Methods and devices for removing tissue from a patient and placing a marker in the patient

Abstract

The device is used to remove tissue from a patient and to also place a marker in the patient. The device has an opening through which tissue enters the device. The tissue which enters the opening is cut and the tissue is removed. The device may be used a number of times to remove a number of tissue masses. The device also includes a marker which the user may release in the patient at the desired time.

1 . A method of removing material from a patient and placing a marker within the patient, comprising the step of: 
 providing a tissue removing device including a tubular element having an opening through which tissue is removed, the tissue removing device also having a solid marker;    introducing the tissue removing device into a patient;    placing tissue in the device through the opening;    cutting the tissue which has entered the device through the opening to separate the a tissue mass from the surrounding tissue;    moving the solid marker out of the opening; and    removing the tissue removing device and the tissue mass from the patient leaving the solid marker inside the patient.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the placing step is carried out by advancing the tubular element into tissue so that tissue enters the opening; and    the providing step is carried out with the opening being at a distal end of the tubular element.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the moving step is carried out with the marker being mounted to an introducer; and    the introducing step is carried out with the introducer covering the opening.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein: 
 the placing and cutting steps are carried out a number of times to create a plurality of tissue masses; and    the moving step is carried out at a time selected by the user.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the providing step is carried out with the tissue removing device having an introducer, the introducer being positioned in a lumen of the tubular element; and    the introducing step is carried out with the introducer positioned in the lumen, the introducer covering the opening and extending beyond a distal end of the tubular element during the introducing step.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein: 
 the moving step is carried out with the marker being mounted to the introducer, the introducer moving the marker out of the opening.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein: 
 the moving step is carried out the marker being mounted within a recess in the introducer.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein; 
 the moving step is carried out with the introducer being naturally biased to move the marker out of the opening.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the moving step is carried out with the marker being moved out of the opening by fluid pressure.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the providing step is carried out with the tubular element having a lumen and a marker storage area which holds the marker; and    the moving step is carried out by moving the marker from the marker storage area and into the lumen and moving the marker through the lumen and out of the opening.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein: 
 the introducing step is carried out with an introducer positioned in the lumen, the introducer covering the opening and extending beyond a distal end of the tubular element; and    the moving step is carried out with the introducer transporting the marker through the lumen and out the opening.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the providing step is carried out with the marker being stored in a storage area; and    the moving step is carried out by moving the marker out the storage area, into the lumen and then out the opening.    
     
     
         13 - 60 . (canceled)  
     
     
         61 . A method of removing tissue from a patient and marking tissue which remains within the body, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a tissue removing device having an opening and a tissue marking element, the tissue marking element including a container having an outlet, the container containing a flowable substance;    introducing the tissue removing device into a patient so that the opening is adjacent to a tissue area of interest in a patient;    passing a tissue mass through the opening and into the tissue removing device;    severing the tissue mass from surrounding tissue so that the tissue mass is at least partially contained in the tissue removing device; and    forcing the flowable substance through the outlet of the tissue marking element, the flowable substance being deposited in tissue thereby marking the tissue.    
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein: 
 the providing step is carried out with the tissue removing device including a tubular element, the tubular element having a lumen with the opening being at a distal end of the lumen; and    the passing step is carried out by advancing the tubular element in a distal direction so that the tissue mass enters the lumen through the opening.    
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein: 
 the providing step is carried out with the device having a plurality of outlets positioned on an external surface of the tubular element.    
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein: 
 the providing step is carried out with the tissue marking element having a plurality of outlets; and    the forcing step is carried out with the flowable substance being delivered through the plurality of outlets.    
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein: 
 the forcing step is carried out with the flowable substance being delivered through the plurality of outlets to form a pattern.    
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein: 
 the passing and severing steps are carried out a plurality of times to collect a plurality of tissue masses before the injecting step, the plurality of tissue masses being stored in the tissue removing device, the passing and severing steps being carried out without removing a distal end of the device from the tissue.    
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein: 
 the providing step is carried out with the tissue removing device including a tubular element having a lumen, the opening being at a distal end of the tubular element, the device also having a cutting element movable within the lumen; and    the severing step being carried out with the cutting element moving within the lumen to sever the tissue mass.    
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 61 , further comprising the step of: 
 transporting the tissue mass which has been separated from surrounding tissue during the severing step proximally through the lumen.    
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 61 , further comprising the step of: 
 transporting the tissue mass which has been separated from surrounding tissue during the severing step proximally through the lumen using a cutting element;    the severing step being carried out by severing the tissue with the cutting element.    
     
     
         70 - 75 . (canceled)