Claims
- 1. A biopsy forceps instrument for retrieving a tissue sample from a patient, comprising:
a) a flexible tubular member having proximal and distal ends; b) an aspiration conduit means for providing a conduit through which the tissue sample is aspirated from the patient; c) a distal end effector assembly coupled to said distal end of said flexible tubular member; d) at least one pull wire extending through said tubular member; e) a proximal actuation handle including
i) a stationary member coupled to a first of said flexible tubular member and said at least one pull wire, ii) a movable member movable relative to said stationary member and coupled to a second of said flexible tubular member and said at least one pull wire, wherein movement of said movable member relative to said stationary member moves said at least one pull wire relative to said flexible tubular member and actuates said distal end effector assembly so as to obtain the tissue sample;,and f) a chamber means coupled to said aspiration conduit means for receiving the sample from said aspiration conduit and for retaining the sample.
- 2. A biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 1, wherein:
said chamber means is coupled to said proximal actuation handle.
- 3. A biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 2, wherein:
said chamber means includes a chamber and a sample catch means removable from said chamber for filtering the tissue sample from a fluid flowing through said aspiration conduit means, said sample catch means having a screen provided with a plurality of perforations which permits the fluid to pass therethrough and prevents the tissue sample from passing therethrough.
- 4. A biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 3, wherein:
said screen has front and back sides and divides said chamber into first and second portions, said front side of said screen facing said first portion of said chamber and said back side of said screen facing said second portion of said chamber, and each of said plurality of perforations is frustoconical in shape, expanding from said front side to said back side.
- 5. A biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 3, wherein:
said sample catch means has an engagement portion having an irregular shaped cross-section, and said chamber means is adapted to receive said sample catch means in a single orientation.
- 6. A biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 3, wherein:
said screen divides said chamber into first and second portions, and said aspiration conduit means includes a first aspiration connecting means coupled to said first portion of said chamber and a second aspiration connecting means coupled to said second portion of said chamber.
- 7. A biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 6, further comprising:
g) irrigation conduit means having proximal and distal ends, said irrigation conduit means for providing a conduit through which the fluid is provided to the distal end of the flexible tubular member; and h) valve means through which said aspiration conduit means and said irrigation conduit means extend.
- 8. A biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 2, wherein:
said chamber means has a plurality of chambers for discretely storing a plurality of tissue samples.
- 9. A biopsy forceps instrument for retrieving a tissue sample from a patient, comprising:
a) a flexible tubular member having proximal and distal ends; b) an aspiration conduit means for providing a conduit through which the tissue sample is aspirated from the patient; c) a distal end effector assembly coupled to said distal end of said flexible tubular member; d) at least one pull wire extending through said tubular member; e) a proximal actuation handle including
i) a stationary member coupled to a first of said flexible tubular member and said at least one pull wire, ii) a movable member movable relative to said stationary member and coupled to a second of said flexible tubular member and said at least one pull wire, wherein movement of said movable member relative to said stationary member moves said at least one pull wire relative to said flexible tubular member and actuates said distal end effector assembly so as to obtain the tissue sample; and f) a filter means removably coupled to said aspiration conduit means, said filter means for retaining the tissue sample aspirated through said aspiration conduit means.
- 10. A biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 9, wherein:
said filter means is a screen provided with a plurality of perforations.
- 11. A biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 10, wherein:
each of said perforations is frustoconical in shape.
- 12. A biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 9, wherein:
said filter means is coupled to said proximal actuation handle.
- 13. A biopsy forceps instrument for use with an endoscope to retrieve a tissue sample from a patient, comprising:
a) a flexible tubular member having proximal and distal ends; b) an aspiration conduit means for providing a conduit through which the tissue sample is aspirated from the patient; c) a distal end effector assembly coupled to said distal end of said flexible tubular member; d) at least one pull wire extending through said tubular member; e) a proximal actuation handle including
i) a stationary member coupled to a first of said flexible tubular member and said at least one pull wire, ii) a movable member movable relative to said stationary member and coupled to a second of said flexible tubular member and said at least one pull wire, wherein movement of said movable member relative to said stationary member moves said at least one pull wire relative to said flexible tubular member and actuates said distal end effector assembly so as to obtain the tissue sample; and f) a control means for regulating the flow of fluid through said aspiration conduit.
- 14. A biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 13, wherein:
said control means is a pinch valve.
- 15. A proximal actuation handle for a biopsy forceps instrument having a flexible tubular member with proximal and distal ends and an aspiration conduit means, a distal end effector assembly coupled to the distal end of the flexible tubular member, at least one pull wire extending through the flexible tubular member, and said proximal actuation handle coupled to the proximal end of the flexible tubular member, the biopsy forceps instrument for retrieving a tissue sample from a patient, said proximal actuation handle comprising:
a) a stationary member coupled to a first of the at least one pull wire and the flexible tubular member; b) a movable member movable relative to said stationary member and coupled to a second of the at least one pull wire and the flexible tubular member, wherein movement of said movable member relative to said stationary member moves the at least one pull wire relative to the flexible tubular member to actuate the distal end effector assembly so as to obtain the tissue sample; and c) a chamber means coupled to the aspiration conduit means and coupled to the stationary member for receiving the sample from the aspiration conduit means and retaining the sample.
- 16. A proximal actuation handle according to claim 15, wherein:
said chamber means is removably coupled to said stationary member.
- 17. A proximal actuation handle according to claim 15, wherein:
said chamber means includes a chamber and a removable sample catch means removable from said chamber for filtering the tissue sample from a fluid flowing through the aspiration conduit means, said sample catch means having a screen provided with a plurality of perforations which permits the fluid to pass therethrough and prevents the tissue sample from passing therethrough.
- 18. A proximal actuation handle according to claim 17, wherein:
said screen has front and back sides and divides the chamber into first and second portions, said front side of said screen facing said first portion of said chamber and said back side of said screen facing said second portion of said chamber, and each of said plurality of perforations is frustoconical in shape, expanding from said front side to said back side.
- 19. A proximal actuation handle according to claim 17, wherein:
said sample catch means has an engagement portion having an irregular shaped cross-section, and said chamber is arranged to receive said sample catch means in a single orientation.
- 20. A proximal actuation handle according to claim 17, wherein:
said screen divides said chamber into first and second portions, and said first portion of said chamber is provided with a first aspiration conduit connecting means for coupling said first portion of said chamber to the aspiration conduit means, and said second portion of said chamber is provided with a second aspiration conduit connecting means for coupling said second portion of said chamber to said aspiration conduit means.
- 21. A proximal actuation handle according to claim 15, further comprising:
d) a pinch valve means through which said aspiration conduit means extends.
- 22. A proximal actuation handle according to claim 15, wherein the biopsy forceps instrument further includes an irrigation conduit means, said proximal actuation handle further comprising:
d) a pinch valve means through which said aspiration conduit means and the irrigation conduit means extend.
- 23. A proximal actuation handle according to claim 22, wherein,
said pinch valve means is biased in a closed position, which thereby clamps closed said aspiration conduit means and said irrigation conduit means.
- 24. A proximal actuation handle according to claim 15, wherein:
said stationary member includes a shaft portion having a transverse slot, and said movable member is a spool member slidably mounted on said shaft portion and includes a transverse bar extending through said transverse slot.
- 25. A biopsy forceps instrument for retrieving tissue samples from a patient for use with an endoscope, comprising:
a) a flexible tubular member co-extruded with at least one support member, said tubular member having an aspiration conduit and at least one irrigation conduit; b) a distal assembly having a hollow first jaw and a hollow movable second jaw, said movable second jaw being pivotable relative to said first jaw and coupled to a first of said at least one irrigation conduit and said aspiration conduit, and said first jaw being coupled to a second of said at least one irrigation conduit and said aspiration conduit; c) at least one control member extending through said at least one irrigation conduit and coupled to said movable second jaw; and d) proximal actuation means coupled to said at least one control member for moving said at least one control member relative to said tubular member, thereby moving said movable second jaw relative to said first jaw from an open position to a closed position, and wherein said movable second jaw and said first jaw are adapted such that when said movable second jaw and first jaw are in said closed position, said movable second jaw and first jaw form a fluid passage between said at least one irrigation conduit and said aspiration conduit.
- 26. A biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 25, wherein:
said at least one support member is one of a round wire, a flat wire, and a multi-strand cable.
- 27. A biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 25, wherein:
exactly one support member is co-extruded with said tubular member, said support member is provided with proximal and distal ends, and said distal end of said support member is made from a shape memory material.
- 28. A biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 25, wherein:
said tubular member is made of a polymer.
- 29. A tubular member for use with a biopsy forceps instrument for retrieving tissue samples from a patient for use with an endoscope, comprising:
a) a multi-lumen tubular extrusion provided with an aspiration conduit and at least one irrigation conduit; and b) at least one support wire co-extruded with said multi-lumen extrusion and having proximal and distal ends.
- 30. A tubular member according to claim 29, wherein:
said at least one support wire has a distal end formed from a shape memory metal.
- 31. A tubular member according to claim 29, wherein:
said multi-lumen extrusion is made of a polymer.
- 32. A tubular member according to claim 29, wherein:
said at least one support wire is made of one of a rounded wire, a flat wire, and a multi-strand cable.
- 33. A tubular member according to claim 32, wherein:
said at least one support wire is made of stainless steel.
- 34. A tubular member according to claim 29, wherein:
said multi-lumen extrusion has exactly two irrigation conduits and exactly one support wire is co-extruded with said multi-lumen extrusion, and said support wire is located substantially between each of said two irrigation conduits and said aspiration conduit.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/756,260, filed on Nov. 25, 1996, and entitled “Biopsy Forceps Instrument Having Irrigation And Aspiration Capabilities”, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
08794352 |
Feb 1997 |
US |
Child |
09599403 |
Jun 2000 |
US |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09599403 |
Jun 2000 |
US |
Child |
10228278 |
Aug 2002 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
08756260 |
Nov 1996 |
US |
Child |
08794352 |
Feb 1997 |
US |