Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
250 words
A surgical biopsy instrument for extracting at least one tissue sample from a body, said surgical biopsy instrument comprising: a vacuum source; an elongated hollow piercing needle for penetrating said body, said needle having a proximal end and a distal piercing tip opposite said proximal end, said needle also including a needle passageway extending between said proximal end and said tip, said needle having at least one tissue receiving port adjacent said piercing tip, said at least one tissue receiving port communicating with said needle passageway for the reception of a tissue sample; a cutter moveably disposed relative to said needle, said cutter having a distal cutting blade at a distal end of said cutter, said cutting blade being moveable across said at least one tissue receiving port of said needle for cutting said tissue sample; and a tissue extractor connected to said vacuum source, said tissue extractor moveably disposed relative to said needle, said tissue extractor having a tissue receptacle therein and an extractor channel therethrough, said tissue receptacle communicating with said extractor channel, said tissue receptacle being defined by a distal wall, a floor, and a proximal wall within said tissue extractor, said tissue receptacle being alignable with said at least one tissue receiving port of said piercing needle for reception of said tissue sample therein upon an application of said vacuum source, said tissue extractor being removable positioned within said needle for extracting said tissue sample from said body by removing said tissue extractor from said needle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
250 words
A surgical biopsy instrument for extracting at least one tissue sample from a body, said surgical biopsy instrument comprising: a vacuum source; an elongated hollow piercing needle for penetrating said body, said needle having a proximal end and a distal piercing tip opposite said proximal end, said needle also including a needle passageway extending between said proximal end and said tip, said needle having at least one tissue receiving port adjacent said piercing tip, said at least one tissue receiving port communicating with said needle passageway for the reception of a tissue sample; a cutter moveably disposed relative to said needle, said cutter having a distal cutting blade at a distal end of said cutter, said cutting blade being moveable across said at least one tissue receiving port of said needle for cutting said tissue sample; and a tissue extractor connected to said vacuum source, said tissue extractor moveably disposed relative to said needle, said tissue extractor having a tissue receptacle therein and an extractor channel therethrough, said tissue receptacle communicating with said extractor channel, said tissue receptacle being defined by a distal wall, a floor, and a proximal wall within said tissue extractor, said tissue receptacle being alignable with said at least one tissue receiving port of said piercing needle for reception of said tissue sample therein upon an application of said vacuum source, said tissue extractor being removable positioned within said needle for extracting said tissue sample from said body by removing said tissue extractor from said needle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The surgical biopsy instrument of claim 1, including a detent member for selectively aligning said tissue receptacle of said tissue extractor with said at least one tissue receiving port of said needle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The surgical biopsy instrument of claim 2, wherein said tissue receiving port has an opening in said needle ranging from approximately 15° to approximately 330°.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The surgical biopsy instrument of claim 3, wherein said tissue extractor has at least one vacuum opening communicating with said extractor channel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The surgical biopsy instrument of claim 4, including a probe driver for driving said needle and said cutter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The surgical biopsy instrument of claim 5, wherein said piercing needle has an alignment mount for restricting rotation of said piercing needle when said piercing needle is mounted to said probe driver.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The surgical biopsy instrument of claim 6, further comprising a cutter driving mechanism mounted to said probe driver for rotation of said cutter when said cutter is mounted in said probe driver.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The surgical biopsy instrument of claim 7, including a control unit for controlling the application of vacuum to said tissue extractor and the rotation of said cutter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The surgical biopsy instrument of claim 1, wherein said floor has at least one opening communicating with said extractor channel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The surgical biopsy instrument of claim 9, wherein said proximal wall has at least one opening therein and communicating with said extractor channel.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of using a surgical biopsy instrument for extracting at least one tissue sample from a body, said method comprising the steps of: a) inserting a hollow piercing needle into said body, said piercing needle having a plurality of tissue receiving ports; b) aligning a tissue extractor with a first tissue receiving port of said piercing needle; c) applying a vacuum to said tissue extractor to draw a first tissue sample into said first tissue receiving port and into said tissue extractor; d) cutting said first tissue sample; e) removing said tissue extractor with said first tissue sample from said needle and said body; f) reinserting said tissue extractor in said needle in said body for the extraction of a second tissue sample; and g) aligning said tissue extractor with a second tissue receiving port and applying vacuum to said tissue extractor to draw said second tissue sample into said second tissue receiving port and into said tissue extractor.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of using a surgical biopsy instrument for extracting at least one tissue sample from a body, said method comprising the steps of: a) inserting a hollow piercing needle into said body, said piercing needle having a plurality of tissue receiving ports; b) aligning a tissue extractor with a first tissue receiving port of said piercing needle; c) applying a vacuum to said tissue extractor to draw a first tissue sample into said first tissue receiving port and into said tissue extractor; d) cutting said first tissue sample; e) removing said tissue extractor with said first tissue sample from said needle and said body; f) reinserting said tissue extractor in said needle in said body for the extraction of a second tissue sample; and g) aligning said tissue extractor with a second tissue receiving port and applying vacuum to said tissue extractor to draw said second tissue sample into said second tissue receiving port and into said tissue extractor.