Apparatus and method for resecting and removing selected body tissue from a site inside a patient

Abstract

An electrosurgery device according to an embodiment of the invention captures a lymph nodule and resects it. The lymph node is captured with a vacuum and resected it with an electrode, which minimizes bleeding and limits the potentially malignant node from coming into contact with surround tissue as it is resected and removed. This limits the potential for inadvertent cancer spread. An electrosurgery device according to an embodiment of the invention also allows several lymph nodes to be resected in a single procedure, each lymph node being easily indexed according to its nodal station and stored in a manner that limits the potential for cross-contamination. An electrosurgery device according to an embodiment of the invention further provides a collector for individually receiving resected lymph nodes. The collector may be easily detached and sent to pathology without interrupting resection of other lymph nodes.

1 . A device for resecting selected body tissue from other body tissue at a site inside a patient and removing the selected body tissue, comprising: an electrosurgery device having an electrode that cuts through tissue to resect the selected body tissue from the other body tissue; a tubular member having a vacuum lumen that draws the selected body tissue into proximity with the electrode to permit the electrode to resect the selected body tissue from the other body tissue; and a collector that receives the resected body tissue.  
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a compliant port through which the selected body tissue is drawn, and that maintains a seal with the selected body tissue.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the compliant port comprises a flexible material carried on the tubular member and having an opening that maintains a seal with the other body tissue when the selected body tissue has been resected.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the collector receives resection byproducts.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the collector is in vacuum communication with the lumen.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum lumen further draws the resected body tissue into the collector.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode is an active electrode of an electrosurgery system.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode forms an RF blade.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode forms an RF loop.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode is a bipolar device.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the collector includes at least one collection chamber.  
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the collector comprises a plurality of collection chambers, each of which is selectively communicable with the vacuum lumen.  
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein a collection chamber has a reference marking.  
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the collector can be disengaged from the device after receiving the resected body tissue.  
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the collector can be disengaged from the device after receiving the resected body tissue and another collector may be engaged with the device to receive another resected body tissue.  
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular member is curved at its distal tip.  
   
   
       17 . A device for resecting selected body tissue from other body tissue at a site inside a patient and removing the selected body tissue, comprising: an electrosurgery device having an electrode that cuts through tissue to resect the selected body tissue from the other body tissue; a tubular member having a vacuum lumen that draws the selected body tissue into proximity with the electrode to permit the electrode to resect the selected body tissue from the other body tissue; a compliant port carried on the tubular member through which the selected body tissue is drawn, and that maintains a seal with the selected body tissue; and a collector having a plurality of collection chambers, each collection chamber being selectively communicable with the vacuum lumen to receive the resected body tissue.  
   
   
       18 . A method of resecting selected body tissue from other body tissue at a site inside a patient and removing the selected body tissue, comprising the steps of: disposing a tubular member having a lumen adjacent to the selected body tissue; creating a vacuum inside the lumen to draw the selected body tissue inside the lumen; drawing the selected body tissue inside the lumen with a vacuum; cutting through tissue to resect the selected body tissue from the other body tissue with an electrosurgery device; and collecting the resected body tissue in a collector.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , including the further step of aspirating the selected body tissue from the patient out of another end of the lumen.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , including the further step of drawing the selected body tissue with the vacuum through a compliant port that maintains a seal with the selected body tissue.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the compliant port further comprises a flexible material carried on the tubular member and having an opening maintaining a vacuum against the other body tissue.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the step of collecting the resected body tissue includes the further step of collecting resection byproducts.  
   
   
       23 . A device for resecting selected body tissue from other body tissue at a site inside a patient and removing the selected body tissue, comprising: electrosurgery means for resecting the selected body tissue from the other body tissue; vacuum directing means for drawing the selected body tissue into proximity with the electrosurgery means to permit the electrosurgery means to resect the selected body tissue from the other body tissue; and collection means for receiving the resected body tissue