US5779646A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Deflectable biopsy catheter
Assignee: EP Technologies Inc
•
Filing: 1997-08-27
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Granted: 1998-07-14
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Expires: 2017-08-27
Abstract
Abstract A deflectable biopsy catheter for obtaining a tissue sample from a body cavity of a patient comprising: an axially elongated catheter shaft having proximal and distal portions respectively terminating at proximal and distal ends, the catheter shaft being sized and constructed to be advanced into a body cavity of a patient; a deflection wire coupled to the distal portion of the catheter shaft and extending within the catheter to the proximal end thereof; and a pair of biopsy jaws coupled to the distal end of the catheter shaft and having first and second opposed free cutting surfaces exposable for contact with a selected area of tissue within the patient's body cavity and movable with respect to each other to cut a tissue sample from the selected area of tissue. Schemes for obtaining samples from body cavities (e.g., the gastrointestinal tract, the heart, the intestines, the uterus, the muscles, the bile duct, and the esophagus) are disclosed. Schemes for treating tissue by ablation or by electro-coagulation are also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Josef V. Koblish
- 👤 Thomas T. Coen
- 👤 George J. Klein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:19
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B10/00; A61B10/02; A61B10/06; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1442; A61B18/1445; A61B18/1492; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00039; A61B2017/00044; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00243; A61B2017/00292; A61B2017/003; A61B17/28; A61B17/29; A61B2017/2901; A61B2017/2905; A61B2017/2946; A61B2018/00571; A61B2018/00577; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/00773; A61B2018/00839; A61B18/1206; A61B2018/1246; A61B2018/126; A61B18/16; A61B2018/162; A61F; A61F2210/00; A61F2210/0014; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/0105; A61M25/0133; A61M25/0147
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A deflectable biopsy catheter for obtaining a tissue sample from a body cavity of a patient, the catheter comprising: an elongate catheter shaft having a body portion defining a proximal end and a distal end, a flexible tip portion associated with the distal end of the body portion, and a lumen extending from the body portion to the tip portion, the catheter shaft being sized and constructed to be advanced into a body cavity of a patient; a deflection wire extending through the lumen and attached to the flexible tip portion of the catheter shaft; and a pair of biopsy jaws coupled to the flexible tip portion of the catheter shaft and having first and second opposed free cutting surfaces exposable for contact with a selected area of tissue within the patient's body cavity and movable with respect to each other to cut a tissue sample from the selected area of tissue.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
A deflectable biopsy catheter for obtaining a tissue sample from a body cavity of a patient, the catheter comprising: an elongate catheter shaft having a body portion defining a proximal end and a distal end, a flexible tip portion associated with the distal end of the body portion, and a lumen extending from the body portion to the tip portion, the catheter shaft being sized and constructed to be advanced into a body cavity of a patient; a deflection wire extending through the lumen and attached to the flexible tip portion of the catheter shaft; and a pair of biopsy jaws coupled to the flexible tip portion of the catheter shaft and having first and second opposed free cutting surfaces exposable for contact with a selected area of tissue within the patient's body cavity and movable with respect to each other to cut a tissue sample from the selected area of tissue.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A biopsy catheter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the deflection wire is attached to a surface of the lumen located within the flexible tip portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A biopsy catheter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body portion of the catheter shaft defines a first stiffness, the flexible tip portion of the catheter shaft defines a second stiffness, and the first stiffness is greater than the second stiffness.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A biopsy catheter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the biopsy jaws comprise hollow substantially cup-shaped members.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A biopsy catheter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the biopsy jaws are pivotal hinged together about a pivot bearing coupled the flexible tip portion of the catheter shaft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A biopsy catheter as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: an elongate actuation wire coupled to the biopsy jaws and extending proximally therefrom to the proximal end of the body portion of the catheter shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A biopsy catheter as claimed in claim 6, wherein the lumen defines a first lumen, the catheter shaft defines a second lumen that is non-coaxial with the first lumen, and the actuation wire is located within the second lumen.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
88 words
A biopsy catheter as claimed in claim 6, further comprising: a handle associated with the proximal end of the catheter shaft; a piston slidably received within the handle and connected to the deflection wire such that movement of the piston relative to the handle causes deflection of the flexible tip portion of the catheter shaft; and a manually operable element movable relative to the piston and connected to the actuation wire such that movement of the manually operable element causes the jaws to move relative to one another.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A biopsy catheter as claimed in claim 8, wherein the piston has a slot formed therein and the manually operable element slides within the slot.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A biopsy catheter as claimed in claim 9, wherein the manually operable element comprises a knob mounted on a slide bar.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A biopsy catheter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opposed jaws are formed from electrically conducting material and together form a generally dome-shaped outer electrically conducting surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
A biopsy catheter as claimed in claim 11, wherein the actuation wire comprises conductive material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
A biopsy catheter as claimed in claim 11, wherein the biopsy jaws are pivotably hinged together about a pivot bearing coupled to the flexible tip portion of the catheter shaft and the pivot bearing is formed from electrically insulating material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A biopsy catheter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the respective cutting surfaces of the biopsy jaws comprise a plurality of serrated teeth for cutting body tissue.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
A biopsy catheter as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a needle coupled to the flexible tip portion of the catheter shaft and adapted to penetrate body tissue to a preselected depth.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
A biopsy catheter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the biopsy jaws respectively include hollow substantially cup-shaped distal sections and proximally located ablation electrode sections, the ablation electrode sections being electrically insulated from the substantially cup-shaped distal sections.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
A biopsy catheter as claimed in claim 16, wherein the ablation electrode sections are substantially flat.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
203 words
A biopsy system for obtaining a tissue sample from a body cavity of a patient comprising: a tubular member defining a longitudinally extending channel having a distal end and a proximal end; and a deflectable biopsy catheter adapted to pass through the distal end of the longitudinally extending channel of the tubular member and bend relative to the distal end of the longitudinally extending channel, the deflectable biopsy catheter including an elongate catheter shaft having a body portion defining a proximal end and a distal end, a flexible tip portion associated with the distal end of the body portion, and a lumen extending from the body portion to the tip portion, the catheter shaft being sized and constructed to be advanced into a body cavity of a patient, a deflection wire extending through the lumen and attached to the flexible tip portion of the catheter shaft, and a pair of biopsy jaws coupled to the flexible tip portion of the catheter shaft and having first and second opposed free cutting surfaces exposable for contact with a selected area of tissue within the patient's body cavity and movable with respect to each other to cut a tissue sample from the selected area of tissue.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
203 words
A biopsy system for obtaining a tissue sample from a body cavity of a patient comprising: a tubular member defining a longitudinally extending channel having a distal end and a proximal end; and a deflectable biopsy catheter adapted to pass through the distal end of the longitudinally extending channel of the tubular member and bend relative to the distal end of the longitudinally extending channel, the deflectable biopsy catheter including an elongate catheter shaft having a body portion defining a proximal end and a distal end, a flexible tip portion associated with the distal end of the body portion, and a lumen extending from the body portion to the tip portion, the catheter shaft being sized and constructed to be advanced into a body cavity of a patient, a deflection wire extending through the lumen and attached to the flexible tip portion of the catheter shaft, and a pair of biopsy jaws coupled to the flexible tip portion of the catheter shaft and having first and second opposed free cutting surfaces exposable for contact with a selected area of tissue within the patient's body cavity and movable with respect to each other to cut a tissue sample from the selected area of tissue.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
A biopsy sysytem as claimed in claim 18, wherein the tubular member comprises an endoscope.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
A biopsy sysytem as claimed in claim 18, wherein the tubular member comprises a sheath.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
A biopsy system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the deflection wire is attached to a surface of the lumen located within the fexible tip portion.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
42 words
A biopsy system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the body portion of the catheter shaft defines a first stiffness, the flexible tip portion of the catheter shaft defines a second stiffness, and the first stiffness is greater than the second stiffness.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
A biopsy system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the biopsy jaws comprise hollow substantially cup-shaped members.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
A biopsy system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the biopsy jaws are pivotal hinged together about a pivot bearing coupled to the flexible tip portion of the catheter shaft.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
A biopsy system as claimed in claim 18, further comprising: an elongate actuation wire coupled to the biopsy jaws and extending proximally therefrom to the proximal end of the body portion of the catheter shaft.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
39 words
A biopsy system as claimed in claim 25, wherein the lumen defines a first lumen, the catheter shaft defines a second lumen that is non-coaxial with the first lumen, and the actuation wire is located within the second lumen.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
88 words
A biopsy system as claimed in claim 25, further comprising: a handle associated with the proximal end of the catheter shaft; a piston slidably received within the handle and connected to the deflection wire such that movement of the piston relative to the handle causes deflection of the flexible tip portion of the catheter shaft; and a manually operable element movable relative to the piston and connected to the actuation wire such that movement of the manually operable element causes the jaws to move relative to one another.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
A biopsy system as claimed in claim 27, wherein the piston has a slot formed therein and the manually operable element slides within the slot.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
A biopsy system as claimed in claim 28, wherein the manually operable element comprises a knob mounted on a slide bar.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
28 words
A biopsy system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the opposed jaws are formed from electrically conducting material and together form a generally dome-shaped outer electrically conducting surface.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
15 words
A biopsy system as claimed in claim 30, wherein the actuation wire comprises conductive material.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
40 words
A biopsy system as claimed in claim 30, wherein the biopsy jaws are pivotably hinged together about a pivot bearing coupled to the flexible tip portion of the catheter shaft and the pivot bearing is formed from electrically insulating material.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
27 words
A biopsy system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the respective cutting surfaces of the biopsy jaws comprise a plurality of serrated teeth for cutting body tissue.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
31 words
A biopsy system as claimed in claim 18, further comprising: a needle coupled to the flexible portion of the catheter shaft and adapted to penetrate body tissue to a preselected depth.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
38 words
A biopsy system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the biopsy jaws respectively include hollow substantially cup-shaped distal sections and proximally located ablation electrode sections, the ablation electrode sections being electrically insulated from the substantially cup-shaped distal sections.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
16 words
A biopsy system as claimed in claim 35, wherein the ablation electrode sections are substantially flat.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
133 words
A method of obtaining a tissue sample from a body cavity of a patient, comprising the steps of: advancing a biopsy system, as defined in claim 18, within the body cavity of the patient; advancing at least the flexible tip portion of the catheter shaft beyond the distal end of the longitudinally extending channel in the tubular member; bending the flexible tip portion of the catheter shaft relative to the distal end of the longitudinally extending channel to steer the flexible tip portion to a preselected portion of body tissue within the body cavity by selectively applying tension to the deflection wire; opening the opposed jaws in the vicinity of the selected portion of body tissue; and closing the jaws to cut a sample of tissue from the selected portion of body tissue.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as claimed in claim 37, wherein the opposed biopsy jaws together form an exposed electrically conductive surface, the method further comprising the step of: electro-coagulating the selected area of tissue by supplying to the electrically conductive surface formed by the biopsy jaws energy sufficient to achieve tissue electro-coagulation.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as claimed in claim 38 further comprising the step of: deflecting the flexible tip portion of the catheter to increase pressure applied by the exposed conductive surface of the biopsy jaws against the selected portion of tissue during electro-coagulation.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
190 words
A method of obtaining a tissue sample from the heart of a patient, comprising the steps of: advancing a biopsy system, as defined in claim 18, through the vasculature of a patient, wherein the opposed biopsy jaws together form a first exposed electrically conductive electrode surface and the catheter shaft includes second electrically conductive electrode surface; steering the system through the vasculature and into the heart of the patient; advancing at least the flexible tip portion of the catheter shaft beyond the distal end of the longitudinally extending channel in the tubular member; bending the flexible tip portion of the catheter shaft relative to the distal end of the longitudinally extending channel to steer the flexible tip portion to preselected portions of tissue within the heart by selectively applying tension to the deflection wire; selecting the area of heart tissue to be diagnosed based on measurements of electrical potentials within the patient's heart between the first and second electrode surfaces; opening the opposed jaws in the vicinity a selected portion of heart tissue; and closing the jaws to cut a sample of tissue from the selected portion of heart tissue.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method as claimed in claim 40, further comprising the steps of: selecting an area of heart tissue to be ablated based on measurements of electrical potentials within the heart between the first and second electrode surfaces, and ablating the area of heart tissue selected to be ablated by supplying to the electrically conductive surface formed by the biopsy jaws energy sufficient to achieve tissue ablation.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-07-13 | 2002-01-12 | 2002-07-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-07-13 | 2006-01-12 | 2006-07-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-07-13 | 2010-01-12 | 2010-07-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |