Device for extracting material

Abstract

A device and method for extracting material during a medical procedure, such as biopsy, drainage, surgery, ablation or any procedure involving extraction of unwanted material from an extraction site at a human or animal body. The device may also be used to deliver a material to a delivery site. The device comprises: a tubular member having a lumen and a series of radially inward projections extending into the lumen; and a shaft movably disposed within the lumen of the tubular member and having a series of radially outward protrusions extending into the lumen.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an apparatus for extracting materials. The invention further relates to a method for conveying materials. Background Technology

[0002] The extraction of biological material from the body for laboratory testing is called a biopsy. Biopsies are typically performed for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with malignant lesions. Extracting internal biological material or tissue involves using a device typically composed of tubular components (such as needles) configured to extract a predetermined amount of material, i.e., a tissue sample. Multiple samples can be extracted for better characterization of the biological material. With a typical device, a first tissue sample can be collected in vitro, and the needle can be reinserted. A second insertion can cause further damage to the tissue surrounding the extraction site and increase the cost of the procedure, as a new needle may be required for the second sample.

[0003] US 8951207 B2 describes a device comprising a needle and a blade that removes tissue from an extraction site. A vacuum source operates in conjunction with the blade to draw the tissue into a tissue collection chamber. However, this solution involves a complex mechanism, which is associated with the high cost of the device. Typically, an improved device for material extraction is needed. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Advantageously, an improved apparatus for extracting materials is provided.

[0005] Therefore, according to a first aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for extracting materials is provided, the apparatus comprising:

[0006] A tubular member having an inner cavity and a series of inwardly projecting portions extending into the inner cavity; and

[0007] A shaft, movably arranged within the cavity of the tubular member, and having a series of outward protrusions extending into the cavity,

[0008] Either the outward protrusion or the inward protrusion is a first protrusion, which has a helical shape with a pitch and axial space between successive winding structures of the helical shape, and the other of the outward and inward protrusions is a second protrusion.

[0009] The second protrusion is configured to extend at least partially into the space between the successive winding structures, and wherein a first slot between adjacent first protrusions in the first protrusion allows the second protrusion to pass through the first slot of the first protrusion, and a second slot between adjacent second protrusions in the second protrusion allows the first protrusion to pass through the second slot of the second protrusion.

[0010] The device for extracting material can be made of a few components, allowing for the simple and cost-effective extraction of a desired amount of material without displacing the tubular member from the extraction site, for example, in deep tissues such as internal organs. Relative rotation of the shaft and the tubular member about their longitudinal axis allows the first protrusions, by virtue of their helical shape, to remove material from the extraction site. Simultaneously, the second protrusions, by extending at least partially into the space between the first protrusions, scrape the removed material from the first protrusions to retain it within the tubular member. During rotation, the first and second protrusions pass through each other, such that a new amount of material is removed from the extraction site, and the extracted material is conveyed axially within the tubular member. The first protrusions may pass helically through a second slot located between adjacent second protrusions within the second protrusions, allowing the shaft to rotate smoothly within the lumen.

[0011] The second protrusions can be arranged in at least one axially oriented row, wherein the second protrusions in the row are attached to the same circumferential position on the inner surface of the tubular member or the outer surface of the shaft. This provides an easy-to-use configuration in which rotational movement can alternate with axial movement of the shaft relative to the tubular member. Two examples of this configuration are given below.

[0012] This series of inward protrusions can be arranged in at least one axially oriented row, wherein the inward protrusions in this row are attached to the inner surface of the tubular member at the same circumferential position on the inner surface of the tubular member. This advantageously allows for the axial conveying of the removed material in the proximal direction within the tubular member.

[0013] This series of outward protrusions can be arranged in at least one axially oriented row, wherein the outward protrusions in this row are attached to the outer surface of the shaft at the same circumferential position on the outer surface of the shaft. This ensures a consistent manner of material removal by means of the outward protrusions along the shaft.

[0014] The first slots between the first protrusions can be arranged in at least one row with a first axial orientation, and the second slots between the second protrusions can be arranged in at least one row with a second axial orientation. Advantageously, as the shaft rotates, the second slots provide guidance to the helical first protrusions, thereby causing axial movement of the shaft with each revolution, similar to the function of an internal thread. In this way, the second slots facilitate material removal when the shaft or tubular member rotates and advances simultaneously.

[0015] The inward and / or outward protrusions can be blades. Advantageously, blades provide improved cutting characteristics, which prevent further damage to surrounding tissue at the extraction site, thereby facilitating more efficient material extraction. The blades can be adapted to guide material through the tubular member.

[0016] The second protrusion can be rectangular in shape. Advantageously, rectangular shapes are simpler to manufacture. They can be oriented at an angle α to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member. The orientation of the second protrusion can be adjusted according to the angle of the winding structure of the first protrusion to improve material scraping.

[0017] In some embodiments, each winding structure with a helical shape of the first protrusion is formed by a fixed number of first protrusions. In this context, the winding structure corresponds to a full turn of the helix (360 degrees). The winding structure may be formed by a single first protrusion having a helical shape extending 360 degrees; or the winding structure may be formed by two or more first protrusions adjacent to each other. For example, the winding structure may include two or three protrusions (which may be of equal size) with a slot between them.

[0018] The tubular member may include an inner distal annular stop and an inner proximal annular stop to prevent the extension and retraction of an outer ring mounted on the circumferential surface of the proximal portion of the shaft, respectively. Advantageously, the annular stops and the outer ring limit the amount of axial displacement of the shaft relative to the tubular member, which ensures proper assembly of the device during use and ensures that extracted material is contained within the tubular member. For example, the stops may be located in the proximal portion of the tubular member, proximal to the protrusion.

[0019] In some embodiments, the device may include a resilient element located between one of the annular stops of the tubular member and the outer ring of the shaft. The resilient element can provide bias between the tubular member and the shaft. The resilient element can provide the advantage of facilitating the extension or retraction of the shaft relative to the tubular member, thereby improving the usability of the device.

[0020] The second protrusion may also have a helical shape and may have a rotational direction opposite to that of the first protrusion, which simplifies the operation of extracting material from the shaft and tubular member. Rotating the shaft or tubular member in the first direction can remove material from the extraction site and transport the removed material proximally within the tubular member. In this way, a desired amount of material can be extracted by simply rotating the shaft or tubular member relative to each other. The above embodiments may further include an actuation mechanism to rotate the shaft and tubular member about their longitudinal axes, which provides the advantage of potentially robotic and / or more reproducible or accelerated material extraction.

[0021] The second protrusion may have a projected axial length that substantially corresponds in the axial direction to the space between the successive first protrusions. Advantageously, filling the axial space between the successive first protrusions provides for more efficient scraping of material from the first protrusions.

[0022] The outward protrusion can extend radially outward to substantially cover the radius of the tubular member's inner cavity from the outer surface of the shaft to the inner surface of the tubular member. This minimizes the adhesion of removed material to the inner wall of the tubular member, thereby improving the efficiency of material extraction.

[0023] The inward protrusion can extend radially inward to substantially cover the radius of the tubular member's inner cavity from the inner surface of the tubular member to the outer surface of the shaft. Covering the radius of the inner cavity with the inward protrusion further improves the scraping of removed material, thereby minimizing the surface adhering to the shaft.

[0024] The proximal portion of the tubular member may have a side orifice. Advantageously, the orifice provides an outlet for the extracted material to be collected outside the device, allowing for the extraction of large quantities of material without removing the device from the extraction site. In some embodiments, an inwardly projecting portion may be provided from the distal end of the tubular member at least in an axial position to the orifice, ensuring that the removed material is conveyed from the extraction site along the length of the tubular member to the orifice.

[0025] In some embodiments, the tubular member and shaft can be configured such that material can be delivered in both proximal and distal directions, thereby reversing the movement of the tubular member relative to the shaft. Therefore, the device can be used for procedures of inserting or introducing material into a human or animal body, such as brachytherapy. The space between successive winding structures can be pre-filled and / or fed with radioactive particles to be introduced into the body. Advantageously, the device for material insertion allows for faster and more continuous introduction of particles in the case of a single insertion of the tubular member.

[0026] According to another aspect, a method for material conveying is provided. The method includes:

[0027] The step of providing a tubular member and a shaft located in the inner cavity of the tubular member, the tubular member having a series of inwardly projecting portions extending into the inner cavity, the shaft having a series of outwardly projecting portions extending into the inner cavity, wherein either the outwardly projecting portion or the inwardly projecting portion is a first projecting portion having a helical shape having a pitch and a space (SP) in the axial direction between successive winding structures of the helical shape, and the other of the outwardly projecting portion or the inwardly projecting portion is a second projecting portion, wherein the second projecting portion extends at least partially into the space (SP) between successive winding structures;

[0028] First moving step: moving the shaft relative to the tubular member such that the first protrusion passes through the second slot between adjacent second protrusions in the second protrusion; and

[0029] Second moving step: Move the shaft relative to the tubular member such that the second protrusion passes through the first slot between adjacent first protrusions in the first protrusion.

[0030] The first movement step can remove material from the extraction site. If material is already present in the lumen of the tubular member, the first movement step causes the second protrusion to scrape the material from the first protrusion or the inner surface of the tubular member, thereby preventing material adhesion and allowing material to be delivered within the tubular member. The second movement step can transfer the removed material into the lumen of the tubular member. If material is already retained in the lumen of the tubular member, the second movement step causes the retained material to be delivered proximally by the first protrusion. The first and second steps can be repeated, wherein the first step is followed by the second step, and the second step is followed by the first step again. By positioning the distal end of the tubular member at the extraction site and performing movement to deliver material from the distal end in a proximal direction through the tubular member, this method can extract material from the extraction site in the body, for example, for a biopsy. Alternatively, by positioning the distal end of the tubular member at the delivery site and performing movement to deliver material toward the distal end, this method can deliver material to the delivery site in the body, for example, for drug delivery.

[0031] In the first and second moving steps, the amount of movement of the shaft relative to the tubular member can vary depending on the embodiment, the depth of the extraction / delivery site, and the desired amount of material to be extracted / delivered, taking into account the diameter of the tubular member and the size of the first and second protrusions.

[0032] The first movement step may include rotating the shaft until the first slot aligns with the second slot, and then performing the second movement step. Rotating the shaft relative to the tubular member allows material to be removed from the extraction site by means of the helical shape of the first protrusion. Advantageously, rotating the shaft until the first slot aligns with the second slot facilitates repeating the first movement step or performing the second movement step.

[0033] The second moving step may include moving the shaft until the first slot aligns with the second slot, and then performing the first step. Advantageously, moving the shaft until the first slot aligns with the second slot facilitates repeating the second moving step or performing the first moving step. In embodiments where the second protrusion has a rectangular shape and is oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member (i.e., at an angle α of 0 degrees), the second moving step may involve sliding the shaft axially within the cavity of the tubular member. In embodiments where the second protrusion also has a helical shape having a rotational direction opposite to that of the helix of the first protrusion, the second moving step may involve rotating the shaft within the tubular member about its longitudinal axis. This simplifies the operation of extracting material from the shaft and the tubular member, as material removal only requires rotation of the shaft and / or the tubular member.

[0034] Those skilled in the art will understand that the above features can be combined in any way that is considered useful. Furthermore, modifications and variations to the description of the apparatus for material extraction can also be applied to this method, and modifications and variations to the description of the method can also be applied to the apparatus for material extraction. Attached Figure Description

[0035] In the following description, various aspects of the invention will be illustrated by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings are illustrative and may not be drawn to scale. In all the drawings, similar parts may be labeled with the same reference numerals.

[0036] Figure 1A A perspective view of the distal portion of a tubular member from a first example of a device for extracting material is shown.

[0037] Figure 1B A side view of the distal portion of the shaft from a first example of a device for extracting material is shown.

[0038] Figure 2 The longitudinal section of the tubular member in Figure 1 is shown.

[0039] Figures 3A to 3G The steps of a method for extracting material using a first example of a device for extracting material are shown.

[0040] Figure 4A A perspective view of the distal portion of the shaft from a second example of a device for extracting material is shown.

[0041] Figure 4B A perspective view of the distal portion of a tubular member from a second example of a device for extracting material is shown.

[0042] Figure 4C It shows Figure 4A The axis at Figure 4B Inside the cavity of the tubular component.

[0043] Figure 5 shows Figure 4B The longitudinal section of the tubular component.

[0044] The accompanying drawings are intended for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope or protection defined by the claims. Detailed Implementation

[0045] Certain exemplary embodiments will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Matters disclosed in the specification (such as detailed constructions and elements) are provided to facilitate a comprehensive understanding of the exemplary embodiments. Therefore, it will be apparent that the exemplary embodiments can be performed without those specific limitations. Furthermore, well-known operations or structures are not described in detail, as they may be described with unnecessarily obscure detail. Certain embodiments of this disclosure can be used during medical procedures such as biopsies, drainage, surgery, and ablation. Certain embodiments of the invention relate to a biopsy needle or needle for minimally invasive treatment of humans or animals. However, the invention is suitable for any procedure involving the extraction of unwanted or diseased biological or even foreign material from a extraction site in a human or animal body.

[0046] The examples and embodiments described herein are illustrative and not limiting of the invention. Those skilled in the art will be able to devise alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of this disclosure as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. Reference numerals enclosed in parentheses in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims. Items described as separate entities in the claims or specification may be implemented as a single hardware item combining the features of the described items.

[0047] Figure 1A and Figure 1B A first example of an apparatus 10 (e.g., a biopsy device) for extracting material according to this disclosure is shown. The apparatus 10 includes a tubular member 20 having a cylindrical shape. Figure 1A The device 10 further includes a shaft 30 and an inner wall surface 21 that encloses the inner cavity 22. Figure 1B The shaft is configured to move within the inner cavity 22 of the tubular member 20 and has a series of outwardly projecting portions 32 (also referred to herein as first projecting portions). The inner and outer diameters of the tubular member 20 can be adjusted according to the application. For minimally invasive medical procedures, such as biopsies, the outer diameter D... 外The diameter of the tubular member 20 can be between 3 mm and 5 mm, with a wall thickness of approximately 0.3 mm. For other procedures that may involve larger quantities of material to be extracted, such as diseased tissue removal, the outer diameter of the tubular member 20 can be between 5 mm and 15 mm. The length of the tubular member 20 can be between approximately 90 mm and 150 mm. Those skilled in the art will understand that the dimensions of the shaft 30 can be adjusted according to the dimensions of the tubular member 20. The tubular member 20 can be made of medical-grade stainless steel sheet or other materials known in the art. The manufacture of the tubular member 20 can involve any process known in the art, such as winding a sheet and then welding it into a thin tube. Subsequently, the thin tube can be stretched to a specified diameter and wall thickness. The shaft 30 can also be made of medical-grade stainless steel and manufactured by any process known in the art (e.g., additive manufacturing or die casting). For die casting, the steel can first be heated until it melts and then drawn through one or more molds, forming an outward protrusion 32.

[0048] In some embodiments, the tubular member 20 and the shaft 30 may be substantially rigid or slightly flexible, or may have different degrees of flexibility along their length, for example, the distal portion being less flexible than the proximal portion, to effectively penetrate superficial and deep tissues. Furthermore, the tubular member 20 may be substantially straight in shape, for example, to facilitate the guidance of the distal end 23 toward the extraction site.

[0049] Figure 1B A side view of shaft 30 is shown. Outwardly projecting portions 32 are arranged one after the other on the outer surface of shaft 30, forming an axially oriented row. In this example, the outwardly projecting portions 32 have a helical shape and are positioned at the same circumferential location on the outer surface of shaft 30 to form a helix with a multi-turn winding structure along shaft 30. The helix has a pitch that defines a space SP in the axial direction between successive winding structures of the helix formed by the outwardly projecting portions 32. Adjacent outwardly projecting portions 32 are separated by a length L. S1 The slot 34 (also referred to herein as the first slot) is separated. The slot 34 may also have a short spiral shape.

[0050] Since the outward protrusions 32 are identical and equidistant from each other, the slots 34 are arranged in an axially oriented row at the same circumferential position on the outer surface of the shaft 30. In other embodiments, the outward protrusions 32 may be placed at different circumferential positions on the outer surface of the shaft 30, which can change the size of the slot (L). S1 (or intermittently reduce the space SP between the winding structures.)

[0051] The outward protrusion 32 extends from the longitudinal axis X SExtending radially outward, the outward protrusion 32 substantially covers the radius of the inner cavity 22 of the tubular member 20 from the outer surface of the shaft 30 to the inner surface 21 of the tubular member 20. In other embodiments, the outward protrusion 32 may extend radially outward less from the outer surface of the shaft 30 to the inner surface 21 of the tubular member 20, depending on the composition and size of the material being extracted. This is possible when the manufacturing process used to produce the device has relatively large tolerances. At both sides of the slot 34, the radial edges 38a and / or circumferential edges 38b of the outward protrusion 32 may be sharp or have a thickness less than the thickness of the body of the outward protrusion 32 to form blades, which facilitates material removal and extraction.

[0052] At the proximal portion 39, an annular ring 36 can be mounted on the circumferential surface of the shaft 30. The ring 36 can be configured to reside within the tubular member 20 between the distal annular stop 26 and the proximal annular stop 27 (see [reference]). Figure 2 This limits the axial displacement of shaft 30 relative to tubular member 20. Optionally, an elastic element 37 (e.g., a spring) located between annular ring 36 and one of the stops 26, 27 provides bias between tubular member 20 and shaft 20. The direction of bias depends on the position of elastic element 37 relative to ring 36. For example, an elastic element 37 positioned distal to ring 36 and proximal to the distal stop 26 can help retract shaft 30 after it has extended.

[0053] Figure 2 A longitudinal section of the tubular member 20 of Figure 1 is shown. The tubular member 20 includes a series of inwardly projecting portions 24 (also referred to herein as second projecting portions) extending into the inner cavity 22. The inwardly projecting portions 24 are attached to the inner surface 21 of the tubular member 20. In this example, the inwardly projecting portions 24 have a rectangular or prismatic shape and have an axial length L. P and height H P Height H P The amount extending inward into the lumen 22 is defined. In this example, H P The radius of the inner cavity 22 is approximately equal to that of the inner surface 21 of the tubular member 20, so as to substantially cover the space between the inner surface 21 and the outer surface of the shaft 30. In this way, the inward protrusion 24 prevents material from adhering to the outward protrusion 32, thereby facilitating the extraction of semi-solid and viscous materials. It should be understood that the inward protrusion 24 may deviate from a rectangular or prismatic shape and still achieve the function of scraping material from the outward protrusion 32 and retaining it in the tubular member 20. In this example, the inward protrusion 24 is oriented relative to the longitudinal axis X of the tubular member 20. T Oriented at an angle alpha (α) of 0 degrees. Depending on the angle of the winding structure of the outward protrusion 32, different orientations may be suitable to improve material scraping. In other embodiments, the height H of the inward protrusion 24 is...P The radial space between the shaft 30 and the inner surface 21 of the tubular member 20 may be smaller, which may be convenient if the composition and size of the extracted material are unlikely to adhere to the inner surface 21 of the tubular member 20 or when the manufacturing process used has large tolerances.

[0054] The inwardly protruding portions 24 are aligned at the same circumferential position on the inner surface 21 of the tubular member 20, such that they form a line parallel to the longitudinal axis X of the tubular member 20. T The axially oriented arrangement. Adjacent inwardly protruding portions 24 are of length L. S2 The slot 25 (also referred to as the second slot) separates the tubular member 20. The inwardly projecting portion 24 extends from the distal end 23 of the tubular member 20 to a side opening 40 at the proximal portion 29 of the tubular member 20. The opening 40 allows collection of extracted material. Proximal to the opening 40, an inner distal annular stop 26 and a proximal annular stop 27 are configured to prevent the extension and retraction of the outer ring 36 mounted on the shaft 30, respectively. The opening 40 may be located at the proximal end of the tubular member 20. In other embodiments, the proximal portion 29 of the tubular member 20 may include a container for collecting extracted material at the side or proximal end. In some embodiments, the tubular member 20 may have a beveled or sharp distal end 23 to facilitate penetration of the extraction site.

[0055] Those skilled in the art will understand that the above features can produce other embodiments also covered by this disclosure. For example, referring to Figure 1 and... Figure 2 The first example described can be implemented with an inverted shape of inward and outward protrusions, i.e., the inward protrusion has a spiral shape and the outward protrusion has a prism shape. In this alternative example, the inward protrusion can be a first protrusion and the outward protrusion can be a second protrusion.

[0056] Another aspect of this disclosure relates to a method for extracting material from the extraction site, such as... Figures 3A to 3G As illustrated. In this context, the extraction site 60 can be located, for example, in a deep or superficial portion of a human or animal body. This method is preferably used with the apparatus of FIG. 1. The method may include:

[0057] - A tubular member 20 and a shaft 30 located in the cavity 22 of the tubular member 20 are provided at the extraction site 60. Figure 3AThe tubular member 20 has an inner cavity 22 and a series of inwardly projecting portions 24 extending into the inner cavity 22. The shaft 30 has a series of outwardly projecting portions 32 extending into the inner cavity 22. The outwardly projecting portions 32 have a helical shape having a pitch and a space SP in the axial direction between successive winding structures of the helical shape, wherein the inwardly projecting portions 24 are configured to extend at least partially into the space SP between the successive winding structures, and wherein a slot 34 between adjacent outwardly projecting portions 32 allows the inwardly projecting portions 24 to pass through the slot 34 of the outwardly projecting portions, and a slot 25 between adjacent inwardly projecting portions 24 allows the outwardly projecting portions 32 to pass through the slot 25 of the second projecting portion.

[0058] - First moving step: Move axis 30 around its longitudinal axis X S Rotation relative to the tubular member 20 causes the tubular member 20 to advance in the distal direction, and the distal end 33 of the shaft can protrude from the distal end 23 of the tubular member 20. Figure 3B As the shaft 30 rotates, the outward protrusions 32 pass through the slots 25 between adjacent inward protrusions 24. As the shaft 30 rotates, the slots 25 guide these outward protrusions 32, thereby causing axial movement of the shaft 30 with each rotation. In this way, the slots 25 facilitate material removal as the shaft 30 rotates and slides simultaneously. As the shaft 30 rotates, the outward protrusions 32, by virtue of their helical shape, penetrate the material 62 (or tissue sample) and remove the material from the extraction site. In the example shown, each winding structure is formed by one of the outward protrusions 32 extending approximately 360 degrees. Therefore, the shaft 30 rotates approximately 360 degrees until the slots 34 between the outward protrusions 32 are axially aligned with the slots 25 between the inward protrusions. Figure 3C Those skilled in the art will understand that each spiral-shaped winding structure can be formed by any number of outward protrusions 32. For example, a winding structure formed by two or more outward protrusions 32 offers the advantage of reducing the amount of rotation required to remove material before transferring it within the tubular member 20. This may be convenient when the extraction site 60 has a shallow depth, or it may cause problems when the extraction site becomes deeper, for example, when the material is being extracted near tissue that should not be affected.

[0059] - Second moving step: Slide shaft 30 proximally along the projected axial length L of at least one of the inward protrusions 24. P The corresponding amounts align the space SP between the outward protrusions 32 and the subsequent winding structure, and align the slots 34 between the outward protrusions 32 and the slots 25 between the inward protrusions 24. Figure 3D In this example, the projected axial length L PThe axial length of the outward protrusion 32 is equal to that of the inward protrusion 24. The slot 34 between the outward protrusions 32 allows the shaft 30 to move axially within the tubular member 20, while the inward protrusion 24 does not obstruct the outward protrusions 32. The shaft 30 can retract by a desired amount. In this example, the distance the shaft retracts is equal to the projected axial length L of one of the inward protrusions 24. P Correspondingly, the removed material 62 is effectively transferred to the tubular member 20 and prepared for the shaft 30 to rotate again.

[0060] The first movement step, which rotates shaft 30, can be performed again to extract more material. During rotation ( Figure 3E The inward protrusion 24 can scrape away the removed material 62 from the outward protrusion 32, thus allowing it to remain in the tubular member 20, while the distal end 33 of the shaft 30 protrudes and removes a new amount of material 64. Figure 3F As previously described, shaft 30 can be rotated until the slot 34 between the outward protrusions 32 is axially aligned with the slot 25 between the inward protrusions. At this position, shaft 30 can be rotated again or then retracted to transfer the newly removed material 64 into the tubular member 20 and to push the held material 62 in the axial direction. Figure 3G The steps of rotating and retracting the shaft 30 can be repeated until the desired amount of material has been extracted.

[0061] To deliver material to the distant end, the direction of movement can be reversed. That is, in the first movement step, shaft 30 can move around its longitudinal axis X. S The tubular member 20 is rotated relative to the tubular member 20, causing the tubular member 20 to advance in the proximal direction, and in the second movement step, the shaft 30 can slide in the distal direction with respect to the projected axial length L of at least one of the inwardly projecting protrusions 24. P The corresponding quantity.

[0062] Figure 4A , Figure 4B and Figure 4C A second example of an apparatus for extracting material according to this disclosure is shown. Apparatus 110 includes a tubular member 120 ( Figure 4B ) and shaft 130 ( Figure 4A The tubular member has an inner wall 121 that closes the inner cavity 122. Figure 4C The distal portion of the assembled device 110 is shown, wherein, Figure 4A Shaft 130 is set Figure 4B The tubular member 120 is located within the cavity 122. Features of the device described above with reference to the first example may also be present in the device shown in Figures 4 and 5, and will not be described in full here. Features are indicated by similar reference numerals, preceded by 100 to distinguish the embodiment.

[0063] like Figure 4A As shown, the shaft 130 includes outwardly projecting portions 132 arranged one after the other on the outer surface of the shaft 130 to form axially oriented rows. In this example, each spiral-shaped winding structure is formed by two outwardly projecting portions 132, each extending approximately 180 degrees and having a size L between them. S1 The slot 134, wherein the spiral slots 134 between the outward protrusions 132 are arranged in an axially oriented row. The radial edges 138a of the outward protrusions 132 have triangular ends to facilitate material removal and passage of the inward protrusions 124. On both sides of the slot 134, the radial edges 138a or circumferential edges 138b of the outward protrusions 132 may be sharp or have a thickness less than that of the body of the outward protrusions 132 to form blades, which facilitates material removal.

[0064] Figure 4B An open side view of the distal portion of the tubular member 120 is shown. In the depicted example, the inward protrusion 124 also has a helical shape, forming a helix with the same pitch as the outward protrusion 132 but in the opposite direction of rotation. Similar to the outward protrusion 132, each spiral structure is formed by two outward protrusions 124, each extending approximately 180 degrees and having a size L between them. S2 The spiral slot 125. In this way, when at least one of the tubular member 120 and the shaft 130 is along its longitudinal axis (X... T X S During rotation, the inward protrusion 124 can pass through the outward protrusion 132. The radial edge 128 of the inward protrusion 124 has a triangular end to facilitate material removal and passage of the outward protrusion 132.

[0065] Figure 5 shows Figure 4B The longitudinal section of the tubular member, in which the first half of the tubular member 120 is depicted ( Figure 5A ) and the second half ( Figure 5B The inward protrusion 124 has a projected axial length L that substantially corresponds to the axial space SP between the successive outward protrusions 124 in the axial direction. P This provides effective scraping of material. The spiral formed by the inward protrusion 124 imparts a spiral to the first semi-protrusion 124a ( Figure 5A ) angle alpha (α), and give the second half protrusion 124b ( Figure 5B ) angle beta (β).

[0066] As previously stated, another aspect of this disclosure relates to a method for conveying material through a tubular member. For example, it is used for extracting material from an extraction site or supplying material to a delivery site. The following method is preferably used in conjunction with a second example of the apparatus described with reference to Figures 4 and 5. Regarding this apparatus, the features of the method already described above with reference to the first example and Figure 3 can also be found in the following method, and will not be described in full here. This method may include:

[0067] A tubular member 120 and a shaft 130 located within an inner cavity 122 of the tubular member 120 are provided. The tubular member 120 has an inner cavity 122 and a series of inwardly projecting portions 124 extending into the inner cavity 122. The inwardly projecting portions 124 have a helical shape, the helical shape having a pitch and a space in the axial direction between successive winding structures of the helical shape. The shaft 130 has a series of outwardly projecting portions 132 extending into the inner cavity 22. The outward protrusion 32 has a helical shape having the same pitch and space as the inward protrusion 124, and a rotation direction opposite to that of the helix of the inward protrusion 124. The inward protrusion 124 is configured to extend at least partially into the space between the outward protrusions 132, and a slot 134 between adjacent outward protrusions in the outward protrusion 132 allows the inward protrusion 124 to pass through the slot 134 of the outward protrusion, and a slot 125 between adjacent inward protrusions in the inward protrusion 124 allows the outward protrusion 132 to pass through the slot 125 of the second protrusion.

[0068] -Make the shaft 130 or tubular member 120 about its longitudinal axis (X) S or X T The first movement step involves rotation. As the shaft 130 or tubular member 120 rotates, the shaft 130 moves relative to the tubular member 120 in a first axial direction, and the outward protrusion 132 passes through a slot 125 between adjacent inward protrusions in the inward protrusions 124. The outward protrusions 132 can remove material (or tissue sample) from the extraction site. The shaft 130 can be rotated until the slot 134 between the outward protrusions 132 aligns with the slot 125 between the inward protrusions 124, allowing the first movement step to be repeated, or another movement can be performed.

[0069] -Make the shaft 130 or tubular member 120 about its longitudinal axis (X) S or X TThe second movement step involves rotation, wherein the rotation directions are the same in both the first and second movement steps. When the shaft 130 or tubular member 120 rotates in the second movement step, the shaft 130 moves relative to the tubular member 120 in a second axial direction, which is opposite to the first axial direction. Furthermore, the inward protrusion 124 passes through a slot 130 between adjacent outward protrusions in the outward protrusions 132. The shaft 130 can rotate until the slot 134 between the outward protrusions 132 aligns with the slot 125 between the inward protrusions, allowing the first or second movement step to be repeated. The slot 125 between the outward protrusions 132 and the slot 132 between the inward protrusions 124 allow the shaft 130 and tubular member 120 to move intermittently in opposite axial directions while maintaining a constant rotation direction. This makes the current example suitable for a simple robotic implementation with a motorized mechanism at the proximal portion of the device.

[0070] A motorized mechanism can be arranged at the proximal portion of the device to repeatedly move the tubular member 120 and / or the shaft 130 according to a first and a second movement step. In the second example shown in Figures 4 and 5, both the first and second movement steps can involve rotation of the shaft relative to the tubular member about their longitudinal axis, and the rotation in both steps can be in the same direction. Thus, a simple actuator or motor (not shown) can provide this rotational movement. The actuator can be located at the proximal end of, for example, a biopsy device and can be controlled, for example, by a button. The mechanism can further include one or more resilient elements that provide unidirectional or bidirectional bias in the axial direction between the tubular member 120 and the shaft 130. The resilient element can provide the advantage of guiding the second protrusion into the first slot after the first movement step to initiate the second movement step. Similarly, the resilient element can guide the first protrusion into the second slot after the second rotation step to initiate the first step. In this way, extraction can be motorized. It should be understood that biasing may also be convenient in a manually rotating device.

[0071] Any of the above examples of devices for material extraction can be operated manually or actuated. Manual operation provides a more affordable device and makes it easy to use once. Actuated operation provides faster material extraction. In the case of manual operation, the tubular member and shaft may include indicators at the proximal portions to indicate to the user their axial and / or radial positions relative to each other. This has the advantage of facilitating user manipulation of the device and specifically providing more precise axial and / or radial positions of the inward and outward projections. The radial position indicator at the proximal portion may be a printed or engraved mark, or a graduated / tapered circular mark. The axial position indicator may be a printed or engraved longitudinal indicator and may extend on the surface of the shaft to provide the user with information about the axial position of the shaft relative to the tubular member.

[0072] In the case of actuated operation, the tubular member and / or shaft can be operated by an actuator (e.g., a motor) located in the proximal portion of the device. The actuator can be computer-controlled, configured to extract material according to the type of material and the size and characteristics of the extraction site.

[0073] This disclosure can have broader applications, including embodiments for extracting or transporting materials such as soil, concrete, or other muddy substances in built environments. Such embodiments may include tubular components with a diameter of approximately 0.5 m.

[0074] The examples and embodiments described herein are illustrative and not limiting of the invention. Those skilled in the art will be able to devise alternative embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. For example, the shape of the inward protrusion is not limited to rectangular or spiral. Any type of shape and orientation that allows the shaft to rotate and prevents material from adhering to the outward protrusion remains within the scope of this disclosure. Reference numerals placed in parentheses in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims. Items described as separate entities in the claims or specification may be implemented as a single hardware item combining the features of the described items.

Claims

1. A device (10) for extracting material, the device comprising: - a tubular member (20) having an inner lumen (22) and a series of inward projections (24) extending into the inner lumen (22); and - a shaft (30) movably arranged within the inner lumen (22) of the tubular member (20) and having a series of outward projections (32) extending into the inner lumen (22), wherein either of the outward projections (32) and the inward projections (24) is a first projection having a helical shape with a helical pitch and a space (SP) between successive windings of the helical shape in an axial direction, and the other of the outward projections (32) and the inward projections (24) is a second projection, wherein the second projection is configured to at least partially extend into the space (SP) between the successive windings, and wherein a first slot (34) between adjacent ones of the first projections allows the second projection to pass through the first slot (34) of the first projection, and a second slot (25) between adjacent ones of the second projections allows the first projection to pass through the second slot (25) of the second projection. The second projections are arranged in at least one axially oriented row, wherein the second projections (24) in the row are attached at the same circumferential position on an inner surface (21) of the tubular member (20) or an outer surface of the shaft (30).

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, The first slots (34) between the first projections are arranged in at least one first axially oriented row, and the second slots (25) between the second projections are arranged in at least one second axially oriented row.

3. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein, The inward projections (24) and / or the outward projections (32) are blades.

4. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein, The second projections have a rectangular shape.

5. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein, Each winding of the helical shape of the first projections is formed by a fixed number of first projections.

6. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein, A proximal portion (29) of the tubular member (20) comprises an inner distal annular stop (26) and a proximal annular stop (27) to respectively prevent the protrusion and retraction of an outer ring (36) mounted on a circumferential surface of a proximal portion (39) of the shaft (30).

7. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein, 8. The device of claim 7, and further comprising a resilient element (37) between one of the annular stops of the tubular member (20) and the outer ring of the shaft (30). The second projections have a helical shape with a direction of rotation opposite to the direction of rotation of the helix of the first projections.

9. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein, 10. The device of claim 9, further comprising an actuation mechanism for rotating the tubular member (20) and the shaft (30) relative to each other about their longitudinal axes. ​ 11. The apparatus of any of the preceding claims, wherein, The second protrusion (24) has a projected axial length (L P ) substantially corresponding to a space (SP) in the axial direction between successive first protrusions (32).

12. The apparatus of any of the preceding claims, wherein, The outward protrusions (32) extend radially outward to substantially cover the radius of the inner lumen (22) of the tubular member (20) from the outer surface of the shaft (30) to the inner surface (21) of the tubular member (20), or wherein the inward protrusions (24) extend radially inward to substantially cover the radius of the inner lumen (22) of the tubular member (20) from the inner surface (21) of the tubular member (20) to the outer surface of the shaft (30).

13. The apparatus of any of the preceding claims, wherein, A proximal portion of the tubular member (20) has a lateral aperture (40), wherein the inward protrusions (24) are provided at least to the axial position of the aperture (40) from the distal end of the tubular member (20).

14. A method for material transport, the method comprising: providing a tubular member (20) having a series of inward protrusions (24) extending into an inner lumen (3) of the tubular member (20) and a shaft (30) located in the inner lumen (3) of the tubular member (20), the shaft (30) having a series of outward protrusions (32) extending into the inner lumen (22), wherein either of the outward protrusions (32) and the inward protrusions (24) is a first protrusion having a helical shape with a pitch and a space (SP) in axial direction between successive windings of the helical shape, and the other of the outward protrusions (32) and the inward protrusions (24) is a second protrusion, wherein the second protrusion at least partially extends into the space (SP) between the successive windings; and a first moving step: moving the shaft (30) relative to the tubular member (20) such that the first protrusions pass through second slots (25) between adjacent ones of the second protrusions, a second moving step: moving the shaft (30) relative to the tubular member (20) such that the second protrusions pass through first slots (34) between adjacent ones of the first protrusions.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein, The first moving step comprises rotating the shaft (30) until the first slots (34) are aligned with the second slots (25) and then performing the second moving step, or wherein The second moving step comprises moving the shaft (30) until the first slots (34) are aligned with the second slots (25) and then performing the first step.

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