Apparatus and method for resecting and removing selected body tissue from a site inside a patient

Abstract

An electrosurgery device according to an embodiment of the invention captures a lymph nodule and resects it. The lymph node is captured with a vacuum and resected it with an electrode, which minimizes bleeding and limits the potentially malignant node from coming into contact with surround tissue as it is resected and removed. This limits the potential for inadvertent cancer spread. An electrosurgery device according to an embodiment of the invention also allows several lymph nodes to be resected in a single procedure, each lymph node being easily indexed according to its nodal station and stored in a manner that limits the potential for cross-contamination. An electrosurgery device according to an embodiment of the invention further provides a collector for individually receiving resected lymph nodes. The collector may be easily detached and sent to pathology without interrupting resection of other lymph nodes.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 146,444, filed May 14, 2002, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention is generally directed to an apparatus and method for resecting body tissue from a site within a patient and removing it from the patient. The present invention is more particularly directed to an electrosurgery apparatus for capturing, resecting, removing, and indexing selected body tissue, such as lymph nodes or other tissue. BACKGROUND [0003] One important step in the treatment of pulmonary cancer is resecting bronchial lymph nodes. Mediastinoscopy is one frequently employed procedure to resect lymph nodes in the thorax and bronchial system. An incision is made in the sternal or jugular notch at the base of the neck, and a tubular instrument called a mediastinoscope is inserted in the incision, placed between the trachea and the sternum,...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

The procedure for bronchial lymph node visualization and resection through the mediastinoscope has problems.

For example, the procedure is limited to taking one lymph node at a time.

In addition, the instrumentation to grab and resect the lymph node may cause problems.

Such instruments can result in potential squeezing and damage to lymph nodes that may contain cancer cells, thus causing bleeding and releasing potentially hazardous byproducts such as tissue, blood, and cells into the chest cavity.

Removing these hazardous byproducts from the patient is a problem.

Another problem stems from the very narrow working channel and the close proximity of vulnerable structures such as arteries and the heart.

Traditional biopsy and resection devices may impact the adjacent structures.

The number of samples generally taken causes a storage problem and a cross-contamination problem.

This requires time and effort.

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