Micro-invasive device

Abstract

An apparatus for removing tissue and/or other material from a patient, particularly a breast of a patient, is provided. The apparatus generally includes a handpiece and a tissue removal mechanism connected thereto. The tissue removal mechanism includes a cannula having an open distal tip and an outer diameter of less than about 5 mm, or less than about 2 mm. The mechanism further includes a rotatable element having a distal portion with helical threading. The distal portion of the rotatable element extends beyond the open distal tip of the cannula in order to allow tissue to prolapse between turns of the helical threading. The apparatus is designed to draw soft tissue into the cannula upon rotation of the rotatable element and without the need for supplemental sources of aspiration.

1 . An apparatus for removing a gelatinous substance from a target area of a human body, the apparatus comprising:
 a handpiece;   a cannula including a proximal end portion structured to be coupled to the handpiece and an open distal tip adapted to be placed in the target area of the human body prior to the proximal end portion being coupled to the handpiece;   a rotational element disposed at least partially in the cannula, wherein the apparatus is structured so that the rotational element and the cannula cooperatively engage to form a source of suction effective in drawing a gelatinous substance from the target area of the human body into the cannula in response to rotation of the rotational element; and   the apparatus including no external source of suction.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the handpiece is sized and contoured to fit comfortably within a palm of a surgeon. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cannula is sized and structured to be rigid and manually deformable. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the cannula and the rotational element are manually deformable into a desired curved shape. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  which further comprises a motor. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cannula has an outer diameter no greater than about 5 mm. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the rotational element is structured to rotate at a sufficiently high speed to cause the gelatinous substance from the target area of the human body to be pulled proximally into the cannula. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  which further comprises a source of battery-powered rotational energy. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  which further comprises a battery coupled to and effective to provide power to the source of battery-powered rotational energy. 
   
   
       10 . An apparatus for removing a gelatinous substance from a target area of a human body, the apparatus comprising:
 a handpiece;   a cannula including a proximal end portion structured to be coupled to the handpiece and an open distal tip adapted to be placed in the target area of the human body;   a rotational element structured to be introduced into the cannula and the target area of the human body after the open distal tip is placed in the target area of the human body, wherein the apparatus is structured so that the cannula and the rotational element disposed at least partially in the cannula cooperatively engage to form a source of suction effective in drawing a gelatinous substance from the target area of the human body into the cannula in response to rotation of the rotational element; and the apparatus including no external source of suction.   
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the apparatus includes a motor. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the cannula has an outer diameter no greater than about 5 mm. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the rotational element is structured to rotate at a sufficiently high speed to cause the gelatinous substance from the target area of the human body to be pulled proximally into the cannula. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 10  which further comprises a source of battery-powered rotational energy. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  which further comprises a battery coupled to and effective to provide power to the source of battery-powered rotational energy. 
   
   
       16 . A apparatus for removing a gelatinous substance from a target area of a human body, the apparatus comprising:
 a handpiece;   a cannula including a proximal end portion structured to be coupled to the handpiece and an open distal tip adapted to be placed in the target area of the human body;   a rotational element disposed at least partially in the cannula and extending beyond the distal tip of the cannula, wherein the apparatus is structured so that the rotational element and the cannula form a source of suction effective in drawing a gelatinous substance from the target area of the human body into the cannula in response to rotation of the rotational element; and   the apparatus including no external source of suction.   
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the rotational element is structured to rotate at a sufficiently high speed to cause the gelatinous substance from the target area of the human body to be pulled proximally into the cannula.