Methods and Apparatuses for Full-Thickness Hollow Organ Biopsy

Abstract

A method for obtaining a full thickness biopsy of the wall of a hollow organ, comprising obtaining an apparatus comprising a cannula comprising a proximal cannula end comprising a cutting edge; and a distal cannula end comprising a biased spring, the biased spring being coupled to a needle carrier and a releasable lock; and a needle disposed within the cannula and carried on the needle carrier, the needle comprising: a tip; a flange; a notch portion comprising a notch thickness; and a shaft comprising a shaft thickness; where the shaft thickness is greater than the notch thickness and the releasable lock is configured to hold the cannula in a withdrawn position relative to the needle; obtaining a patient having skin, a first wall, and a second wall; creating an incision through the skin of the patient; inserting the apparatus into the incision; advancing the apparatus through the first wall and the second wall; withdrawing the cannula relative to the needle; locking the cannula with the releasable lock; aligning the notch portion such that the notch portion straddles the second wall; releasing the releasable lock such that the cutting edge of the cannula passes completely through the second wall creating a full-thickness biopsy; and withdrawing the apparatus from the patient.

1 . A biopsy collection apparatus comprising:
 a cannula comprising:
 a proximal cannula end comprising a cutting edge; and 
 a distal cannula end comprising a biased spring, the biased spring being coupled to a needle carrier and a releasable lock; and 
   a needle disposed within the cannula and carried on the needle carrier, the needle comprising:
 a tip; 
 a flange; 
 a notch portion comprising a notch thickness; and 
 a shaft comprising a shaft thickness; 
   where the shaft thickness is greater than the notch thickness and the releasable lock is configured to hold the cannula in a withdrawn position relative to the needle.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , where the flange is angled away from the tip. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , where the flange is angled toward the tip. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , where the notch portion further comprises graduated markings 
     
     
         5 . A biopsy collection apparatus comprising:
 a cannula comprising:
 a proximal cannula end comprising a cutting edge; and 
 a distal cannula end comprising a biased spring coupled to a needle carrier and a releasable lock; and 
   a needle disposed within the cannula and carried on the needle carrier, the needle comprising:
 a guide portion having a guide thickness; 
 a tapered portion; and 
 a shaft portion having a shaft thickness; 
   where the shaft thickness is greater than the guide thickness and the releasable lock is configured to hold the cannula in a withdrawn position relative to the needle.   
     
     
         6 . A method for obtaining a full thickness biopsy of the wall of a hollow organ, comprising:
 obtaining an apparatus comprising:
 a cannula comprising:
 a proximal cannula end comprising a cutting edge; and 
 a distal cannula end comprising a biased spring, the biased spring being coupled to a needle carrier and a releasable lock; and 
 
 a needle disposed within the cannula and carried on the needle carrier, the needle comprising:
 a tip; 
 a flange; 
 a notch portion comprising a notch thickness; and 
 a shaft comprising a shaft thickness; 
 
 where the shaft thickness is greater than the notch thickness and the releasable lock is configured to hold the cannula in a withdrawn position relative to the needle; 
   obtaining a patient having skin, a first wall, and a second wall;   creating an incision through the skin of the patient;   inserting the apparatus into the incision;   advancing the apparatus through the first wall and the second wall;   withdrawing the cannula relative to the needle;   locking the cannula with the releasable lock;   aligning the notch portion such that the notch portion straddles the second wall;   releasing the releasable lock such that the cutting edge of the cannula passes completely through the second wall creating a full-thickness biopsy; and   withdrawing the apparatus from the patient.   
     
     
         7 . A method for obtaining a full thickness biopsy of the wall of a hollow organ, comprising:
 obtaining an apparatus comprising:
 a cannula comprising:
 a proximal cannula end comprising a cutting edge; and 
 a distal cannula end comprising a biased spring coupled to a needle carrier and a releasable lock; and 
 
 a needle disposed within the cannula and carried on the needle carrier, the needle comprising:
 a needle tip; 
 a guide portion having a guide thickness; 
 a tapered portion; and 
 a shaft portion having a shaft thickness; 
 where the shaft thickness is greater than the guide thickness and the releasable lock is configured to hold the cannula in a withdrawn position relative to the needle; 
 
   obtaining a patient having skin, a first wall, and a second wall;   creating an incision through the skin of the patient;   inserting the apparatus into the incision;   advancing the apparatus through the first wall;   withdrawing the cannula relative to the needle;   locking the cannula with the releasable lock;   tenting the second wall with the needle tip;   releasing the releasable lock such that the cutting edge of the cannula passes completely through the second wall creating a full-thickness biopsy; and   withdrawing the apparatus from the patient.