Targeted biopsy delivery system

Abstract

This invention relates generally to the targeting and biopsy of tissue for medical purposes, and more particularly to a targeted biopsy system which allows planning of tissue to be sampled, targeting of specific areas of tissue in reference to the plan, capturing the tissue sample and recording the source location of the tissue sample, particularly for use in collecting tissue samples from the prostate gland. A further purpose of this invention is to provide a targeted treatment system which allows planning of tissue to be treated, targeting of specific areas of tissue in reference to the plan, and delivering the treatment to the targeted tissue.

1 . A biopsy needle kit comprising:
 a flexible stylet containing an extended specimen notch;   a flexible cannula.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  whereby said stylet and said cannula are manufactured with a pre-formed curve from flexible material such as nitinol® or plastic or other suitably flexible material. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  whereby said stylet and said cannula are manufactured without a pre-formed curve. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  whereby said stylet is assembled from two or more sections each made of materials with different properties to improve the flexibility. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  whereby said cannula is assembled from two or more sections each made of materials with different properties to improve the flexibility. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  whereby the length of said specimen notch is increased to improve the flexibility of the stylet. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  whereby the cross section of said stylet is reduced for a portion of the length of the stylet to improve the flexibility of the stylet. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1  whereby the cross section of said stylet alternates between areas where the cross section is reduced and areas where the cross section is not reduced to improve the flexibility of the stylet. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1  whereby the cannula is spiral cut to improve flexibility. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1  whereby the body of the cannula is spiral cut but the tip of the cannula body is not. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1  whereby the body of the cannula alternates between spiral cut portions and non-spiral cut portions. 
     
     
         12 . A targeted medical deliver mechanism comprising:
 a flexible delivery means;   a flexible cannula;   a redirecting cannula guide;   Whereby the cannula can be inserted into specific area of tissue and said delivery means can be inserted through the cannula to said specific area of tissue.   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12  whereby said delivery means deposits a material in said specific area of tissue. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 12  whereby said delivery means deposits and removes a material in said specific area of tissue. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 12  whereby said delivery means removes a previously-deposited material in said specific area of tissue. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 13  whereby said material may be a solid, liquid or gas. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 14  whereby said material may be a solid, liquid or gas. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 15  whereby said material may be a solid, liquid or gas. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 15  whereby said material may be organic. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 15  whereby said material may be a living organism. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 12  whereby said delivery means is used to apply energy to said specific area of tissue. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21  whereby said energy may be heat, cold, visible or non-visible radiation. 
     
     
         23 . A biopsy planning and recording means comprising:
 means of receiving and displaying images generated by the imaging means;   means of projecting needle image path information onto said displayed images;   means of recording projected needle path locations   means of recording actual needle path locations   
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 23  whereby said biopsy and planning means can project a line which correlates with a needle path. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 23  whereby said biopsy and planning means can project a dot which correlates to the intersection of the needle path with the imaging plane. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 23  whereby said projected needle image path information can be positioned relative to a landmark of the scanned organ or tissue mass. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 23  whereby said projected needle image path information can be correlated to the redirecting guide positioning selection. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 23  whereby said biopsy and planning means can be used to simulate the insertion of a needle into the targeted organ or tissue mass. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 23  whereby said received images can be used to build a graphical representation of the targeted organ or tissue mass showing the positions of the projected and actual needle paths relative to the targeted organ or tissue mass. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 23  whereby said recording projected and actual needle paths can be recorded to an external medium or transmitted to an external location.