TISSUE COLLECTION DEVICE

A tissue collection device including a sheath member that has a first threaded portion on the inner surface of the sheath member and a puncture tube positionable in the interior of the sheath member. The puncture tube is axially movable in distal and proximal directions relative to the sheath member. The puncture tube has a second threaded portion on the outer surface of the puncture tube that threadedly engages with the first threaded portion when the puncture tube is within the interior of the sheath member. At least one of the distal end of the sheath member and the distal end of the puncture tube includes a blade to incise tissue from a living body.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to a device configured to perform tissue collection quantitatively (a device configured to collect a predetermined amount of tissue without relying on manual operation).

BACKGROUND DISCUSSION

Regenerative medical products are obtained by performing a process such as cultivation for human cells using a human tissue or the like as a raw material. In order to produce regenerative medical products, it is necessary to secure a certain amount of tissue for the regenerative medical product. The human body is thus incised by a scalpel or the like to collect the tissue. However, this type of method is relatively high in invasiveness and has a relatively large impact on the human body.

A tissue collection needle for biopsy or the like is available as a relatively low invasive means. However, the tissue collection needle or the like is for collecting a (relatively) very small amount of tissue for inspection, and it is necessary to use such a needle as described above multiple times in the human body in order to secure an amount of tissue necessary for a regenerative medical product.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-60859 discloses a cell tissue collector that includes a tubular body having a distal portion formed in a shape of a needle of a syringe and a brush bar that possesses a distal portion formed in a shape of a needle and has brush hair provided in a projecting manner in the proximity of the distal portion. The brush bar of this cell tissue collector fits into the tubular body such that the brush hair and the distal needle are moved into and out of the tubular body to collect cells from a wide range in an internal organ. The cell tissue collector has a problem, however, in being relatively high in invasiveness or the like in the human body.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2012-235878 discloses a biopsy device that includes a tube shaped sheath and a core shaft configuring a needle main body having a spiral groove at a distal portion of the needle main body. According to this biopsy device, the core shaft is moved into and out of the sheath to collect tissue into the spiral groove. However, this biopsy device has a relatively small collection amount because the core shaft occupies the volume in the sheath.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2015-85141 discloses a puncture needle that includes a sheath member, a needle tube, and a needle member having a rotary blade. Graduations are provided on a needle member operation unit and a needle tube operation unit. The puncture needle is configured so that the operator adjusts the length over which the needle member projects while viewing the graduations. However, since such adjustment relies upon the manipulation of the operator, such a problem that tissue cannot be collected quantitatively or the like is concerned.

SUMMARY

The inventor of the present invention has identified problems such as a conventional biopsy device that collects tissue through back and forth movement of a needle member cannot secure a sufficient amount of tissue by a single operation, that there is a difference in collection amount depending upon the manipulation of the operator, and so forth. The device of this application may help address these problems by collecting tissue quantitatively (i.e., of a predetermined amount) by a simple operation.

The inventor has conducted intensive research in order to develop a device with which any person can quantitatively collect tissue by a simple operation while preventing differences in collection amounts due to different manipulations by the operator (i.e., a device that requires manual operation to control the amount of tissue collected may result in differing amounts of tissue collected in separate uses). The inventor has found that tissue can be collected quantitatively by controlling forward and backward movement of a tissue collection device by a threaded engagement mechanism.

In particular, the tissue collection device disclosed in this application relates to the following.

In one aspect, the disclosure relates to a tissue collection device including a sheath member that has a first threaded portion on the inner surface of the sheath member and a puncture tube positionable in the interior of the sheath member. The puncture tube is axially movable in distal and proximal directions relative to the sheath member. The puncture tube has a second threaded portion on the outer surface of the puncture tube that threadedly engages with the first threaded portion when the puncture tube is within the interior of the sheath member. At least one of the distal end of the sheath member and the distal end of the puncture tube includes a blade to incise tissue from a living body.

In another aspect, the disclosure involves a tissue collection device for collecting tissue in a living body. The tissue collection device includes a sheath member comprising a main body and a first threaded portion. The sheath member extends in an axial direction from a distal end to a proximal end. The first threaded portion of the sheath member is proximal to the main body. The sheath member is a tubular body with the distal and proximal ends being open. The first threaded portion is on the inner surface of the sheath member. The sheath member possesses an outer surface, an inner surface and an inner diameter. A puncture tube is positionable in the sheath member, the puncture tube extending in the axial direction from a distal end to a proximal end. The puncture tube includes a blade at the distal end of the puncture tube and a second threaded portion proximal to the blade. The second threaded portion is on the outer surface of the puncture tube. The puncture tube possesses an outer surface, an inner surface and an outer diameter. The second threaded portion on the outer surface of the puncture tube is configured to threadedly engage the first threaded portion on the inner surface of the sheath member when the puncture tube is positioned in the sheath member so that relative rotation between the sheath member and the puncture tube in one rotational direction axially moves the blade into the tissue in the living body to incise an amount of tissue, and so that relative rotation between the sheath member and the puncture tube in the opposite rotation direction axially moves the blade out of the living body with the incised tissue held at the distal end of the puncture tube. The inner diameter of the main body of the sheath member is smaller than the outer diameter of the second threaded portion of the puncture tube, such that the second threaded portion of the puncture tube is prevented from moving distally into the main body of the sheath member.

In yet another aspect, the disclosure involves a method for extracting a predetermined amount of tissue from a living body. The method includes contacting the living body with a distal end of a sheath member and axially moving a puncture tube positioned inside the sheath member in a distal direction relative to the sheath member to cause a distal end of the puncture tube to contact the tissue in the living body. The axially moving of the puncture tube relative to the sheath member occurring by virtue of a threaded portion of the puncture tube threadedly engaging a threaded portion of the sheath member. The method includes incising the predetermined amount of the tissue in the living body while axially moving the puncture tube in the distal direction and automatically stopping the axial movement of the puncture tube relative to the sheath member in the distal direction after the predetermined amount of the tissue has been incised. The method includes extracting the predetermined amount of the tissue from the living body.

[4] The tissue collection device according to any one of aforesaid [1] to [3], in which the puncture tube includes an outer side tubular body and an inner side tubular body fitted for back and forth movement in the outer side tubular body.

[5] The tissue collection device according to aforesaid [4], in which the inner side tubular body has a groove extending in an axial direction thereof.

[6] The tissue collection device according to any one of aforesaid [1] to [5], further including:

a vessel for accommodating the puncture tube, the vessel having a third threaded portion for threaded engaging with the second threaded portion.

[7] The tissue collection device according to any one of aforesaid [1] to [6], in which at least part is configured from an optically transparent material.

The device of this application can quantitatively collect tissue by a simple operation. Further, by using the device disclosed here, tissue can be quantitatively collected by a single time operation without depending upon the manipulation of the operator, and therefore, relatively low invasiveness in the living body (i.e., patient) can be achieved.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Set forth below with reference to the accompanying drawings is a detailed description of embodiments of a tissue collection device and a method of tissue collection representing examples of the inventive tissue collection device and method disclosed here. Note that the size of each member (i.e., component) in the figures is suitably emphasized for illustration purposes and does not necessarily correlate to an actual ratio or magnitude. In the following description, the term “proximal portion” and “proximal end” signifies an end portion or end of the device on the operator side, and the term “distal portion” and “distal end” signifies an end portion or end of the device on the tissue side (i.e., in the living body during tissue collection).

A first embodiment of a device disclosed in this application is first described in relation toFIG. 1.FIG. 1is a sectional view schematically depicting the device according to the first embodiment. The device includes a sheath member1(i.e., a sheath) and a puncture tube2. The puncture tube2can be fitted for back and forth movement in the sheath member1(i.e., the puncture tube2is configured to axially move distally and proximally within the sheath member1relative to the sheath member1). Both the sheath member1and the puncture tube2have a form of a tubular body (i.e., the sheath member1and the puncture tube2are each tubular). The sheath member1has a first threaded portion11provided in a projecting manner on an inner face on the proximal side of the sheath member11(i.e., the first threaded portion11extends radially inward from the inner surface of the sheath member1). The sheath member1includes a distal portion12formed as a blade of a pointed shape that is inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to a long axis (longitudinal axis) of the sheath member1. The distal portion12can thus pierce the tissue. The puncture tube2has a second threaded portion21provided in a projecting manner on an outer face on the proximal side of the puncture tube21(i.e., the second threaded portion21extends radially outward from the outer surface of the puncture tube2) for threadedly engaging with (i.e., threaded engagement with) the first threaded portion11. The length of the first threaded portion11is substantially equal to the length of the second threaded portion21, and the length of the distal side of the sheath member1with respect to the first threaded portion11is substantially equal to the length of the distal side of the puncture tube2with respect to the second threaded portion21(i.e., the length of the sheath member1that is distal to the first threaded portion11is the same or about the same as the length of the puncture tube2that is distal to the second threaded portion21).

A spiral blade3is provided in a projecting manner on the inner face at a distal portion22of the puncture tube2(i.e., the spiral blade3extends radially inward from the inner surface of the puncture tube2at a distal portion22of the puncture tube2). An operation unit24(e.g., a plunger) is provided at a proximal portion23of the puncture tube2. The outer diameter of the proximal side of the sheath member1on which the first threaded portion11is provided is greater than the outer diameter of the sheath member1distal to the first threaded portion11. A stopper13is formed by this offset (i.e., difference) between the outer diameters as shown inFIG. 1. The inner diameter of the sheath member1distal to the first threaded portion11is smaller than the outer diameter of the second threaded portion21of the puncture tube2such that the second threaded portion21is not engaged with the distal side farther than the first threaded portion11of the sheath member1(i.e., the second threaded portion21is prevented from moving within the sheath member1distally beyond the distal end of the first threaded portion11).

FIGS. 2A to 2Dare sectional views schematically depicting an example use of the device according to the first embodiment that is shown inFIG. 1. The distal portion12of the sheath member1first punctures an application region of the living body to perform incision and cutting out of the tissue and takes the tissue (i.e., gathers or collects the tissue) into the inner side of the sheath member1(FIG. 2A). Since the sheath member1has the stopper13, such a problem that the sheath member1inadvertently enters the application region, or a similar problem, is less likely to occur. The sheath member1may have graduations on an outer face of the sheath member1such that the puncture depth of the sheath member1at the application region can be confirmed by the operator.

The puncture tube2is then inserted into the sheath member1until the second threaded portion21of the puncture tube2and the first threaded portion11of the sheath member1are threadedly engaged with each other and the operation unit24is operated (i.e., rotated) to rotate the puncture tube2(as shown inFIG. 2B). While the puncture tube2rotates, it is threadedly engaged in a direction toward the distal end of the sheath member1(i.e., in a downward arrow mark direction ofFIG. 2B) so that the puncture tube2moves distally or in a distal direction relative to the sheath member1. The puncture tube2thus progressively collects the tissue in the sheath member1into the inner side of the puncture tube2while the spiral blade3of the puncture tube2shreds the tissue in the sheath member1. The puncture tube2is preferably rotated in this manner while the sheath member1is fixed relative to the living body (i.e., puncture site).

The threaded engagement of the puncture tube2is stopped in the middle (i.e., in a fully engaged position between the first and second threaded portions11,21) as shown inFIG. 2Cbecause the inner diameter of the distal side of the sheath member1is smaller than the outer diameter of the second threaded portion21of the puncture tube2. In particular, even if the operator attempts to operate (i.e., rotate) the operation unit24further, the puncture tube2does not rotate and does not advance distally relative to the sheath member1. When the tissue is to be taken out (i.e., removed or extracted), either the sheath member1is pulled out in a direction of an upward arrow mark together with the puncture tube2or the puncture tube2is rotated in the opposite direction to pull out the puncture tube2in the direction of the upward arrow mark as shown inFIG. 2D(i.e., proximally relative to the sheath member1). When the puncture tube2is rotated to be pulled out (i.e., moved proximally relative to the sheath member1), the sheath member1and the puncture tube2may be rotated integrally in advance such that the tissue in the puncture tube2is cut away with certainty (i.e., a predetermined amount of tissue is collected) from the application region by the spiral blade3. Here, the threaded engagement between the sheath member1and the puncture tube2may be structured such that, if the puncture tube2is threadedly engaged to a fixed position in the sheath member1, then the puncture tube2begins to idly rotate and does not retract proximally farther in the axial direction (i.e., when the puncture tube2moves proximally relative to the sheath member1such that the first and second threaded portions11,21no longer engage with one another, the puncture tube2rotates relative to the sheath member1but does not move proximally against the first threaded portion11). When the puncture tube2idly rotates in the sheath member1in this manner, the puncture tube2(i.e., via the spiral blade3) can cut away the tissue of the living body. The tissue can thereby be collected with relatively lower invasiveness than that the invasiveness of an alternative case in which the puncture tube2is rotated together with the sheath member1to cut away the tissue.

As described above, a problem that the puncture tube2inadvertently enters the application region of the living body (i.e., puncture site) or a similar problem is less likely to occur because the disclosed device controls the movement of the puncture tube2in the distal and proximal directions using threaded engagement (i.e., via the first and second threaded portions11,21) with the sheath member1. Further, since the distance of the back and forth movement of the puncture tube2depends upon the distance of rotation of the operation unit24, for example, the collection amount of tissue can be adjusted quantitatively by the number of rotations of the operation unit24. In other words, a predetermined amount of tissue may be collected based on a predetermined number of rotations of the operation unit24. The stopper13on the outer face of the sheath member1may make the sheath member1inadvertently entering the application region (or a similar problem) relatively less likely to occur when the sheath member1punctures the application region of the living body.

Since the puncture tube2of the present invention is a tubular body, a sufficient amount of tissue can be collected into the inner side of the puncture tube2. Further, the puncture tube2can advance while rotating in the application region and can shred the tissue because the spiral blade3is provided in a projecting manner on the inner surface of the puncture tube2. The spiral blade3achieves a function of a lid (i.e., acts as a collecting member to collect the living body tissue) at the distal portion22of the puncture tube2. That is, when the sheath member1and/or the puncture tube2are to be pulled out from the living body in a state in which tissue is collected in the puncture tube2, the spiral blade3can help prevent the tissue from falling from (i.e., out of) the distal portion22of the puncture tube2.

FIGS. 3A and 3Bare partial sectional views schematically depicting the spiral blade3of the tissue collection device. As depicted inFIG. 3A, the spiral blade3includes two plate-shaped members32each having a blade31at a distal edge thereof. The two plate-shaped members32are inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to the long axis (longitudinal axis) of the puncture tube2. The blade31is disposed such that it is inclined with respect to the plane perpendicular to the long axis of the puncture tube2and can cut obliquely into the surface of the application region to shred the tissue of the living body. The spiral blade3is provided in a projecting manner on an inner face of a distal portion22of the puncture tube2(i.e., the spiral blade3extends radially inwardly from the inner surface of the puncture tube2along a length of the distal portion22of the puncture tube2). The length of the spiral blade3in the axial direction is smaller than the length of the puncture tube2in the axial direction. In particular, the spiral blade3is not provided on the proximal side with respect to the distal portion of the puncture tube2(i.e., the spiral blade3is only located in the vicinity of the distal end of the puncture tube2as shown inFIGS. 1-3) and is not an obstacle when the tissue collected in the puncture tube2is to be taken out (i.e., removed from the puncture tube2). The spiral blade3is fixed to the inner face of the puncture tube2. A support such as an auger screw thus does not occupy the volume of the puncture tube2, and so a relatively greater amount of tissue can be collected in the puncture tube2.

FIG. 3Bis a view of the puncture tube2on which the spiral blade3is provided in a projecting manner as viewed from the axial direction (i.e.,FIG. 3Bshows a cross-section of the puncture tube2at the location of the spiral blade3). The plate-shaped members32have a sectoral shape of an angle of 90 degrees as viewed from the axial direction (i.e., the plate-shaped members32each are a quarter of a circular disc as shown inFIG. 3B). The two plate-shaped members32are provided in a projecting manner at positions opposing to each other (i.e., diametrically opposite) on the inner face of the puncture tube2. In other words, the two plate-shaped members32are disposed such that they draw a double spiral in the puncture tube2and can shred the tissue more finely (relatively). The two blades31of the two plate-shaped members32are disposed such that they cross the diameter (i.e., span across the inner diameter of the puncture tube2as shown inFIG. 3B) of the puncture tube2. When the puncture tube2is to be inserted into an application region of a living body while being rotated, the spiral blade3is thus likely to cut into the tissue. The tissue collected in the puncture tube2can be held with a higher degree of certainty because the two plate-shaped members32oppose one another around the inner circumference of the puncture tube2.

The device according to the first embodiment can thereby collect tissue quantitatively (i.e., by a set or predetermined amount) by a single time operation without depending upon the manipulation of the operator (i.e., manual operation to draw a certain or desired amount of tissue), and therefore, relatively low invasiveness of the living body can be achieved.

The sheath member1of the disclosed tissue collective device is not limited to that of the first embodiment but can assume various modifications. For example, the stopper13of the sheath member1is not limited to such a stopper that utilizes an offset as described above. For example, a flange portion may be provided which can be fixed to an outer face of the sheath member1but is slidably movable in the axial direction of the sheath member1. This flange portion may allow quantitative tissue collection to be achieved by slidably moving the flange portion with reference to such graduations on the outer face of the sheath member1in a similar manner to that described above.

The spiral pitch of the spiral blade3may be made equal to the thread pitch between the first and second threaded portions11,21of the puncture tube2and the sheath member1. Consequently, it is possible to minimize destruction of the tissue by the spiral blade3and advance the spiral blade3smoothly into the tissue. The angle of the two plate-shaped members32configuring the spiral blade3as viewed from the axial direction is not limited to 90 degrees and can be set freely within the range of 1 to 360 degrees or exceeding 360 degrees. In particular, the spiral blade3may be a blade in the form of a string, a sectoral blade or a spiral blade of 360 degrees or more. Also the number of such plate-shaped members32is not limited to two but can be set freely, for example, from one plate-shaped member to ten or more plate-shaped members. The projection height of the spiral blade3in the center direction (i.e., the extension length of the spiral blade3inward from the inner surface of the puncture tube2) may be greater than the radius of the puncture tube2to increase the cutting away effect of the tissue.

Second Embodiment

Now, a second embodiment of a tissue collection device is described in relation toFIG. 4.FIG. 4is a sectional view schematically depicting the device according to the second embodiment. Note that, in the following description, portions/components that are equivalent to those of the device according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference characters and description of these portions/components is omitted.

In the embodiment shown inFIG. 4, a puncture tube2A includes an inner side tubular body5(shown in the center ofFIG. 4) and an outer side tubular body4(shown on the left side ofFIG. 4). The inner side tubular body5is fitted for back and forth movement (i.e., proximal and distal movement) in the outer side tubular body4as shown in the right side ofFIG. 4(i.e., the inner side tubular body5fits within and is movable relative to the outer side tubular body4). The outer side tubular body4has an opening43on the proximal side of the outer side tubular body4such that the inner side tubular body5can be fitted into the outer side tubular body4from the proximal side. The outer diameter of the inner side tubular body5(distal to the grasping unit51) is thus smaller than the inner diameter of the outer side tubular body4as shown inFIG. 4. The inner side tubular body5has a spiral blade3provided in a projecting manner on an inner face thereof, and the outer side tubular body4has a threaded portion41provided in a projecting manner on an outer face thereof. The first threaded portion11of the sheath member1can be threadedly engaged with the threaded portion41of the outer side tubular body4in a similar manner as discussed above regardingFIG. 1. The tissue of the living body may thus be collected into the inside of the inner side tubular body5.

A grasping unit51is provided on the proximal side of the inner side tubular body5. The outer diameter of the grasping unit51is greater than the inner diameter of the outer side tubular body4so that the grasping unit51is prevented from entering the interior of the outer side tubular body4. Although an operator can grip the grasping unit51to slidably move the inner side tubular body5in the outer side tubular body4(and relative to the outer side tubular body4), the advancement of the grasping unit51is stopped on the proximal side of the outer side tubular body4. The grasping unit51can be removably fixed to an operation unit44of the outer side tubular body4, so that the outer side tubular body4and the inner side tubular body5can be rotated integrally.

A reduced thickness portion T extending in the axial direction is provided on the inner side tubular body5. The tissue of the living body can be taken out (i.e., removed or extracted) readily by an operator pulling out the inner side tubular body5from the outer side tubular body4(i.e., retracting the inner side tubular body5in the proximal direction relative to the outer side tubular body4) and putting a bar-like member or air into the inner side tubular body5from the proximal side (or by like means) to push out the tissue to the distal side or dividing (i.e., splitting or opening) the inner side tubular body5longitudinally along the reduced thickness portion T. The inner side tubular body5is configured from an optically transparent material and has graduations52on an outer face of the inner side tubular body5. Accordingly, the operator can confirm the amount of tissue collected in the inner side tubular body5from outside of the inner side tubular body5. If the tissue collection amount is relatively small (i.e., too small), a sufficient amount of tissue can be taken in by returning the inner side tubular body5into the outer side tubular body4and rotating the puncture tube2A in the sheath member1again.

Since the device according to the second embodiment can collect tissue quantitatively by a single time operation without depending upon the manipulation of the operator, relatively low invasiveness can be achieved.

The puncture tube2A is not restricted to the embodiment ofFIG. 4, but can assume various modifications. For example, both the inner side tubular body5and the outer side tubular body4may be configured from an optically transparent material such that the collection amount of tissue can be confirmed only by taking the puncture tube2A out from the sheath member1. The sheath member1may also be configured from an optically transparent material such that the collection amount of tissue can be confirmed without taking out the puncture tube2A from the sheath member1.

Third Embodiment

A third embodiment of a tissue collection device is described in relation toFIG. 5.FIG. 5is a sectional view schematically depicting the device according to the third embodiment. In the following description, the portions/components of the devices according to the first and second embodiments described above are denoted by the same reference characters and description of these portions/components is omitted.

FIG. 5illustrates that the length of a sheath member1A (i.e., depicted on the left side ofFIG. 5) on the distal side with respect to a first threaded portion11(i.e., the length of the sheath member1A distal to the first threaded portion11) is smaller than the length of a puncture tube2B (i.e., depicted in the center ofFIG. 5) on the distal side with respect to a second threaded portion21(i.e., the length of the puncture tube2B distal to the second threaded portion21). A distal portion12A of the sheath member1A extends in parallel to a plane perpendicular to the long axis of the sheath member1A. The distal portion12A of the sheath member1A is designed such that it has no blade provided thereon (i.e., the sheath member1A is devoid of a blade) and, even if the distal portion12A of the sheath member1A is pressed against an application region of a living body, the sheath member1A does not pierce the application region. A distal portion22B of the puncture tube2B extends in parallel to a plane perpendicular to the long axis of the puncture tube2B. The inner face of the puncture tube2B does not possess a spiral blade provided thereon as shown inFIG. 5, and instead, a blade22C is provided at a lower end of the puncture tube2B (namely, at the distal portion22B). Accordingly, the distal portion22B of the puncture tube2B can puncture an application region to perform incision and cutting out of tissue and can then take in (i.e., collect) the tissue into the inner side of the puncture tube2B. An opening25is provided at a proximal portion23(proximal end as shown inFIG. 5) of the puncture tube2B. If the puncture tube2B is fitted into the sheath member1A so that the first and second threaded portions11,21threadedly engage with one another, then the distal side of the puncture tube2B is exposed from (i.e., extends distally beyond) the distal portion12A of the sheath member1A (as shown on the right side ofFIG. 5).

FIGS. 6A and 6Bare sectional views depicting an example of use of the device according to the third embodiment. The distal portion12A of the sheath member1A is placed on the surface of an application region (e.g., the skin) of a living body as shown inFIG. 6A. The sheath member1A does not pierce the application region because the distal portion12A of the sheath member1A does not have a blade and is not configured to puncture the skin. The puncture tube2B is then inserted into the sheath member1A such that the second threaded portion21of the puncture tube2B and the first threaded portion11of the sheath member1A are threadedly engaged with each other. The operation unit24is then operated to rotate the puncture tube2B. The blade22C provided at the distal portion22B of the puncture tube2B incises the surface of the application region to cut away tissue and collects the cut tissue into the inner side of the puncture tube2B as shown inFIG. 6B. When the tissue is to be removed from the living body, the inside of the puncture tube2B is enclosed in a state in which the opening25of the puncture tube2B is closed with a finger or the like, and the puncture tube2B is pulled out (i.e., retracted proximally) together with the sheath member1A. By this, the tissue can be extracted from the application region.

The device illustrated inFIG. 5can thus collect tissue quantitatively (i.e., a set or predetermined amount) by a single time operation without depending upon the manipulation of the operator, and therefore, relatively low invasiveness of the living body can be achieved.

The puncture tube2B is not limited to any particular embodiment, but can assume various modifications. For example, in addition to the blade at the distal portion22B of the puncture tube2B, a spiral blade may be provided in a projecting manner on the inner face of the puncture tube2B (i.e., the blade may extend radially inward from the inner surface of the puncture tube2B at a distal portion of the puncture tube2B). The opening25may be openable and closeable such that the inside of the puncture tube2B is enclosed without depending upon the manipulation by the operator. The puncture tube2B may include a piston member that can be inserted into the opening25. The piston member can be slidably moved in the puncture tube2B to draw up tissue taken in the puncture tube2B to the proximal portion23side (i.e., urge the tissue in the proximal direction), or conversely push out the tissue from the distal portion22side of the puncture tube2B (i.e., urge the tissue in the distal direction).

FIGS. 7A and 7Bare sectional views schematically depicting a vessel of the present disclosure. As depicted inFIG. 7A, a vessel6is a bottomed tubular vessel that can accommodate liquid in the inside of the vessel6. The liquid is not restricted, and, for example, liquid medium, physiological saline solution, isotonic solution, buffer solution, cryoprotectant and so forth can be used. The vessel6has an opening62, and a third threaded portion61is provided in a projecting manner on the inner side of the opening62(i.e., the third threaded portion extends radially inward from the inner surface of the vessel6as shown inFIG. 7A). The third threaded portion61is threadedly engageable with the second threaded portion21of the puncture tube2in the first embodiment, the second threaded portion41of the puncture tube2A in the second embodiment, and/or the second threaded portion21of the puncture tube2B in the third embodiment. The vessel6can accommodate the puncture tube2, puncture tube2A and puncture tube2B therein.FIG. 7Bdepicts the puncture tube2A accommodated in the vessel6.

By threadedly engaging the second threaded portion41of the puncture tube2A with the third threaded portion61of the vessel6, it is possible to threadedly engage the puncture tube2A with certainty in the vessel6to place the vessel6into an enclosed state. Tissue is taken in the puncture tube2A (i.e., the puncture tube2A has previously extracted tissue from a living body and contains the tissue) and is preserved in a state in which the tissue is immersed in the liquid in the vessel6. The grasping unit51of the inner side tubular body5of the puncture tube2A can be gripped to pull out (i.e., retract proximally) the inner side tubular body5from the puncture tube2A to confirm the state of the tissue in the vessel6. The state of the tissue can be confirmed simply by this operation. Here, the vessel6and the outer side tubular body4may be configured from an optically transparent material such that the state of the tissue can be confirmed from the outside of the vessel6.

While the devices according to various embodiments have been described, the present disclosure is not limited to any particular embodiment(s). Those skilled in the art can design a device having a different configuration or shape by suitably combining the components and the shapes of the devices according to the above description. For example, the blade may be provided selectively at the distal end or distal portion of the sheath member1, at the distal end or distal portion of the puncture tube2or at the distal end or distal portion of the plate-shaped member32of the puncture tube2. A blade of a spiral shape as is used in an auger screw may be provided in a projecting manner on the inner face of the puncture tube2or a spiral blade may be attached to a support like an auger screw so as to be slidably movable in the axial direction of the puncture tube2.

In the present invention, it is possible to replace the components with desired components that can exhibit similar functions or to add desired components.

The detailed description above describes a tissue collection device and a method for using a tissue collection device. The invention is not limited, however, to the precise embodiments and variations described. Various changes, modifications and equivalents can be effected by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims. It is expressly intended that all such changes, modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the claims are embraced by the claims.