(54) METHODS AND DEVICES FOR CUTTING AND COLLECTING SOFT TISSUE
(75) Inventors: James W. Vetter, Portola Valley, CA (US); Ary S. Chernomorsky, Walnut Creek, CA (US); Mark J. Clifford, Los Altos, CA (US); Dan Brounstein, Fremont, CA (US); Scott C. Anderson, Sunnyvale, CA (US)
(73) Assignee: Rubicor Medical, Inc., Redwood City, CA (US)
( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
(21) Appl. No.: 10/272,452
(22) Filed: Oct. 16, 2002
(65) Prior Publication Data
US 2004/0006338 Al Jan. 8, 2004
Related U.S. Application Data
(63) Continuation-in-part of application No. 10/189,277, filed on Jul. 3, 2002.
1,813,902 A 7/1931 Bovie 2,816,552 A 12/1957 Hoffman 3,320,957 A 5/1967 Sokolik
Devices and methods for cutting and collecting a specimen from a mass of tissue. The device may include an integrated cut and collect assembly. The integrated cut and collect assembly includes a cutting portion and a collection portion that includes a flexible membrane. The collection portion of the assembly is attached to the cutting portion thereof. The cutting portion is configured to cut the specimen from the mass of tissue and the collection portion is configured to collect the cut specimen and to encapsulate and isolate the cut specimen within the membrane to enable its safe retraction from the mass of tissue.
22 Claims, 11 Drawing Sheets
