Soft tissue morsellator

A soft tissue morsellator for reducing the size of tissue fragments generated during surgery is provided. The morsellator includes a shaft movable within a housing for positioning a receptacle from a retracted position, wherein the receptacle is nested within a distal end of the housing, to an extended position, wherein the receptacle is deployed outside the housing. The shaft is activated by an actuator attached thereto. The receptacle is configured from a pair or plurality of wire hoops having a cutting edge along a portion of each. The soft tissue morsellator is provided with an irrigation liquid drain for removal of reduced tissue fragments and may include a hollow channel in the housing for receiving an endoscope therein to aid in the location of larger tissue fragments.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
The invention relates generally to the field of medical devices. More 
specifically, the present invention relates to a soft tissue morsellator. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
During the course of medical procedures, i.e. prostate surgery and the 
like, large fragments of tissue are often cut that are too bulky and 
difficult to remove with standard techniques such as irrigation and 
curettage. Therefore, a demand exists for a hand-held device to reduce the 
size of the tissue and facilitate removal of the tissue material. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention includes a soft tissue morsellator generally having a 
cutting device which may be operated at the end of an elongated surgical 
instrument to reduce the size of and clear away tissue fragments 
throughout the course of a surgical procedure while still providing for 
minimal invasiveness and easy disassembly for effective sterilization. 
A soft tissue morsellator embodying the present invention has an actuator 
connected to a shaft or the like which is movable through a tubular 
housing and is connected to a basket or receptacle at the opposite end. 
The basket or receptacle functions as the cutting device and consists of a 
number of wire loops or hoops with a cutting edge along at least a portion 
of each, where preferably the cutting edge is formed along the inner 
surface. This cutting device may be withdrawn into the tubular housing or 
expanded therefrom by action of the actuator on the shaft connected to the 
basket or receptacle to present a cutting configuration thereof. 
Additionally, an irrigation drain can be provided at the end of the tubular 
housing near the actuator. Such drain may be connected to an evacuation 
system to aid in the removal of the tissue fragments generated by the 
morsellator. 
As the device is manually operated, there is greater control and 
sensitivity, thereby greatly reducing the risk of damage to surrounding 
tissues. 
Preferably, the soft tissue morsellator includes a channel for an endoscope 
mounted onto the housing so that the instrument may be guided to the 
tissue fragments thereby.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The invention disclosed herein is, of course, susceptible of embodiment in 
many different forms. Shown in the drawings and described hereinbelow in 
detail are certain preferred embodiments of the present invention. It is 
to be understood, however, that the present disclosure is an 
exemplification of the principles of this invention and does not limit the 
invention to the illustrated embodiments. 
Referring to the drawings, a soft tissue morsellator 10 embodying the 
present invention is shown in FIGS. 1-3. Soft tissue morsellator 10 
includes longitudinally collapsible receptacle 22 defined by a plurality 
of flexible loops 24 which have a cutting edge 26 along at least a portion 
of each loop 24, preferably along the inner surface of the loop 24. 
Affixed to the receptacle 22 is a handle 11 with an actuator device 19 
operably associated with the receptacle 22 for manipulating the receptacle 
22 between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. 
Handle 11 includes a tubular housing 12, arranged to be inserted into a 
body orifice, i.e. the urethra, having an open distal end 14 for the 
housing, and a shaft 16 within the tubular housing 12 (FIG. 3) and axially 
movable therein. An optional hollow channel can be provided in tubular 
housing 12 for receiving therein an endoscope or the like viewing system. 
Handle 11 also includes an irrigation liquid drain 15, connectable to an 
evacuation system for removal of liquid and/or material which has been 
comminuted by action of the loops 24. 
Shaft 16 has a cylindrical guide element 13 near distal end 25 of shaft 16 
and a proximal end 18 operably connected to the actuator device 19 for 
imparting axial reciprocal movement to the shaft 16 and positioning basket 
or receptacle 22 from a collapsed configuration within the open distal end 
portion 14 of the tubular housing 12, shown in FIG. 2, to an expanded 
configuration shown in FIG. 1. When expanded, the basket or receptacle 22 
is located outside the tubular housing 12. In another embodiment, the 
shaft 16 may be rotatably mounted within the tubular housing 12. In yet 
another embodiment, shown in FIG. 4 and discussed hereinbelow, a plurality 
of rods or wires can be utilized in lieu of shaft 16. 
As shown in FIGS. 1-4, actuator 19 is constituted by a pair of pivotally 
connected handle elements 20 and 21 connected by fastener 23. One of the 
elements 20 is mounted to the tubular housing 12, and the other one of the 
elements 21 is connected to the shaft 16. 
Basket or receptacle 22 is a longitudinally collapsible, substantially 
globular element mounted to one end of the shaft 16 and is adapted for 
nesting within a distal end portion 14 of the housing 12 when collapsed, 
and for extending beyond the open distal end 14 of the housing 12 when 
expanded. Basket or receptacle 22 is defined by a pair or plurality of 
flexible hoops 24 fixed to the shaft 16 and having a cutting edge 26 along 
a portion of the periphery thereof, preferably along a portion of the 
inner surface thereof. 
As can be seen in FIG. 1 and 9, the flexible hoops 24 are arranged in pairs 
on opposing sides of the shaft 16 and may be interconnected at this point, 
or in another embodiment, interconnected at a location away from the shaft 
16. The hoops 24 are designed to have a memory such that they will bow 
outwardly relative to the interconnected ends of the flexible hoops 24. 
The flexible hoops 24 form a basket or receptacle 22 for grasping tissue 
fragments as will be discussed in greater detail hereinbelow. 
The inner surfaces of the flexible hoops 24 are arranged to face one 
another with a cutting edge 26 along a portion thereof. 
As shown in FIG. 4 in an alternate embodiment, soft tissue morsellator 30 
includes longitudinally collapsible cage 42 constituted by a plurality of 
flexible hoops 44 which have a cutting edge 46 along at least a portion of 
each hoop 44, preferably along the inner surface. Affixed to cage 42 is 
support element 31 with an actuator device 39 operably associated with 
cage 42 for maneuvering cage 42 between a collapsed configuration and an 
expanded configuration. 
Support element 31 includes tubular housing 32 designed to be inserted into 
a body orifice, i.e. the urethra, having an open distal end 34 for the 
housing, and copula 36 within the tubular housing 32 and axially moveable 
therein. As with previous embodiments, an optional hollow channel can be 
provided in tubular housing 32 for receiving therein an endoscope or the 
like viewing system. Support element 31 also includes an irrigation liquid 
drain 35, connectable to an evacuation system for removal of liquid and/or 
material which has been minified by action of the hoops 44. 
Copula 36 includes a plurality of wires 45 connected at a distal end 37 of 
wires 45 to cage 42, and connected at a proximal end 38 of wires 45 to 
ball 33. Ball 33 is operably connected to actuator 39 for imparting axial 
reciprocal movement to wires 45 and positioning cage 42 from a collapsed 
configuration within the open distal end portion 34 of the tubular housing 
32, shown in FIG. 2, to an expanded configuration, shown in FIG. 1. In yet 
another embodiment, wires 45 may be replaced with rods. 
Actuator 39 is constituted by a pair of pivotally connected handle elements 
40 and 41 by a threaded bolt 43. One of the elements 40 is mounted to the 
tubular housing 32, and the other one of the elements is connected to ball 
33. 
Cage 42 is a longitudinally collapsible, substantially globular element 
mounted to the distal end 37 of wires 45 and is adapted for folding within 
a distal end portion 34 of the housing 32 when collapsed, and for 
extending beyond the open distal end 34 of the housing 32 when expanded. 
Cage 42 is defined by at least a pair of flexible loops 44 fixed to the 
distal end 37 of wires 45 having the cutting edge 46 formed along at least 
a portion of an inner surface thereof. 
The hoops 44 are arranged in pairs, each pair having two orthogonal hoops 
44. While a plurality of hoops 44 are preferred, a cage 42 defined by at 
least one pair of hoops is contemplated. The hoops 44 are designed to have 
a memory such that they will bow outwardly relative to the interconnected 
ends of the flexible hoops 44. The flexible hoops 44 form a cage 42 for 
grasping tissue fragments as will be discussed in greater detail 
hereinbelow. 
Referring to the drawings, a soft tissue morsellator 110 embodying the 
present invention is shown in FIGS. 5-8. Correspondingly, where 
appropriate, the last two digits in the 100 series of numerals depicted in 
FIGS. 5-8 are connected to elements which have the same function and/or 
structure as those described with regard to FIGS. 1-4. Soft tissue 
morsellator 110 includes longitudinally collapsible receptacle 122 defined 
by a plurality of flexible wires, preferably formed of nitinol, or loops 
124, have a cutting edge 126 formed along at least a portion of each loop 
124. Additionally, it is contemplated that this embodiment include a 
longitudinally collapsible cage 142 defined by a plurality of flexible 
wires 145 having cutting edge 146 formed along at least a portion thereof. 
Affixed to the receptacle 122 or cage 142 is a handle 111 with an actuator 
device 119 operably associated with the receptacle 122 or cage 142 for 
manipulating the receptacle 122 or cage 142 between a collapsed 
configuration and an extended configuration. 
In the depicted embodiment, receptacle 122 or cage 142 has an elliptical, 
football-like shape when viewed from the side. In the depicted embodiment, 
loop 124 or wires 145, preferably comprised of nitinol wires though other 
wires are contemplated, are interconnected at a distal end 147 of said 
receptacle 122 or cage 142, preferably by welding. 
Handle 111 includes a tubular housing 112, arranged to be inserted into a 
body orifice, i.e. the urethra, having an open distal end 114 for the 
housing, a shaft 116 within the tubular housing 112 (FIG. 7) and axially 
movable therein. An optional hollow channel can be provided in tubular 
housing 112 for receiving therein an endoscope viewing system or the like. 
Handle 111 also includes an irrigation liquid drain 115, connectable to an 
evacuation system for removal of liquid and/or material which has been 
comminuted by action of the loops 124 or wires 145. 
Shaft 116 has a cylindrical guide element 113 near distal end 125 of shaft 
116, and a proximal end 118 operably connected to the actuator device 119 
for imparting axial reciprocal movement to the shaft 116. Imparting axial 
movement to the shaft 116 positions receptacle 122 or cage 142 from a 
collapsed configuration within the open distal end portion 114 of the 
tubular housing 112, shown in FIG. 6, to an extended configuration shown 
in FIG. 5. When extended, the receptacle 122 or cage 142 is located 
outside the tubular housing 112. In another embodiment, the shaft 116 may 
be rotatably mounted within the tubular housing 112. In yet another 
embodiment, shown in FIG. 8 and discussed hereinbelow, a plurality of rods 
or wires can be utilized in lieu of shaft 116. 
As shown in FIGS. 5-7, actuator 119 is constituted by a pair of pivotally 
connected handle elements 120 and 121 connected by fastener 123. One of 
the elements 120 is mounted to the tubular housing 112, and the other one 
of the elements 121 is connected to the shaft 116. 
Receptacle 122 or cage 142 is a longitudinally collapsible, substantially 
elliptically shaped element mounted to one end of the shaft 116 and is 
adapted for nesting within the distal end portion 114 of the housing 112 
when collapsed, and for extending beyond the open distal end 114 of the 
housing 112 when expanded. Receptacle 122 is defined by a pair or 
plurality of flexible hoops 124, preferably having a cutting edge formed 
along a periphery thereof, or wires 145 of a suitable small diameter, 
preferably of nitinol and fixed to the shaft 116 and having a cutting edge 
126 along a portion of the periphery thereof. 
As can be seen in FIG. 5 and 10, the flexible hoops 124 or wires 145 are 
arranged in pairs on opposing sides of the shaft 116 and are 
interconnected at a location away from the shaft 116 at a distal end 147. 
Preferably hoops 124 or wires 145 are welded. The hoops 124 or wires 145 
are designed to have a memory such that they will bow outwardly relative 
to the distal end 147, forming a receptacle 122 or cage 142 for grasping 
tissue fragments as will be discussed in greater detail hereinbelow. 
The inner surfaces of the flexible hoops 124 are arranged to face one 
another with a cutting edge 126 formed along a portion thereof. In the 
preferred embodiment, hoops 124 or wires 145 are formed with a cutting 
edge 126 along at least a portion of an inner surface 148, all facing 
towards a center of the receptacle 122 or cage 142. 
As shown in FIG. 8, yet another embodiment of the present invention is 
depicted. Soft tissue morsellator 130 includes longitudinally collapsible 
cage 142 constituted by a plurality of flexible hoops 144 which have a 
cutting edge 146 along at least a portion of inner surface 148. Affixed to 
cage 142 is support element 131 with an actuator device 139 operably 
associated with cage 142 for maneuvering cage 142 between a collapsed 
configuration and an extended configuration. 
Support element 131 includes tubular housing 132 designed to be inserted 
into a body orifice, i.e. the urethra, an open distal end 134 for the 
housing, and copula 136 within the tubular housing 1:32 and axially 
moveable therein. As with previous embodiments, an optional hollow channel 
can be provided in tubular housing 132 for receiving therein an endoscope 
viewing system or the like. Support element 131 also includes an 
irrigation liquid drain 135, connectable to an evacuation system for 
removal of liquid and/or material which has been minified by action of the 
hoops 144 or wires 145. 
Copula 136 includes the plurality of wires 145 connected at distal end 137 
to the hoops 144 of cage 142, and connected at proximal end 138 to ball 
133. Alternatively, wires 145 and hoops 144 of cage 142 and copula 136 
could be integral therewith. Ball 133 is operably connected to actuator 
139 for imparting axial reciprocal movement to wires 145. Such axial 
reciprocal movement positions cage 142 from a collapsed configuration 
within the open distal end portion 134 of the tubular housing 132, shown 
in FIG. 2, to an expanded extended configuration, shown in FIG. 7. In an 
yet another embodiment, wires 145, preferably formed of nitinol wire, may 
be replaced with rods. 
Actuator 139 is constituted by a pair of pivotally connected handle 
elements 140 and 141 by a threaded bolt 143. One of the elements 140 is 
mounted to the tubular housing 132, and the other one of the elements is 
connected to ball 133. 
Cage 142 is a longitudinally collapsible, substantially globular element 
mounted to the distal end 137 of wires 145 or integral therewith and is 
adapted for folding within a distal end portion 134 of the housing 132 
when collapsed, and for extending beyond the open distal end 134 of the 
housing 132 when expanded. Cage 142 is defined by a pair of plurality of 
flexible wires 145 or loops 144 fixed to distal end 137 or integral 
therewith, said loops 144 having a cutting edge 146 formed along at least 
a portion of an inner surface 148 of each. 
Turning now to FIGS. 11A-11D taken substantially along line 11--11 of FIGS. 
9 and 10, various embodiments of hoops 24 and 44 are depicted in on 
cross-section. As shown, it is contemplated that hoops 24 and 44, and 
wires 145, are formed with outer edge 49 opposite inner edge 48. In one 
embodiment cutting edge 26 is formed along a portion of hoops 24 and 44 
along a portion of inner edge 148. Moreover, outer edge 49 is formed 
having a plurality of shapes only some of which are depicted. It is 
contemplated that hoops 24 and 44 have a flat outer edge (FIG. 11A), a 
rounded outer edge (FIG. 11B), a squared off outer edge (FIG. 11C) or even 
a pointed outer edge (FIG. 11D) among others. FIG. 11E depicts a wire 50 
of sufficiently small diameter to cut soft tissue without using a sharp 
inner surface. FIG. 11F depicts a wire 52 of small diameter with a sharp 
inner surface. 
In use, referring again to FIGS. 1-4, the soft tissue morsellator 10 with 
the shaft 16 and the receptacle 22 in the retracted position is inserted 
into a body orifice. The user directs the soft tissue morsellator 10 to 
the desired location, that is, the location of the tissue fragment, 
optionally using an endoscope. When the soft tissue morsellator 10 is in 
the desired location, the shaft 16 and receptacle 22 are slid into the 
extended position via the actuator 19. As a result of this action, 
flexible hoops 24 extend out from the open distal end 14 of tubular 
housing 12 and form basket 22. Basket 22 is then manipulated such that the 
tissue fragment is entrapped by flexible hoops 24 and is located within 
basket 22. 
The user then squeezes handle elements. 20 and 21 of the soft tissue 
morsellator 10 which slides the shaft 16 and the basket 22 from the 
extended position to the retracted position. As this occurs, the flexible 
loops 24 are withdrawn into the tubular housing 12 at the open distal end 
14. Consequently, the overall size of basket 22 is reduced, causing the 
cutting edge 26 on the inner surfaces of flexible loops 24 to contact the 
entrapped tissue fragment. As the basket 22 is retracted further, the 
flexible hoops 24 cut through the tissue fragment, resulting in several 
smaller tissue fragments. This process can be repeated as needed until the 
tissue fragments are small enough to be easily removed via irrigation and 
liquid drain 15, or other suitable method. 
The third and fourth embodiments of the soft tissue morsellator 110 are 
used in the same fashion as the first and second embodiments. The soft 
tissue morsellator 110 is placed in position at the desired location. 
Manipulating actuator 119 causes the shaft 116 and receptacle 122 or cage 
142 to slide into the extended position. The flexible wires 145 extend out 
of the open distal end 114 of the housing 112, forming basket 122 or cage 
142, so that the tissue fragments are entrapped. 
Squeezing handle elements 120 and 121 slides the shaft 116 and receptacle 
122 or cage 142 to the retracted position. The overall size of basket 122 
or cage 142 is reduced, causing the cutting edge 126 on the inner surface 
148 of wires 145 to contact the entrapped tissue fragments as receptacle 
122 or cage 142 is retracted further, the wires 145 cut through the tissue 
fragment, thereby resulting in several small tissue fragments. 
It is of note that the number of sub-fragments produced from the initial 
tissue fragment is directly proportional to the number of flexible loops 
24. However, fewer flexible loops 24 will enable larger fragments to pass 
between the loops into the basket. As is apparent, any number of flexible 
loops 24 may be used provided that the remaining receptacle or basket 22 
can admit a tissue fragment therein. 
The foregoing specification and drawings are intended as illustrative, and 
are not to be taken as limiting. Still other variations, modifications and 
rearrangements of parts are possible without departing from the spirit and 
scope of the present invention.