Transport System for Biopsy Device

Abstract

A biopsy device includes a hollow needle, and a sample-receiving device that is movable in the hollow needle. A power-driven element having a motor is provided. A transport device is drivably coupled to the motor. The transport device includes a toothed flexible member drivably engaged with a drive gear. The toothed flexible member has a distal portion coupled to the sample-receiving device. The toothed flexible member is configured to move the sample-receiving device in the hollow needle between an extended position and a retracted position. The toothed flexible member has a proximal portion that extends proximal to the proximal end of the hollow needle. A housing element has a helical coiling-up groove configured to accommodate the proximal portion of the toothed flexible member when the sample-receiving device is retracted to the retracted position.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for using a biopsy device for removing at least one tissue sample from a body of a living being, the method comprising:
 providing a disposable biopsy unit configured for releasable attachment to a handle unit, the handle unit having a power source and a motor, wherein the disposable unit is attached to the handle unit, the disposable biopsy unit having a hollow needle, a sample-receiving device, a transport device, and a housing element,
 the hollow needle having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end, 
 the sample-receiving device being received in the hollow needle, the sample-receiving device having a cavity for receiving a tissue sample, 
 the transport device configured for drivable coupling to the motor of the handle unit, the transport device including a drive gear and a toothed flexible member drivably engaged with the drive gear, the toothed flexible member having a distal portion coupled to the sample-receiving device and having a proximal portion that extends proximal to the proximal end of the hollow needle, 
 the housing element having a helical coiling-up groove; 
   moving the sample-receiving device in the hollow needle from a retracted position to an extended position to expose the cavity to receive a tissue sample;   moving toothed flexible member along the longitudinal axis to move the sample-receiving device in the hollow needle from the extended position to the retracted position; and   receiving the proximal portion of the toothed flexible member in the helical coiling-up groove of the housing element as the sample-receiving device is moved to the retracted position.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the helical coiling-up groove is defined by a wall element configured to form a spiral, the wall element being arranged such that contact between successive coiled-up portions of the toothed flexible member is prevented. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the toothed flexible member flexes away from the longitudinal axis of the hollow needle to coil in the helical coiling-up groove of the housing element. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , comprising:
 positioning the sample-receiving device in the extended position to project the cavity from the distal end of the needle; and   positioning the sample-receiving device in the retracted position to withdraw the sample-receiving device into the hollow needle, wherein the sample-receiving device has a length that is shorter than a length of the hollow needle.   
     
     
         25 . A method of sampling tissue comprising:
 providing a device that includes a handle unit comprising a power source and a motor, and a disposable unit including a hollow needle, a sample-receiving device having a cavity, a drive mechanism, a transport device; a sample flushing chamber, and a sample container; and   operating the device by process steps including:
 inserting the hollow needle into a patient; 
 receiving tissue into a cavity in the sample-receiving device disposed in the hollow needle; 
 severing the tissue by using a single-shot mechanism to distally displace the hollow needle with respect to the sample receiving device; 
 retracting the sample-receiving device, wherein retracting includes operating the transport device, the transport device having a drive gear engaged with a toothed flexible member and wherein the toothed flexible member is coupled to the sample-receiving device, the toothed flexible member is configured to move along the longitudinal axis to align the cavity with a sample flushing chamber; 
 ejecting the tissue into the sample container by starting fluid flow through the sample flushing chamber; 
 ending fluid flow; and 
 extending the sample-receiving device. 
   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the step of inserting the hollow needle comprises activating a double-shot mechanism. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the step of receiving tissue comprises activating a vacuum pump to draw tissue into the cavity. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein a control system controls one or more of the process steps. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  28 , wherein the control system comprises a microprocessor programmed to execute one or more process steps in a predefined cycle. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  29 , wherein the predefined cycle repeats one or more process steps. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  25 , wherein the sample container comprises multiple receptacles and the step of ejecting the tissue for one cycle deposits a first tissue sample into a first receptacle and the step of ejecting the tissue for a later cycle deposits a second tissue sample into a different receptacle. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the sample-receiving device is shorter than the hollow needle. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the disposable unit is releasably secured to the handle unit. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the disposable unit has a housing element having a helical coiling-up groove for accommodating the toothed flexible member when the sample-receiving device is retracted as the toothed flexible member is moved along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         35 . A method of sampling tissue, comprising:
 providing a device comprising a handle unit comprising a power source and a motor;   providing a disposable unit releasably coupled to the device, the disposable unit including:
 a hollow needle having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end; 
 a sample-receiving device disposed in the hollow needle, the sample-receiving device configured to move in the hollow needle between an extended position and a retracted position, and wherein the sample-receiving device has a cavity configured to receive a tissue sample; 
 a drive mechanism configured to distally move the hollow needle relative to the sample-receiving device; 
 a transport device coupled to the motor, the transport device including a drive gear and a toothed flexible member engaged with the drive gear, coupled to the sample-receiving device, and configured to move the sample-receiving device in the hollow needle, the toothed flexible member extending past the hollow needle; and 
 a housing element having a helical coiling-up groove configured to accommodate the toothed flexible member when the sample-receiving device is retracted; and 
   activating the device to obtain a tissue sample.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , comprising:
 aligning the cavity with a sample flushing chamber;   ejecting the tissue sample into a sample container by starting fluid flowing through the sample flushing chamber;   ending fluid flow; and   extending the sample-receiving device.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the helical coiling-up groove is defined by a wall element configured to form a spiral, the wall element being arranged such that contact between successive coiled-up portions of the toothed flexible member is prevented. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the toothed flexible member flexes away from the longitudinal axis of the hollow needle to coil in the helical coiling-up groove of the housing element. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35 , comprising:
 positioning the sample-receiving device in the extended position to project the cavity from the distal end of the needle; and   positioning the sample-receiving device in the retracted position to withdraw the sample-receiving device into the hollow needle, wherein the sample-receiving device has a length that is shorter than a length of the hollow needle.