Claims
- 1. An apparatus for use in a biopsy procedure, the apparatus comprising:
first and second instruments instruments received in an endoscope to access a tissue site within a patient; wherein at least one of the first and second instruments comprise a distal end adapted to sever tissue at the tissue site, and wherein the first and second instruments are adapted to engage one another for severing tissue at the tissue site.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the instruments is hollow.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the instruments is operatively associated with a source of vacuum for removing a cut tissue sample from the tissue site.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the distal end of the second instrument engages the distal end of the first instrument, and wherein the distal end of the second instrument rotates with respect to the distal end of the first instrument for effecting the severing of tissue at a tissue site.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising a instrument guiding device engaging the distal end of at least one of the instruments, and wherein the device guides motion of the distal end of the instrument for providing cooperation between the first and second instruments.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the distal end of the first instrument engages the instrument guiding device to rotate about a first axis of rotation relative to the device, and wherein the distal end of the second instrument engages the distal end of the first instrument to rotate about a second axis of rotation.
- 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the first axis of rotation and said second axis of rotation are substantially colinear.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the instrument guiding device is supported to rotate about a pivot axis.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the pivot axis and the first axis of rotation are substantially parallel.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the instrument guiding device comprises a mechanism, and wherein the mechanism engages the first instrument to constrain translation of the distal end of the first instrument along a desired path while permitting rotation of the distal end of the first instrument.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the mechanism comprises a pivot arm, and wherein the pivot arm constrains translation of the distal end of the first instrument along an arc.
- 12. An apparatus for use in a biopsy procedure, the apparatus comprising:
an endoscope comprising at least one instrument channel; a first instrument having a distal end extending from the instrument channel; a second instrument having a distal end; wherein at least one of the first and second instrument distal ends is adapted to sever tissue, and wherein the first and second instruments are adapted to engage one another for severing tissue.
- 13. An apparatus for use in a biopsy procedure, the apparatus comprising:
an endoscope having at least one instrument channel; a mechanism disposed at the distal end of the endoscope; a first instrument disposed in the instrument channel and having a distal end extending from the instrument channel; and a second instrument; wherein the mechanism engages the distal end of the first instrument, and wherein the mechanism guides the first instrument for cooperation with the second instrument.
- 14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the mechanism comprises a pivot arm.
- 15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein at least one of the instruments is hollow.
- 16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein at least one of the instruments is operatively associated with a source of vacuum.
- 17. A biopsy forceps device for use with an endoscope having an instrument channel; said biopsy forceps comprising:
an interior instrument having a forceps jaw portion; and an exterior instrument having a forceps jaw portion; wherein said interior instrument is positionable in the instrument channel of an endoscope, and wherein the forceps jaw portions are adapted to engage one another to perform work.
- 18. An apparatus for use in a medical procedure, the apparatus comprising:
a first flexible medical instrument insertable within an instrument channel of an endoscope, the medical instrument having a first end-effector; a mechanism adapted for connection to the distal end of an endoscope, the mechanism for guiding motion of the first end-effector, wherein the first end effector engages the mechanism for rotation with respect to the mechanism about a first axis of rotation; and a second medical instrument having a second end-effector, wherein the second end effector engages the first end effector for rotation relative to the first end effector about a second axis of rotation, and wherein the first and second axis of rotation are substantially colinear.
- 19. A biopsy method comprising the steps of:
inserting a first biopsy forceps half into said patient; inserting a second biopsy forceps half into said patient; and engaging the first biopsy forceps half with the second biopsy forceps half within the patient to obtain a biopsy sample.
- 20. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of removing the biopsy sample from the patient.
- 21. The method of claim 20 comprising removing the biopsy sample from the patient without removing the biopsy forceps halfs from the patient.
- 22. The method of claim 20 comprising removing the biopsy sample using vacuum.
- 23. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of taking a biopsy sample comprises taking a biopsy sample from a patient lumen wall.
- 24. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of optically viewing the step of engaging the first biopsy forceps half with the second biopsy forceps half.
- 25. The method of claim 24 wherein the step of optically viewing the step of engaging comprises viewing the step of engagement through an optical instrument associated with an endoscope.
- 26. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of inserting the first biopsy forceps half comprises extending the first biopsy forceps half from the instrument channel of an endoscope.
- 27. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of guiding motion of the first biopsy forceps half along a desired path to engage the first biopsy forceps with the second biopsy forceps half.
- 28. The method of claim 27 comprising the step of constraining motion of the first biopsy forceps half along an arc.
- 29. A method of treating tissue within a patient, said method comprising the steps of:
providing a first channel having an opening within the patient for accessing a treatment site; providing a second channel having an opening within the patient for accessing a treatment site; providing a first instrument disposed in the first channel, the first instrument having a distal end; providing a second instrument disposed in the second channel, the second instrument having a distal end; and cooperating motion of the distal ends of the first and second instruments within the patient to obtain a biopsy sample.
- 30. The method of claim 29 wherein the step of cooperating motion of the distal ends of the first and second instruments comprises engaging the distal ends of the first and second instruments one with the other.
- 31. The method of claim 29 wherein the step of cooperating motion of the distal ends of the first and second instruments comprises bending at least one of the first and second instruments.
- 32. The method of claim 31 wherein the step of cooperating motion of the distal ends of the first and second instruments comprises bending at least one of the first and second instrument through an angle of at least about 90 degrees.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application is related to the following copending, concurrently filed patent applications: application Ser. No. 08/______ “Method for Controlling Position of Medical Instruments” [Attorney Docket No. END 838]; and application Ser. No. 08/______ “An Apparatus for use in Guiding an Instrument Used with an Endoscope” [Attorney Docket No. END 779] which are hearby incorporated herein by reference.