Roberta H Lee

US Patent:

6423081, Jul 23, 2002

Filed:

Oct 13, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/417520

Inventors:

Roberta Lee - Redwood City CA
James W. Vetter - Portola Valley CA

Assignee:

Rubicor Medical, Inc. - Redwood City CA

International Classification:

A61B 1722

US Classification:

606159

Abstract:

An excisional biopsy device includes a tubular member having a window near a distal tip thereof; a cutting tool, a distal end of the cutting tool being attached near the distal tip of the tubular member, at least a distal portion of the cutting tool being configured to selectively bow out of the window and to retract within the window; and a tissue collection device externally attached at least to the tubular member, the tissue collection device collecting tissue excised by the cutting tool as the biopsy device is rotated and the cutting tool is bowed. An excisional biopsy method for soft tissue includes the steps of inserting a generally tubular member into the tissue, the tubular member including a cutting tool adapted to selectively bow away from the tubular member and an external tissue collection device near a distal tip of the tubular member; rotating the tubular member; selectively varying a degree of bowing of the cutting tool; collecting tissue severed by the cutting tool in the tissue collection device; and retracting the tubular member from the soft tissue. The tubular member may include an imaging transducer and the method may include the step of displaying information received from the transducer on a display device and the step of varying the degree of bowing of the cutting tool based upon the displayed information from the imaging transducer. Alternatively, the imaging transducer may be disposed within a removable transducer core adapted to fit within the tubular member.

US Patent:

6440147, Aug 27, 2002

Filed:

May 4, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/565611

Inventors:

Roberta Lee - Redwood City CA
James W. Vetter - Portola Valley CA
Ary S. Chernomorsky - Millbrae CA

Assignee:

Rubicor Medical, Inc. - Redwood City CA

International Classification:

A61B 1732

US Classification:

606159, 606170, 600567

Abstract:

An excisional biopsy system includes a tubular member that has a proximal end and a distal end in which one or more windows are defined. A first removable probe has a proximal portion that includes a cutting tool extender and a distal portion that includes a cutting tool. The first removable probe may be configured to fit at least partially within the tubular member to enable the cutting tool to selectively bow out of and to retract within one of the windows when the cutting tool extender is activated. A second removable probe has a proximal section that includes a tissue collection device extender and a distal section that includes a tissue collection device. The second removable probe may also be configured to fit at least partially within the tubular member to enable the tissue collection device to extend out of and to retract within one of the windows when the tissue collection device extender is activated. A third removable probe may also be provided. The third removable probe may also be configured to fit at least partially within the tubular member and may include an imaging device, such as an ultrasound transducer, mounted therein.

US Patent:

6689145, Feb 10, 2004

Filed:

Jan 31, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/066428

Inventors:

Roberta Lee - Redwood City CA
James W. Vetter - Portola Valley CA
Ary S. Chernomorsky - Millbrae CA

Assignee:

Rubicor Medical, Inc. - Redwood City CA

International Classification:

A61B 1732

US Classification:

606159, 600564

Abstract:

An excisional biopsy system includes a tubular member that has a proximal end and a distal end in which one or more windows are defined. A first removable probe has a proximal portion that includes a cutting tool extender and a distal portion that includes a cutting tool. The first removable probe may be configured to fit at least partially within the tubular member to enable the cutting tool to selectively bow out of and to retract within one of the windows when the cutting tool extender is activated. A second removable probe has a proximal section that includes a tissue collection device extender and a distal section that includes a tissue collection device. The second removable probe may also be configured to fit at least partially within the tubular member to enable the tissue collection device to extend out of and to retract within one of the windows when the tissue collection device extender is activated. A third removable probe may also be provided. The third removable probe may also be configured to fit at least partially within the tubular member and may include an imaging device, such as an ultrasound transducer, mounted therein.

US Patent:

6702831, Mar 9, 2004

Filed:

Jan 31, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/066462

Inventors:

Roberta Lee - Redwood City CA
James W. Vetter - Portola Valley CA

Assignee:

Rubicor Medical, Inc.

International Classification:

A61B 1732

US Classification:

606159, 600564

Abstract:

An excisional biopsy device includes a tubular member having a window near a distal tip thereof; a cutting tool, a distal end of the cutting tool being attached near the distal tip of the tubular member, at least a distal portion of the cutting tool being configured to selectively bow out of the window and to retract within the window; and a tissue collection device externally attached at least to the tubular member, the tissue collection device collecting tissue excised by the cutting tool as the biopsy device is rotated and the cutting tool is bowed. An excisional biopsy method for soft tissue includes the steps of inserting a generally tubular member into the tissue, the tubular member including a cutting tool adapted to selectively bow away from the tubular member and an external tissue collection device near a distal tip of the tubular member; rotating the tubular member; selectively varying a degree of bowing of the cutting tool; collecting tissue severed by the cutting tool in the tissue collection device; and retracting the tubular member from the soft tissue. The tubular member may include an imaging transducer and the method may include the step of displaying information received from the transducer on a display device and the step of varying the degree of bowing of the cutting tool based upon the displayed information from the imaging transducer. Alternatively, the imaging transducer may be disposed within a removable transducer core adapted to fit within the tubular member.

US Patent:

6736781, May 18, 2004

Filed:

Jun 11, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/167017

Inventors:

Roberta Lee - Redwood City CA

Assignee:

Manoa Medical, Inc. - Redwood City CA

International Classification:

A61B 814

US Classification:

600458

Abstract:

A system and method for ultrasound imaging of breast tissue by injecting an ultrasound contrast agent into a duct lumen of a patients breast to enhance the imaging of one or more ducts within a specified lobe of the breast to improve characterization of a lesion or lesions within the duct system of the specified lobe are disclosed. The ultrasound contrast agent used to improve breast imaging may be injected into the duct lumen through an orifice on the nipple and/or a duct wall into the duct lumen. The ultrasound contrast agent may be injected prior to and/or during ultrasound imaging. The ultrasound contrast agent may be an acoustically detectable gas such as a halogenated hydrocarbon, halogenated alkane gases, nitrogen, helium, argon and/or xenon. The halogenated alkane gas may be a perfluorinated hydrocarbon such as saturated perfluorocarbon, unsaturated perfluorocarbon, and/or cyclic perfluorocarbon. The acoustically detectable gas may alternatively be mixed in a liquid solution.

US Patent:

6743228, Jun 1, 2004

Filed:

Mar 12, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/097412

Inventors:

Roberta Lee - Redwood City CA

Assignee:

Manoa Medical, Inc. - Redwood City CA

International Classification:

A61B 1818

US Classification:

606 47, 606113, 606170, 606 41

Abstract:

The present invention relates to devices and methods that enhance the accuracy of lesion excision, through severing, capturing and removal of a lesion within soft tissue. Furthermore, the present invention relates to devices and methods for the excision of breast tissue based on the internal anatomy of the breast gland. A tissue severing device generally comprises a guide having at least one lumen and a cutting tool contained within the lumen. The cutting tool is capable of extending from the lumen and forming an adjustable cutting loop. The cutting loop may be widened or narrowed and the angle between the loop extension axis and the guide axis may be varied. Optional tissue marker and tissue collector may additionally be provided. A method for excising a mass of tissue from a patient is also provided. The device and method are particularly useful for excising a lesion from a human breast, e. g.

US Patent:

6764495, Jul 20, 2004

Filed:

Mar 14, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/098014

Inventors:

Roberta Lee - Redwood City CA
James W. Vetter - Portola Valley CA

Assignee:

Rubicor Medical, Inc. - Redwood City CA

International Classification:

A61B 1722

US Classification:

606159, 600564

Abstract:

An excisional biopsy device includes a tubular member having a window near a distal tip thereof; a cutting tool, a distal end of the cutting tool being attached near the distal tip of the tubular member, at least a distal portion of the cutting tool being configured to selectively bow out of the window and to retract within the window; and a tissue collection device externally attached at least to the tubular member, the tissue collection device collecting tissue excised by the cutting tool as the biopsy device is rotated and the cutting tool is bowed. An excisional biopsy method for soft tissue includes the steps of inserting a generally tubular member into the tissue, the tubular member including a cutting tool adapted to selectively bow away from the tubular member and an external tissue collection device near a distal tip of the tubular member; rotating the tubular member; selectively varying a degree of bowing of the cutting tool; collecting tissue severed by the cutting tool in the tissue collection device; and retracting the tubular member from the soft tissue. The tubular member may include an imaging transducer and the method may include the step of displaying information received from the transducer on a display device and the step of varying the degree of bowing of the cutting tool based upon the displayed information from the imaging transducer. Alternatively, the imaging transducer may be disposed within a removable transducer core adapted to fit within the tubular member.

US Patent:

6780179, Aug 24, 2004

Filed:

May 22, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/155570

Inventors:

Roberta Lee - Redwood City CA
James W. Vetter - Portola Valley CA
Ary S. Chernomorsky - Walnut Creek CA

Assignee:

Rubicor Medical, Inc. - Redwood City CA

International Classification:

A61B 1818

US Classification:

606 34, 606159

Abstract:

A method of marking an orientation of a cut specimen of tissue prior to excision thereof from a body includes steps of disposing a tissue-marking probe in the body adjacent the cut specimen, the tissue-marking probe including a tissue-marking tool configured to selectively mark the cut specimen. A surface of the cut specimen is then marked with the tissue-marking tool such that the orientation of the cut specimen within the body is discernable after the cut specimen is excised from the body. The tissue-marking tool may be configured to selectively bow out of and back into a window defined near a distal tip of the probe and the marking step may include a step of selectively bowing the tissue-marking tool out of the window and following the surface of the cut specimen while rotating the probe. The tissue-marking tool may include an RF cutting tool and the marking step may include a step of coagulating or cauterizing a selected portion of the surface of the cut specimen with the RF cutting tool. Alternatively, the marking step may include a step of delivering dye onto selected portions of the surface of the cut specimen.