Targeted biopsy delivery system

Abstract

This invention relates generally to the targeting and biopsy of tissue for medical purposes, and more particularly to a targeted biopsy system which allows planning of tissue to be sampled, targeting of specific areas of tissue in reference to the plan, capturing the tissue sample and recording the source location of the tissue sample, particularly for use in collecting tissue samples from the prostate gland. A further purpose of this invention is to provide a targeted treatment system which allows planning of tissue to be treated, targeting of specific areas of tissue in reference to the plan, and delivering the treatment to the targeted tissue.

1 . A targetable biopsy system comprising: 
 a flexible biopsy needle kit;    a redirecting biopsy needle guide;    an imaging means;    a biopsy planning and recording means;    such that a specific area of tissue may be accurately targeted for tissue collection.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1  whereby said flexible biopsy kit is comprised of: 
 a flexible stylet containing an extended specimen notch;    a flexible cannula;    
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1  whereby said stylet and said cannula are manufactured with a pre-formed curve  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1  whereby said stylet and said cannula are manufactured from flexible material such as nitinol® or plastic.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1  whereby said stylet and said cannula are manufactured without a pre-formed curve.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1  whereby said stylet is assembled from two or more sections each made of materials with different properties to improve the flexibility.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1  whereby said cannula is assembled from two or more sections each made of materials with different properties to improve the flexibility.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1  whereby the length of said specimen notch is increased to improve the flexibility of the stylet.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 1  whereby multiple specimen notches are used to improve the flexibility of the stylet.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 1  whereby the depth of the specimen notches varies to improve the flexibility of the stylet.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 1  whereby said redirecting biopsy needle guide is comprised of: 
 an opening into which a biopsy needle kit may be inserted;    an opening through which a portion of the biopsy needle kit exits;    a means of redirecting said biopsy needle kit such that the portion of the biopsy needle kit which has exited the biopsy needle guide is angled relative to the portion of said biopsy needle kit which has not been inserted into said biopsy needle guide.    a means of positioning the redirecting biopsy needle guide relative to an ultrasound imaging device which remains fixed.    
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 1  whereby said means of redirecting the biopsy needle physically bends a previously straight biopsy needle kit.  
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 1  whereby said means of redirecting straightens a previously curved biopsy needle kit such that the biopsy needle kit re-curve when leaving the redirecting means.  
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 1  whereby said means of redirecting is comprised of one or more static angled or curved channels.  
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 1  whereby said means of redirecting straightens is comprised of a movable device such that the opening through which the needle kit exits may be moved relative to the opening into which the biopsy needle kit is placed.  
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 1  whereby said redirecting biopsy needle guide is affixed to or associated with an ultrasound or imaging system.  
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 1  whereby said redirecting biopsy needle guide may selectively positioned or rotated relative to the imaging portion of the imaging means.  
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 1  whereby said redirecting biopsy needle guide is provided with demarcations or other indications of position relative to the imaging portion of the imaging means.  
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 1  whereby said imaging means records the position of the biopsy sample.  
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 1  whereby said imaging means may include a biopsy plan specifying the preferred locations of the biopsies relative to the position of the imaging portion of the imaging means.  
   
   
       21 . The device of  claim 1  whereby said redirecting biopsy needle guide may be positioned or rotated relative to the imaging portion of the imaging consistent with the planned biopsy locations of the biopsy plan.  
   
   
       22 . A biopsy needle kit comprising: 
 a flexible stylet containing an extended specimen notch;    a flexible cannula.    
   
   
       23 . The device of  claim 22  whereby said stylet and said cannula are manufactured with a pre-formed curve from flexible material such as nitinol® or plastic or other suitably flexible material.  
   
   
       24 . The device of  claim 22  whereby said stylet and said cannula are manufactured without a pre-formed curve.  
   
   
       25 . The device of  claim 22  whereby said stylet is assembled from two or more sections each made of materials with different properties to improve the flexibility.  
   
   
       26 . The device of  claim 22  whereby said cannula is assembled from two or more sections each made of materials with different properties to improve the flexibility.  
   
   
       27 . The device of  claim 22  whereby the length of said specimen notch is increased to improve the flexibility of the stylet.  
   
   
       28 . The device of  claim 22  whereby the cross section of said stylet is reduced for a portion of the length of the stylet to improve the flexibility of the stylet.  
   
   
       29 . The device of  claim 22  whereby the cross section of said stylet alternates between areas where the cross section is reduced and areas where the cross section is not reduced to improve the flexibility of the stylet.  
   
   
       30 . The device of  claim 22  whereby the cannula is spiral cut to improve flexibility.  
   
   
       31 . The device of  claim 22  whereby the body of the cannula is spiral cut but the tip of the cannula body is not.  
   
   
       32 . The device of  claim 22  whereby the body of the cannula alternates between spiral cut portions and non-spiral cut portions.  
   
   
       33 . A redirecting biopsy needle guide comprising: 
 an opening into which a biopsy needle kit may be inserted;    an opening through which a portion of the biopsy needle kit exits;    a means of redirecting said biopsy needle kit such that the portion of the biopsy needle kit which has exited the biopsy needle guide is angled relative to the portion of said biopsy needle kit which has not been inserted into said biopsy needle guide.    
   
   
       34 . The device of  claim 33  whereby said means of redirecting the biopsy needle physically bends a previously straight biopsy needle kit.  
   
   
       35 . The device of  claim 33  whereby said means of redirecting straightens a previously curved biopsy needle kit such that the biopsy needle kit re-curve when leaving the redirecting means.  
   
   
       36 . The device of  claim 33  whereby said means of redirecting is comprised of one or more static angled or curved channels.  
   
   
       37 . The device of  claim 33  whereby said means of redirecting is comprised of a movable device such that the opening through which the needle kit exits may be moved relative to the opening into which the biopsy needle kit is placed.  
   
   
       38 . The device of  claim 33  whereby said biopsy needle guide may be affixed to or associated with an ultrasound or imaging system.  
   
   
       39 . The device of  claim 33  whereby said biopsy needle guide may selectively positioned or rotated relative to the imaging portion of the ultrasound or imaging system.  
   
   
       40 . A targeted medical deliver mechanism comprising: 
 a flexible delivery means;    a flexible cannula;    a redirecting cannula guide;    Whereby the cannula can be inserted into specific area of tissue and said delivery means can be inserted through the cannula to said specific area of tissue.    
   
   
       41 . The device of  claim 40  whereby said delivery means deposits a material in said specific area of tissue.  
   
   
       42 . The device of  claim 40  whereby said delivery means deposits and removes a material in said specific area of tissue.  
   
   
       43 . The device of  claim 40  whereby said delivery means removes a previously-deposited material in said specific area of tissue.  
   
   
       44 . The device of  claim 41  whereby said material may be a solid, liquid or gas.  
   
   
       45 . The device of  claim 42  whereby said material may be a solid, liquid or gas.  
   
   
       46 . The device of  claim 43  whereby said material may be a solid, liquid or gas.  
   
   
       47 . The device of  claim 43  whereby said material may be organic.  
   
   
       48 . The device of  claim 43  whereby said material may be a living organism.  
   
   
       49 . The device of  claim 40  whereby said delivery means is used to apply energy to said specific area of tissue.  
   
   
       50 . The device of  claim 49  whereby said energy may be heat, cold, visible or non-visible radiation.  
   
   
       51 . A biopsy planning and recording means comprising: 
 means of receiving and displaying images generated by the imaging means;    means of projecting needle image path information onto said displayed images;    means of recording projected needle path locations means of recording actual needle path locations    
   
   
       52 . The device of  claim 51  whereby said biopsy and planning means can project a line which correlates with a needle path.  
   
   
       53 . The device of  claim 51  whereby said biopsy and planning means can project a dot which correlates to the intersection of the needle path with the imaging plane.  
   
   
       54 . The device of  claim 51  whereby said projected needle image path information can be positioned relative to a landmark of the scanned organ or tissue mass.  
   
   
       55 . The device of  claim 51  whereby said projected needle image path information can be correlated to the redirecting guide positioning selection.  
   
   
       56 . The device of  claim 51  whereby said biopsy and planning means can be used to simulate the insertion of a needle into the targeted organ or tissue mass.  
   
   
       57 . The device of  claim 51  whereby said received images can be used to build a graphical representation of the targeted organ or tissue mass showing the positions of the projected and actual needle paths relative to the targeted organ or tissue mass.  
   
   
       58 . The device of  claim 51  whereby said recording projected and actual needle paths can be recorded to an external medium or transmitted to an external location.