ELECTROSURGICAL BIOPSY DEVICE AND METHOD

摘要

An electrosurgical biopsy device includes a stylet and a cannula movably mounted on a base. The stylet has a shaft with a head at its distal end and a stylet ablation element extending distally from the head. The stylet shaft i s disposed through the cannula for axial translation therein between withdrawn and extended positions. The cannula has an opening at its distal end and a cannula ablation element adjacent the opening. Both ablation elements are activatable with energy that ablates adjacent tissue. A translation mechanis m controllably moves (a) the stylet between the withdrawn and extended positio ns and (b) the cannula between a proximal position and a distal position relati ve to the base. In use, with the stylet in the withdrawn position against the distal end of the cannula, and with the stylet ablation element activated, t he stylet and the cannula are pushed through the skin and the underlying tissue until the stylet head is adjacent a targeted tissue mass. Next, the stylet i s extended distally from the distal end of the cannula so that its head penetrates the tissue mass. The cannula ablation element is then activated, and the cannula is pushed through the tissue mass toward the stylet head, thereby cutting a "core" through the tissue mass that is captured as a tissu e specimen within the distal end of the cannula. The cannula and the stylet ar e then removed from the patient's body.