Tissue removing device

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An instrument for morcellating tissue, the instrument comprising
 an elongate body portion defining a lumen and having a distal and a proximal end;   an open member extending distally from the distal end of the elongate body portion, the open member defining an opening for receiving tissue;   a rotatable cutting member disposed within the lumen and extending distally from the distal end of the elongate body, the rotatable cutting member configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis to circumscribe a volume partially enclosed by the open member.   
     
     
         2 . The instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable cutting member is a substantially arcuate cutting member. 
     
     
         3 . The instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the open member further houses the rotatable cutting member. 
     
     
         4 . The instrument of  claim 3 , wherein the rotatable cutting member rotates out of the open member as the rotatable cutting member circumscribes a volume in order to morcellate tissue. 
     
     
         5 . The instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the open member comprises a hemispherical wall. 
     
     
         6 . The instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue is bladder or prostate tissue. 
     
     
         7 . The instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate body portion defines a second lumen disposed there though, the second lumen having a distal port proximate to the cutting member and a proximal opening proximate to the distal end of the elongate body portion. 
     
     
         8 . The instrument of  claim 7 , further comprising a suction source operably coupled to the open member by way of the second lumen to facilitate removal of morcellated tissue. 
     
     
         9 . An instrument for morcellating tissue, the instrument comprising
 an elongate body portion having a longitudinal axis and comprising a hemispherical wall extending distally from a distal end of the elongated body portion, the hemispherical wall defining an opening for receiving tissue and a compartment for holding morcellated tissue; and   a rotatable drive shaft disposed within the elongate body portion; and   a cutting member extending distally from the distal end of the elongate body portion and coupled to the rotatable drive shaft, the cutting member configured to circumscribe a volume about the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         10 . The instrument of  claim 9 , wherein the cutting member is a substantially arcuate cutting member. 
     
     
         11 . The instrument of  claim 9 , wherein the cutting member is configured to morcellate tissue upon rotation. 
     
     
         12 . The instrument of  claim 11 , wherein the tissue is removed from a bladder or a prostate. 
     
     
         13 . The instrument of  claim 11 , wherein the compartment further houses the cutting member. 
     
     
         14 . The instrument of  claim 11 , wherein the cutting member is disposed within the hemispherical wall. 
     
     
         15 . The instrument of  claim 14 , wherein the cutting member rotates out of the hemispherical wall as the rotatable cutting member circumscribes a volume in order to morcellate tissue. 
     
     
         16 . The instrument of  claim 9 , wherein the elongate body portion defines a second lumen therethough. 
     
     
         17 . The instrument of  claim 16 , further comprising a suction source operably coupled to the compartment by way of the second lumen to facilitate removal of the captured morcellated tissue.