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  Removing tissueUSPTO Application #: 20080103412Title: Removing tissue Abstract: Tissue can be removed from a patient with a catheter or other medical device having a cutting member. A source of suction can be coupled to the device for suctioning removed tissue through a lumen in the device and out of the patient's body. (end of abstract) Agent: Cooley Godward Kronish LLP Attn: Patent Group - Washington, DC, US Inventor: Yem Chin USPTO Applicaton #: 20080103412 - Class: 600566000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Surgery, Diagnostic Testing, Sampling Nonliquid Body Material (e.g., Bone, Muscle Tissue, Epithelial Cells, Etc.), Cutting, Applying Suction To Sample, Body Pierced By Tubular Cutter Or Rod-type Punch The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080103412. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/856,182, filed Nov. 1, 2006, entitled "Removing Tissue," the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The present invention relates to removing tissue from a patient and to medical devices and procedures for removing tissue. BACKGROUND INFORMATION [0003] Minimally invasive surgery generally reduces patient trauma and speeds recovery time as opposed to more conventional surgical procedures in which a large portion of the patient's body is opened. Minimally invasive endoscopic surgery generally involves incising through body walls for examining, viewing, and/or operating on various bodily organs or structures, including the ovaries, uterus, gall bladder, bowels, kidneys, appendix, etc. In such endoscopic procedures, a trocar typically creates an incision and trocar tubes or cannula devices are extended into and left in place (in, for example, the abdominal wall) so that endoscopic surgical tools may be inserted into the patient's body. A camera or endoscope can be inserted to enable visual inspection and magnification of a cavity in the body of the patient. The surgeon then performs the desired procedure with the aid of specialized instrumentation designed to fit through additional openings which provide additional entries into the desired body cavity. Thus, instead of a rather large incision (typically 12 inches or larger) necessary to complete a more conventional fully invasive surgical procedure, minimally invasive endoscopic surgery results in one or several smaller incisions, usually between 5 and 15 millimeters in size. In most instances, recovery is quicker and less painful than conventional surgery. In addition, because the surgical field typically is greatly magnified, surgeons are often better able to dissect blood vessels and control blood loss. In addition, heat and water loss are often reduced as a result of the smaller incisions. [0004] In some surgical procedures, it is necessary to remove tissue or diseased organs. This can be challenging during endoscopic surgery because the tissue or organ removal must be achieved through the small openings through which the procedure is performed. In these situations, it may be desirable to fragment, morcellate, or otherwise reduce body tissue into smaller pieces that can be readily removed through the small endoscopic openings. [0005] Morcellation involves fragmenting and removing diseased tissue or organ parts from healthy tissue or organs. In endoscopic morcellation, the fragmented pieces are typically removed from the patient's body through a small incision or through a trocar cannula device which extends through the abdominal wall. When the tissue or organ part is diseased or infected, it is preferred that the excised portions thereof be isolated from contact with surrounding healthy tissue. Accordingly, it is often necessary to enclose the fragmented organ during removal, thus preventing contamination of healthy tissue and bodily organs. In some instances, the organ is fragmented in a bag by a surgical device known as a morcellator, until such a time as the entire specimen is small enough to be removed while in the bag from the abdominal cavity through one of the minimally invasive endoscopic openings. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] The invention generally relates to removing tissue from a patient in a minimally invasive manner. The patient can be a human or other mammal, for example. A catheter or other medical device for removing tissue in accordance with the invention can be inexpensive and easy to manufacture. [0007] In one aspect, the invention relates to a medical device for removing tissue from a patient. The medical device comprises an outer catheter including a distal end and defining a lumen and a tubular member defining a lumen and an opening for cutting tissue within the body of a patient. The lumen of the tubular member is couplable to a suction source to provide suction through the opening. The tubular member is disposed movably within the lumen of the outer catheter such that at least a portion of the tubular member is extendable beyond the distal end of the outer catheter to engage tissue within the opening. The tubular member is configured to cut the engaged tissue when the tubular member is moved with respect to the outer catheter, the cut tissue being transported through the lumen of the tubular member when the suction source is coupled to lumen of the tubular member. [0008] Embodiments according to this aspect of the invention can include the following features. The opening can be elongate and be defined at least in part by two substantially parallel edges. At least one of the edges can define a cutting member for cutting the engaged tissue. The cutting member can be configured to cut the engaged tissue when the tubular member is rotated about a longitudinal axis of the outer catheter. Additionally or alternatively, the cutting member can be configured to cut the engaged tissue when the tubular member is moved along a longitudinal axis of the outer catheter. The medical device can further comprise an ultrasound device operably coupled to the cutting member and being adapted to facilitate cutting tissue. Moreover, the cutting member can includes an active cord cautery device, such as a monopolar or bipolar cautery device. The medical device can further include a light source configured to facilitate determining the location of the opening while inside of a patient. The light source can include a fiber optic element and/or a light emitting diode. [0009] In another aspect, the invention involves a system comprising a medical device as described above and a computer interface coupled to the medical device and capable of providing signals representative of a visual image of an internal portion of the body of the patient. In certain embodiments, the system includes a bag coupled to the medical device for collecting a tissue sample and/or a suction source adapted and configured to provide suction through the lumen. [0010] In another aspect, the invention involves a medical device comprising a main body portion including a distal end and a cutting member operably coupled to the distal end of the main body portion. The main body portion defines a longitudinal axis, and the cutting member is configured to rotate about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis from a first position to a second position when performing a cutting operation. [0011] Embodiments according to this other aspect of the invention can include the following features. The main body portion can define a lumen along at least a portion of its length, a distal port at the distal end, and a proximal port proximal to the distal end. The proximal port can be in fluid communication with a suction source for removing tissue cut by the cutting member through the distal port and the lumen. The cutting member can have a substantially arcuate shape and circumscribe a volume when moved from the first position to the second position. The medical device can further include an actuator for moving the cutting member from the first position to the second position. The actuator can include a wire having a distal end, the distal end of the wire being operably coupled to the cutting member and being configured to circumscribe an arcuate path when the wire is moved along the longitudinal axis. The main body portion can define a lumen and the wire can be disposed within the lumen. The wire can be made from spring steel and/or a shape memory material, such as a nickel-titanium alloy. The cutting member can be caused to move from the first position to the second position when the wire is advanced in a proximal or distal direction with respect to the main body portion. The actuator can alternatively move the cutting member from the first position to the second position by applying an electromagnetic force thereto. The actuator and the cutting member can accordingly be configured to carry electrical currents in opposing paths. The medical device can further include a switching mechanism, a power supply and a controller operably associated with the switching mechanism and power supply, the controller adapted to operate the switching mechanism to alternate electrical current flowing through the actuator and cutting member to cause the cutting member to oscillate between the first position and the second position. [0012] In yet another aspect, the invention features a medical device comprising a main body portion defining a lumen therethrough and including a distal end, and a shaft rotatably disposed in the lumen of the main body portion. The shaft includes a proximal end and a distal end, and the shaft is capable of rotation with respect to the main body portion about a longitudinal axis. The device further comprises a rotational drive source operably coupled to the proximal end of the shaft and a substantially arcuate cutting member attached to the distal end of the shaft. The cutting member is configured to circumscribe a volume about the longitudinal axis when the shaft is rotated. A compartment is affixed to the distal end of the main body portion, and the compartment is configured to house the cutting member. [0013] Embodiments according to this aspect of the invention can include the following features. The main body portion can define a second lumen therethrough, the second lumen having a distal port proximate the cutting member and a proximal opening proximal to the distal end of the main body portion. A suction source can be coupled to the compartment by way of the second lumen to facilitate removal of tissue from a patient. [0014] In still another aspect, the invention relates to a medical device comprising a main body portion including a distal end and defining a lumen therethrough. The medical device also comprises a rotatable cutting member disposed in the lumen. The cutting member is defined by at least one helical cutting edge and defines at least one helical channel therethrough, and the cutting member is capable of being disposed beyond the distal end of the main body portion. [0015] Embodiments according to this aspect of the invention can include the following features. The cutting member can be moved in a rotational and/or longitudinal direction with respect to the main body portion. A suction source can be coupled to the medical device to facilitate removal of tissue from a patient through the lumen. [0016] In a further aspect, the invention features a medical device comprising a main body portion including a distal end and defining a lumen therethrough. The device also comprises a shaft slidably disposed through the lumen of the main body portion. The shaft includes a distal end and a cup shaped cutting member attached to the distal end of the shaft. The cutting member includes a cutting edge disposed proximate to a rim of the cup shaped cutting member, and the cutting member is configured to cut tissue when advanced in a proximal direction with respect to the main body portion of the medical device. [0017] Embodiments according to this aspect of the invention can include the following features. The cutting member can protrude from the distal end of the main body portion. The main body portion can include a closed end that defines a tissue entry port through a sidewall of the main body portion suitable to permit entry of tissue to be removed from a patient. [0018] In still a further aspect, the invention features a method of removing tissue from a patient. The method comprises providing a medical device including a main body portion and a cutting member slidably coupled thereto, introducing the medical device through the urethra of a patient, removing tissue from the patient by advancing the cutting member in a proximal direction with respect to the main body portion, and withdrawing the medical device from the patient. Tissue can be removed from, for example, the patient's bladder or the prostate gland. [0019] Both the foregoing and following descriptions are exemplary and illustrative. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, are included to illustrate and provide a further understanding of the invention and particular embodiments thereof. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and generally serve to help illustrate the principles and/or certain embodiments of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0020] FIG. 1(a) is a schematic representation of a first representative embodiment of a medical device made in accordance with the present invention. Continue reading... Full patent description for Removing tissue Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Removing tissue patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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