Claims
- 1. A medical probe apparatus comprising a catheter having a stylet port toward the distal end thereof, a flexible stylet disposed within the catheter and having a sharp distal end for puncturing tissue, means for advancing the stylet through the stylet port and through intervening tissue to target tissue, means near the distal end of the stylet for cutting and collecting a sample of the target tissue, and means at the distal end of the stylet for emitting electromagnetic energy.
- 2. The medical probe apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for emitting electromagnetic energy comprises a microwave antenna, and the means for cutting and collecting a sample of the target tissue comprises a biopsy tissue sampler.
- 3. The medical probe apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for emitting electromagnetic energy is selectively energizable either with the means for cutting and collecting a sample of the target tissue or independently thereof.
- 4. In a sampling probe: an elongated flexible stylet having a sharp distal end for puncturing tissue, means for guiding the distal end of the stylet through the urethral wall and into the prostatic tissue near the urethral wall, and means carried by the stylet for cutting and collecting a sample of the prostatic tissue.
- 5. The sampling probe of claim 4 further including means disposed toward the distal end of the stylet and coupled to a source of electromagnetic energy for emitting electromagnetic energy into the prostatic tissue.
- 6. The sampling probe of claim 4 wherein the distal end portion of the stylet comprises a hollow tube.
- 7. The sampling probe of claim 6 wherein the means for cutting and collecting the sample comprises an opening in a side wall of the tube with a cutting edge on one side of the opening.
- 8. The sampling probe of claim 7 wherein the cutting edge faces in a rearward direction from the distal end of the stylet.
- 9. The sampling probe of claim 7 further including a sleeve disposed coaxially about the distal end portion of the stylet, with the stylet and the sleeve being movable relative to each other between a first position in which the opening is exposed to the tissue and a second position in which the opening is covered by the sleeve.
RELATIONSHIP TO COPENDING APPLICATION
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/155,975, filed on Nov. 19, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,470,308; which is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 07/929,638, filed Aug. 12, 1992 now abandoned; which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/012,370, filed Feb. 2, 1993 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,370,675; which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/062,364, filed May 13, 1993 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,805; the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
US Referenced Citations (184)
Foreign Referenced Citations (37)
Number |
Date |
Country |
1085892 |
Aug 1992 |
AUX |
0370890 |
May 1990 |
EPX |
0495443 |
Jul 1991 |
EPX |
0453071 |
Oct 1991 |
EPX |
521264A2 |
Jan 1993 |
EPX |
2848484 |
May 1979 |
DEX |
3218314 |
Jun 1983 |
DEX |
3844131 |
Dec 1988 |
DEX |
3838840 |
May 1990 |
DEX |
2121675 |
May 1990 |
JPX |
9007303 |
Jul 1990 |
WOX |
WO911213 |
Aug 1991 |
WOX |
9116859 |
Nov 1991 |
WOX |
9207622 |
May 1992 |
WOX |
WO9210142 |
Jun 1992 |
WOX |
9221278 |
Dec 1992 |
WOX |
9221285 |
Dec 1992 |
WOX |
9304727 |
Apr 1993 |
WOX |
9308756 |
May 1993 |
WOX |
9308755 |
May 1993 |
WOX |
9320893 |
Oct 1993 |
WOX |
9308757 |
Oct 1993 |
WOX |
9320767 |
Oct 1993 |
WOX |
9320768 |
Oct 1993 |
WOX |
9320886 |
Oct 1993 |
WOX |
WO9325136 |
Dec 1993 |
WOX |
9403759 |
Feb 1994 |
WOX |
9404222 |
Mar 1994 |
WOX |
9405226 |
Mar 1994 |
WOX |
9406377 |
Mar 1994 |
WOX |
9407410 |
Apr 1994 |
WOX |
9407411 |
Apr 1994 |
WOX |
9407412 |
Apr 1994 |
WOX |
9407413 |
Apr 1994 |
WOX |
9407441 |
Apr 1994 |
WOX |
9407446 |
Apr 1994 |
WOX |
9407549 |
Apr 1994 |
WOX |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (10)
Entry |
Standard Urology Product Catalog, CIRCON ACMI: Stanford (1992). |
Chang, Raymond J. et al, American Heart Journal, 125: 1276-1283 (May, 1993). |
Cosman, Eric R. et al, Sterostatic and Functional Neurosurgery, pp. 2490-2499 (Date Unknown). |
Diasonics, Brochure DIA 2000 171 CRF May 1988. |
Perinchery, Narayan, "Neoplasms of the Prostate Gland." pp. 378-409 (Date Unknown). |
Urology 5th ed., Storz, Jan. 1992. |
Transuretheral .mu.wave Thermotherapy for Prostatism: Early Mayo Foundation Experience: Blute, Mayo Clinic Proceedings: vol. 67 May 92 pp. 417-421. |
New Therapies for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, Editorial Bruskewitz, Mayo Clinic Proceedings vol. 67 May 92 pp. 493-495. |
Industry Strategies, Urology: "A Multi Billion Dollar Market . . . " Stephen Scala Nov. 19, 1991 pp. 1-32. |
U.I. Dept. of Health and Human Services, MMWR 421: 401-404 vol. 41, No. 23 (Jun. 12, 1992). |
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
155975 |
Nov 1993 |
|
Continuation in Parts (3)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
929638 |
Aug 1992 |
|
Parent |
12370 |
Feb 1993 |
|
Parent |
62364 |
May 1993 |
|