EP0895752A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for sampling heart tissue and/or myocardial revascularization by mechanical cutting
Assignee: Artivion Inc
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Filing: 1998-08-06
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2018-08-06
Abstract
Abstract A semi-automatic cardiac tissue removal device for obtaining biopsy samples and/or creating revascularization pathways in the myocardium of the heart, mechanically cuts the pathways using a hand piece with a cutting tip assembly having a hollow needle with an angled, sharpened edge rotatable mounted around a separately advanceable stylet. The stylet defines a piercer to spread the myocardium prior to insertion of the needle and to allow creation of a pathway only within the myocardium. The stylet further defines a plug at the cutting edge of the needle to finish the cutting cleanly and to plug the hollow needle thereby forming a closed chamber for excised tissue. A single button on the left or right handed hand piece actuates movement of the stylet into the myocardium, movement of the needle into the path produced by the piercer, and rotation of the needle to cut tissue.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert F. Bencini
- 👤 Richard L. Mueller
- 👤 Richard D. Phipps
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 05:27
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B10/00; A61B10/02; A61B10/0233; A61B10/0266; A61B10/0275; A61B17/00; A61B17/32; A61B17/320016; A61B10/04; A61B17/32002; A61B17/3205; A61B17/32053; A61B2010/0208; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00243; A61B2017/00247; A61B2017/00292; A61B2017/00681; A61B2017/00734; A61B17/30; A61B2017/306; A61B18/00; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00345; A61B2018/00351; A61B2018/00392
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
69 words
A tissue removal device comprising: a housing defining a distal tip for stabilizing the device
on a tissue surface; a cutting assembly defining an axis and advanceable
through the distal tip, the cutting assembly having a tissue
storage mechanism for holding tissue both during and
following mechanical cutting thereof by the cutting
assembly; and an advancement mechanism for advancing the cutting
assembly through the distal tip into the tissue.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of Claim 1 wherein the cutting assembly
comprises a hollow tube having an internal bore and a stylet
mounted within the internal bore.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The device of Claim 2 wherein the advancement mechanism
is mounted within the housing for attachment of the cutting
assembly thereto, the advancement mechanism having a
rotation mechanism for rotating at least the hollow tube and
a translation mechanism for moving the cutting assembly
axially.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
79 words
The device of Claim 2 wherein the stylet defines a
distal body having (1) a piercing tip for forming an opening
in tissue for advancement of the hollow tube therein, (2) a
surface contiguous to the bore of the hollow tube and
cooperating therewith to cut tissue, (3) a tapered surface
for alignment of the cutting assembly, and (4) a size
selected to fit closely within the bore thereby forming a
tissue chamber in cooperation with the hollow tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of Claim 3 further comprising a power source
for operating at least the rotation mechanism.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
77 words
The device of Claim 5 further comprising an output
shaft attached to the power source; gear mechanisms attached
to the output shaft and the cutting assembly, the gear
mechanisms causing rotation of the hollow tube axially into
the tissue; a sequencer traveling within the housing for
activating the power source and for moving the cutting
assembly axially into the tissue; and stops for selectively
setting a maximum depth of advancement of the cutting
assembly into the tissue.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of Claim 1 further comprising means for
heating the cutting assembly.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The device of Claim 2 wherein the hollow tube further
defines a beveled cutting edge and the stylet defines a
distal end sized to fit slidingly and closely within the
hollow tube and defining a cooperating cutting surface
contiguous to the beveled cutting edge of the hollow tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The device of Claim 8 wherein the cutting assembly
defines a generally closed chamber when the hollow tube is
advanced over and around the stylet distal end, the chamber
bounded by the bore of the hollow tube and a posterior
section of the stylet distal end.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The device of Claim 3 wherein the housing defines a
finger grip surface, the housing further having a depth stop
setting mechanism and at least one actuation button operable
by digits of a left or a right hand.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of Claim 2 wherein the housing further
comprises a rotatable nose piece and a shaft extending from
the nose piece, the shaft defining a bend.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device of Claim 2 wherein the housing further
comprises a shaft extending axially from the nose piece to
an articulating joint for changing an angle of orientation
of the distal tip.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
The device of Claim 11 wherein the distal tip is
attached to a distal end of the bend of the shaft and
comprises a tissue contacting surface configured to
distribute contact forces and secure the device to the
tissue.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of Claim 13 comprising more than one
interchangeable, detachable distal tip.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
The device of Claim 2 further comprising a flexible
shaft extending from the housing to the distal tip, the
flexible shaft sized to slidingly fit within a conventional
guide catheter for introduction through the vasculature into
a heart chamber, the shaft defining a lumen for introduction
there through of the cutting assembly.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device of Claim 2 further comprising a conduit
within the housing and operatively connected to an interior
of the hollow tube, the conduit for applying suction or
delivering fluids or drugs there through.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of Claim 3 wherein the rotation mechanism
rotates the hollow tube and the stylet.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of Claim 2 wherein the distal tip is sized
to fit through a conventional port used in a minimally
invasive surgical procedure.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
The device of Claim 1 wherein the advancement mechanism
further comprises a depth stop assembly for controlling
advancement depth of the cutting assembly into tissue, the
depth stop assembly having a finger actuated depth selection
setting.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of Claim 6 wherein the advancement mechanism
is a semi-automatic interlock mechanism which provides
successive movement of the cutting assembly in proper
sequence.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device of Claim 20 wherein linear actuation of a
finger actuator causes axial movement of the sequencer which
causes successive linear movement of the cutting assembly
and actuation of the power source.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of Claim 21 wherein a depth stop assembly
controls an amount of axial movement of the sequencer and
the cutting assembly.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
97 words
A mechanical tool for removing cardiac tissue and
forming revascularization pathways in a heart comprising: a distal piercing tip for piercing cardiac tissue along
an axis; a cutting assembly advanceable along the axis of the
distal piercing tip; a storage mechanism for holding cardiac tissue both
during and following mechanical cutting by the cutting
assembly; and an advancement mechanism for advancing the cutting
assembly through the cardiac tissue towards the distal
piercing tip, the cutting assembly allowing removal of
cardiac tissue to form a revascularization pathway, and the
storage mechanism allowing collection of the removed cardiac
tissue.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
56 words
The tool of Claim 23 further comprising a housing
having a flexible tube extending therefrom and a flexible
guiding catheter sized for extension through the vasculature
into a chamber of the heart, the guiding catheter defining a
lumen for extension there through of the flexible tube from
the housing, the flexible tube bearing the cutting assembly.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
73 words
The tool of Claim 23 further comprising a housing
having a shaft with an articulating joint and a cardiac
wall contact surface for stabilizing the tool on a beating
heart, the cardiac wall contact surface defining an aperture
there through, the cardiac wall contact surface is connected
to the articulating joint, and the joint, contact surface
and shaft are sized to fit through a conventional port used
in a minimally invasive surgical procedure.
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