Method for excising core tissue sample

Abstract

Apparatus for safely and accurately positioning the fingertip of a physician (or technician) performing a biopsy procedure, e.g., to excise a core tissue samples of the male prostate or other internal organs, to avoid injury (e.g., a needle stick) from the sharpened distal end of a biopsy needle assembly. Such apparatus comprises an open tubular member defining an elongated passageway through which a biopsy needle assembly, when actuated, can be made to pass and to extend a predetermined distance along an external path in order to effect the core sampling of a biological mass of interest. The tubular housing supports a safety flange at its distal end, such flange having a flat surface adapted to be engaged by the fingertip of the physician prior to actuation of the biopsy needle assembly. Preferably, the engaged surface of the safety flange defines a physical fiducial adapted to be sensed by the user's fingertip, such fiducial being located a predetermined safe distance from the external path traveled by the needle assembly, whereby the physician is assured that his or her fingertip is safely spaced from the needle assembly when actuated, and the distal end of the tubular housing is precisely positioned relative to a biological mass of interest.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This Patent Application is a Continuation of U.S. Non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 14 / 756,173, filed on Aug. 11, 2015, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 070,482, filed on Aug. 26, 2014, and entitled “Apparatus for Safely and Accurately Excising Core Tissue Samples from Palpated Nodules or Surface Lesions,” the disclosures of which are incorporated herein, in their entirety, by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to improvements in apparatus for taking core tissue samples of, for example, the male prostate or other internal organs at locations corresponding to surface irregularities that can be palpated by the fingertip of a physician (or technician). More specifically, it relates to apparatus for decreasing the risk of finger puncture and improving the accuracy of the biopsy of lesions of interest.[0004]Discussion of The Prior Art...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]In view of the foregoing, an object of this invention is to provide a safer and more accurate apparatus for excising a core sample from a palpatable internal lesion for subsequent analysis.

[0013]According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, apparatus that achieves the above objective comprises an elongated hollow tubular housing having opposing proximal and distal ends. This tubular housing, which is adapted to be hand-held by a person performing a biopsy procedure, defines an open longitudinal passageway extending between the opposing ends of the tubular housing. The passageway is adapted (i) to slidably receive a biopsy needle assembly inserted into the passageway at the proximal end of the tubular member, and (ii) to guide the biopsy needle assembly through the passageway until a portion of the needle assembly exits from the passageway and extends a predetermined distance from the distal end of the housing in order to excise a core sample of interest. Mounted on the distal end of the tubular housing at a location proximate that location where the needle assembly exits from the passageway is a rigid safety flange member that extends at an acute angle away from the longitudinal axis of the passageway. This flange members adapted to be engaged by the fingertip of the user at the time the biopsy needle assembly is actuated for the purpose of biopsying a sample. Owing to its location, the flange membershields the fingertip from contact with the needle assembly as the latter is moved axially to biopsy the sample. Preferably, the flange member defines a fiducial that is readily sensed by the fingertip, whereby (a) the fingertip is precisely positioned on the flange member to prevent a needle stick during the biopsy procedure, and (h) the needle tip accurately enters the lesion the interest.

Problems solved by technology

A “needle stick’ is not only painful to the recipient, but it also can result in the transmission of serious diseases to the examiner biopsying the lesion.

Generally, the closer this spacing, the higher the accuracy of the biopsy and, unfortunately, the greater the risk of an accidental finger stick by the needle.

In such case, movement of the stylet tip to penetrate a nodule of interest without knowing exactly where the fingertip is located may also cause a needle stick of the physician's fingertip.

Also, because of this uncertainty, the accuracy of the biopsy may be compromised, causing an unintended portion of the prostate to be biopsied.

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