Patent ID: 6214018
Filing Date: 2001-04-10
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
An apparatus for removing tissue from a volume surrounding a region of interest within the body part of a patient, the apparatus comprising:a body part holder adapted to hold the body part immobile and define a predetermined point of reference about the immobile body part;a stereotactic imaging assembly having an radiation transmission source adapted to receive operating instruction signals and to irradiate the body part, and a radiation receiver adapted to transmit image signals corresponding to radiation received from the transmission source passing through the body part, the assembly being further adapted to obtain stereotactic images of the held body part and the region of interest therein;a display adapted to receive display signals and to display stereotactic images of the body part and region of interest therein corresponding to the display signals received;a user interface adapted to interactively enable a user to place a visible boundary around the region of interest of the body part displayed in each stereotactic image and to provide boundary signals representing the location and dimensions of each of the boundaries;a motorized tissue removal tool guiding stage capable of moving relative to the predetermined point of reference, the removal tool being adapted to receive drive signals to drive the stage to a position relative to the predetermined point of reference and being further adapted to provide position indicating signals to indicate the position of the stage relative to the predetermined point of reference;a tissue removal tool held by the tool guiding stage, the tissue removal tool further having a fragmenting tip and a means for removing fragmented tissue from the fragmenting tip; anda controller adapted to:provide operating signals to the radiation source to cause the radiation source to transmit radiation,receive image signals from the radiation receiver,provide display signals to the display based upon the image signals received,receive boundary signals from the user interface,provide boundary display signals to the display based upon the boundary signals received,calculate the size and location of a tissue removal volume relative to the predetermined point of reference based upon the boundary signals received,provide drive signals to the motorized guiding stage to command the stage to move to a position within the calculated tissue removal volume, andreceive position indicating signals from the guiding stage.