Device and method of isolating deleterious body tissue located within healthy body tissue

Abstract

The invention provides for treating deleterious body tissue located within healthy body tissue by isolating the deleterious tissue from blood, air, and fluid communication. The device includes two structures, each having a corresponding circumferential surface arranged to circumscribe the deleterious body tissue. When the first and second circumferential surfaces are brought together in an aligned relationship with the deleterious body tissue between the structures, the two circumferential surfaces co-act to isolate the deleterious body tissue from communication with the healthy body tissue. The deleterious tissue is resected according to the invention by allowing it to become ischemic and necrotic, or by excision.

1 . A device for isolating deleterious body tissue located within healthy body tissue from the healthy body tissue by limiting blood and fluid communication with the deleterious body tissue, the device comprising: 
 a first structure, including a first circumferential surface arranged to circumscribe the deleterious body tissue; and    a second structure, including a second circumferential surface corresponding to the first circumferential surface, and when the first and second circumferential surfaces are brought together in an aligned relationship with the deleterious body tissue between the first and second structures, the first and second circumferential surfaces co-act to isolate the deleterious body tissue from communication with the healthy body tissue.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a bias element coupled to the first structure and the second structure that brings the circumferential surfaces of the first and second structures together in an aligned relationship.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the bias element brings the first and second circumferential surfaces together with sufficient force that the deleterious body tissue becomes ischemic and necrotic.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second structures each further comprise a first and second aperture respectively so that when the circumferential surfaces are brought together in an aligned relationship, the first aperture and second aperture expose the deleterious body tissue for excision.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the circumferential surface of at least one of the first and second structures includes a cutting edge that resects deleterious body tissue when the first and second circumferential surfaces are brought together in an aligned relationship.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 5 , further comprising a bias element coupled to the first structure and the second structure that brings the circumferential surfaces of the first and second structures together in an aligned relationship with sufficient force such that the deleterious body tissue enclosed therein is resected.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein one of the first and second structures includes a cutting surface arranged to engage at least a portion of the cutting edge on the other one of the first and second structures when the first and second circumferential surfaces are brought together in an aligned relationship and to resect the deleterious body tissue.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein, when the first and second circumferential surfaces are together in an aligned relationship, the first structure and the second structure define a chamber arranged to contain the deleterious body tissue.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first structure further includes a first interlocking surface, and the second structure further includes a second interlocking surface, the interlocking surfaces being arranged to interlock with the deleterious body tissue between such that, upon bringing the first and second circumferential surfaces together to a point of interlocking, the circumferential surfaces of the first and second structures will compress tissue surrounding a perimeter of the deleterious body tissue enclosed therein with sufficient force such that the deleterious body tissue will be isolated from communication with the healthy body tissue, and become ischemic and necrotic.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the interlocking surfaces are urged together by an external force.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein, when the interlocking surfaces are interlocked, the first structure and the second structure define a chamber arranged to contain at least the pulmonary nodule.  
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 9 , further including a bias element coupled to the first structure and the second structure that brings the first structure and second structure together in the aligned relationship.  
   
   
       13 . A device for isolating deleterious body tissue located within healthy body tissue from the healthy body tissue by limiting blood and fluid communication with the deleterious body tissue, the device comprising: 
 a first structure, including a first partial circumferential surface; and    a second structure, including a second partial circumferential surface corresponding to the first circumferential surface, the first and second partial circumferential surfaces being arranged to encircle the deleterious body tissue when the first structure and the second structure are brought toward each other in a shearing manner, the first and second circumferential surfaces co-act to isolate the deleterious body tissue from the health body tissue.    
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 13 , further comprising a bias element coupled to the first structure and the second structure that brings the circumferential surfaces of the first and second structures toward each other with sufficient force such that deleterious body tissue enclosed therein becomes ischemic and necrotic.  
   
   
       15 . A method of isolating deleterious body tissue located within healthy body tissue from the healthy body tissue by limiting blood and fluid communication with the deleterious body tissue, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a device comprising: 
 a first structure, including a first circumferential surface arranged to circumscribe the deleterious body tissue; and  
 a second structure, including a second circumferential surface corresponding to the first circumferential surface;  
   placing the deleterious body tissue to be isolated between the first circumferential surface and the second circumferential surface of the device; and    bringing the first and second circumferential surfaces of the device together in an aligned relationship with the deleterious body tissue between the first and second structures, the first and second circumferential surfaces co-act to isolate the deleterious body tissue from communication with the healthy body tissue.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , further including the step of bringing the first circumferential surface and the second circumferential surface together against the healthy body tissue immediately surrounding the deleterious body tissue with sufficient force that the deleterious body tissue becomes ischemic and necrotic.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the device further comprises a bias element coupled to the first structure and the second structure that brings the circumferential surfaces of the first and second structures together.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second structures of the device further respectively comprise a first and second aperture arranged so that when the circumferential surfaces are brought together in the aligned relationship, the first aperture and second aperture expose the deleterious body tissue for resection, and wherein the method includes the further step of resecting the deleterious body tissue.  
   
   
       19 . A device for isolating deleterious body tissue located within healthy body tissue from the healthy body tissue by limiting blood and fluid communication with the deleterious body tissue, the device comprising: 
 confining means having at least two circumferential surfaces, the circumferential surfaces being arranged in combination to circumscribe the deleterious body tissue and to be brought together in an aligned, co-acting relationship to isolate the deleterious body tissue; and    means arranged for maintaining the circumferential surfaces together with sufficient force that deleterious body tissue confined therein will be isolated from communication with healthy body tissue.