Devices, systems, and methods for tissue morcellation

Abstract

A morcellator includes a housing, an elongated tube extending distally from the housing, and first and second electrodes. A distal end of the elongated tube is configured to cut tissue. The first electrode extends from the housing to the distal end of the elongated tube and is disposed around at least a portion of the distal end of the elongated tube. The second electrode extends distally beyond the first electrode. Another morcellator includes a housing, an elongated tube extending distally from the housing, and an oscillating mechanism. A distal end of the elongated tube includes opposing blade sections and at least one blunt section. The opposing blade sections are configured to cut tissue. The oscillating mechanism is configured to drive oscillation of the elongated tube to cut tissue with the blade sections.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A morcellator comprising:
 a housing;   an elongated tube extending distally from the housing and defining a longitudinal axis, the elongated tube defining a lumen therethrough, a distal end of the elongated tube configured to cut tissue;   a first electrode extending from the housing to the distal end of the elongated tube and disposed around at least a portion of the circumference of the distal end of the elongated tube, the first electrode adapted to electrically couple to an energy source; and   a second electrode including a first element extending distally beyond the first electrode, the second electrode adapted to couple to the energy source.   
     
     
         2 . The morcellator of  claim 1 , wherein an interior portion of the second electrode is supported by a lip on the elongated tube. 
     
     
         3 . A morcellator comprising:
 a housing;   an elongated tube extending distally from the housing and defining a longitudinal axis, the elongated tube defining a lumen therethrough, a distal end of the elongated tube including opposing blade sections and at least one blunt section, the opposing blade sections configured to cut tissue; and   an oscillating mechanism configured to drive oscillation of the elongated tube about the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         4 . The morcellator of  claim 3 , wherein the blade sections are disposed at an angle relative to a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         5 . The morcellator of  claim 3 , wherein the oscillating mechanism is configured to mechanically drive the elongated tube to oscillate. 
     
     
         6 . The morcellator of  claim 5 , wherein the oscillating mechanism includes a motor, a disc shaped cam, and a connecting member, the cam coupled to the motor and having a distally extending cam pin affixed near the outer circumference of the cam, the connecting member fixed to the outer surface of the elongated tube and defining a cam slot configured to receive the cam pin such that the cam and the connecting member cooperate to translate rotation of the motor into oscillation of the elongated tube. 
     
     
         7 . The morcellator of  claim 3 , wherein the oscillating mechanism is configured to electromagnetically drive the elongated tube to oscillate. 
     
     
         8 . The morcellator of  claim 7 , wherein the oscillation mechanism includes at least one magnet affixed to the elongated tube and at least one solenoid disposed in operable communication with the at least one magnet, the at least one solenoid selectively energizable to generate magnetic fields that act upon that at least one magnet to oscillate the elongated tube. 
     
     
         9 . A method of morcellating tissue comprising:
 inserting a surgical retrieval apparatus into a surgical site;   encapsulating tissue to be morcellated within a specimen retrieval bag of the surgical retrieval apparatus;   inserting a distal end of a morcellator into the specimen retrieval bag;   feeding tissue to be morcellated to the distal end of the morcellator with a surgical instrument; and   activating the morcellator, the morcellator including an elongated tube having a distal cutting end, wherein activating the morcellator includes driving oscillation of the distal cutting end of the elongated tube of the morcellator to morcellate tissue.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein driving oscillation of the distal cutting end includes mechanically driving the elongated tube to oscillate. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein driving oscillation of the distal cutting end includes electromagnetically driving the elongated tube to oscillate.