
an intermediate housing;
a lower housing, wherein the upper housing, the intermediate housing, and the lower housing form an outer housing;
an upper shaft member axially movable within the upper housing;
means for moving the upper shaft member axially within the upper housing;
an intermediate linkage member having an upper end pivotally connected to a lower end of the upper shaft member;
a lower linkage member having an upper end pivotally connected to a lower end of the intermediate linkage member, wherein the intermediate linkage member and the lower linkage member are positioned within the outer housing;
a circular cutter attached to the lower housing, wherein the circular cutter is configured to make a circular cut; and
a transverse cutter joined to the lower linkage member and pivotally connected to the lower housing within the circular cutter.
12 . The punch biopsy tool according to claim 11 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the upper housing is set at a predetermined slanted angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the lower housing.
13 . The punch biopsy tool of claim 11 , further comprising means for adjusting an angular orientation of the upper housing relative to the lower housing.
14 . The punch biopsy tool of claim 13 , wherein the means for adjusting an angular orientation of the upper housing relative to the lower housing includes a flexible accordion shaped material forming the intermediate housing, wherein the accordion shape includes peaks, valleys, and annular ribs formed by the peaks and valleys.
15 . The punch biopsy tool according to claim 11 , wherein the transverse cutter includes a pair of blades.
16 . The punch biopsy tool according to claim 11 , further comprising ergonomic gripping surfaces formed on the upper housing.
17 . The punch biopsy tool according to claim 11 , wherein the circular cutter includes graduations on an outer surface thereof.
18 . A punch biopsy tool comprising:
an upper housing;
an upper shaft member axially movable within the upper housing;
a lower housing, wherein the upper housing and the lower housing form an outer housing;
an intermediate linkage member having an upper end pivotally connected to a lower end of the upper shaft member;
a lower linkage member having an upper end pivotally connected to a lower end of the intermediate linkage member, wherein the intermediate linkage member and the lower linkage member are positioned within the outer housing;
a circular cutter attached to the lower housing, wherein the circular cutter is configured to make a circular cut;
a transverse cutter pivotally attached within the lower housing and circular cutter;
mechanical means for actuating the transverse cutter; and
wherein the upper housing is positioned in a fixed predetermined slanted orientation relative to the lower housing.
19 . The punch biopsy tool according to claim 18 , wherein the transverse cutter is formed by a pair of blades.