Large volume tissue reduction and removal system and method
Inventors
Johnson, Kristin D. • Gregg, William N. • Johnson, Dirk
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10925665-B2
Publication Date
2021-02-23
Expiration Date
Abstract
A tissue removal system for extracting a tissue specimen from a patient and a related method are disclosed. The system has a flexible container with an opening associated with a proximal end, and a distal end. The system also has a plurality of wires removably coupled to an interior of the flexible container in a pre-collection configuration wherein the plurality of wires form a receiving space for receiving the tissue specimen and wherein the plurality of wires are positioned in a pattern. The pattern is selected to divide the tissue specimen into at least four pieces in response to at least one pulling force on the plurality of wires.
Core Innovation
The disclosed invention provides a tissue removal system and method for extracting a tissue specimen from a patient using a flexible container having an opening associated with a proximal end and a distal end. A plurality of wires are removably coupled to an interior of the flexible container in a pre-collection configuration, where the plurality of wires form a receiving space for receiving the tissue specimen and are positioned in a pattern configured to divide the tissue specimen in response to at least one pulling motion on the plurality of wires.
An actuator applies pulling motions in a timed sequence and on different wires to create cuts that subdivide the specimen across previously cut areas. A first pull motion is applied to a first wire at a first time to divide the tissue specimen by one or more first cuts, and a second pull motion is independently initiated after the first pull motion has stopped to apply one or more second cuts. The second cuts divide the tissue specimen across an area previously divided by the one or more first cuts, enabling multi-cut division of the tissue specimen.
At least one mechanical pretensioning motion is applied to at least one of the plurality of wires so the wire advances toward the tissue specimen and stops in a position once in contact with the tissue specimen prior to dividing the tissue specimen. In related embodiments, electrosurgical functionality may be present, including electrode structures and coatings configured to degrade during application of electrosurgical power under an arc-permitting voltage condition.
Claims Coverage
The document includes two independent claims, a system claim and a method claim. Both independent claims share three inventive features: a flexible container with a pre-collection patterned receiving space formed by removably coupled wires, sequential independently initiated first and second pull motions that divide across previously divided areas, and mechanical pretensioning with a specified pretension force between 40-100 psi.
Flexible container with pre-collection patterned receiving space of removably coupled wires
A flexible container with an opening associated with a proximal end and a distal end, wherein a plurality of wires are removably coupled to an interior in a pre-collection configuration such that the plurality of wires form a receiving space for receiving the tissue specimen and are positioned in a pattern configured to divide the tissue specimen in response to at least one pulling motion on the plurality of wires.
Actuator applying independently initiated first and second pull motions to create sequential cuts across previously divided areas
An actuator coupled to the plurality of wires configured to apply a first pull motion to a first one of the plurality of wires at a first time to divide the tissue specimen by one or more first cuts, and to apply a second pull motion to a second one of the plurality of wires at a second time after the first pull motion has stopped, wherein the one or more second cuts divides the tissue specimen across an area previously divided by the one or more first cuts.
Mechanical pretensioning advancing wires into contact prior to dividing with 40-100 psi pretension force
Applying at least one mechanical pretensioning motion to at least one of the plurality of wires such that the at least one of the plurality of wires advances toward the tissue specimen and stops in a position once in contact with the tissue specimen prior to dividing the tissue specimen, wherein a pretension force of the at least one of the plurality of wires is between 40-100 psi.
Together, the independent claims define a flexible container with an opening and a pre-collection patterned receiving space formed by removably coupled wires, sequential first and second pulling motions applied to different wires where the second cuts divide across areas previously divided by the first cuts, and mechanical pretensioning that advances wires into contact prior to dividing with a pretension force between 40-100 psi.
Stated Advantages
Containment to reduce seeding/cancer-cell spread.
Faster and minimally invasive recovery.
Controlled cutting enabling reassembly by pathology.
Documented Applications
Large-volume tissue reduction for extracting a tissue specimen from a patient using a flexible, expandable retrieval bag/container with an opening, where tissue is divided into multiple pieces and then extracted through the bag opening.
Pathology reassembly enabled by controlled cutting and division across previously divided areas.
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