Arming device for a medical instrument

The arming device for use in manipulating with one hand a medical instrument comprises first and second telescoping members. The instrument members are longitudinally movable relative to one another, and the device comprises an arcuate flexible member having a forward portion and a rearward portion with means at the forward portion for engaging the first member of the instrument and means at the rearward portion for engaging the second member whereby squeezing of the flexible member laterally toward the instrument causes the first and second telescoping members to move longitudinally away from each other thereby to cause arming or operation of the instrument. The method of using the arming device comprises the steps of connecting a distal end of a distal longitudinally movable telescoping member of a medical instrument to first engaging means of the device and connecting a proximal end of a proximal longitudinally movable telescoping member of the medical instrument to second engaging means of the device which is spaced from the first engaging means; placing an assembly of the device with the instrument members engaged thereto in the palm of the hand; and placing a squeezing force, directed laterally toward the instrument, upon at least an area of the device which lies alongside the medical instrument between the engaging means to flex the device, elongating the device along an axis parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the instrument to cause the telescoping members of the instrument to move longitudinally away from one another.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to an arming device for use with a medical 
instrument, such as a biopsy instrument, which allows the instrument to be 
armed, or readied for use, with one hand. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Heretofore an instrument for performing a biopsy, such as a core biopsy, 
has been proposed in applicant's copending U.S. patent application Ser. 
No. 150,984 for: SOFT TISSUE CORE BIOPSY INSTRUMENT, the teachings of 
which are incorporated herein by reference. The instrument is operable 
with one hand. 
The arming device of the present invention is designed for use with the 
core biopsy instrument referred to above or for use with a syringe-type 
instrument for performing an aspiration biopsy. The arming device is 
squeezed to extend longitudinally movable sections of the instrument away 
from each other to arm or operate the instrument. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
According to the invention there is provided an arming device for use in 
manipulating with one hand a medical instrument comprising first and 
second telescoping members, said instrument members being longitudinally 
movable relative to one another, said device comprising a medical 
instrument having first and second telescoping members longitudinally 
moveable relative to one another; 
an arcuate flexible member having a forward portion and a rearward portion; 
first means at said forward portion for engaging said first telescoping 
member and second means at said rearward portion for engaging said second 
telescoping member whereby squeezing of said flexible member laterally 
toward said instrument causes said first and second telescoping members to 
move longitudinally away from each other thereby to cause arming or 
operation of the instrument. 
Further according to the invention there is provided a method of using an 
arming device comprising the steps of: 
connecting a distal end of a distal longitudinally movable telescoping 
member of a medical instrument to first engaging means of the device; 
connecting a proximal end of a proximal longitudinally movable telescoping 
member of the medical instrument to second engaging means of the device, 
said second engaging means being spaced from said first engaging means; 
placing an assembly of the device with the instrument members engaged 
thereto in the palm of the hand; and 
placing a squeezing force, directed laterally toward the instrument, upon 
at least an area of the device which lies alongside the medical instrument 
between the engaging means to flex the device, elongating the device along 
an axis parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the instrument to cause 
the telescoping members of the instrument to move longitudinally away from 
one another.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, there is shown in FIG. 1 a 
first embodiment of an arming device 10 constructed in accordance with the 
teachings of the present invention. The arming device 10 comprises an 
arcuate flexible member 12 which in this embodiment includes a circular 
ring 14 which is made of a flexible or deformable material, such as 
stainless steel, polycarbonate, polypropylene or ABS. 
The ring 14 is shown attached to or mounted onto a biopsy instrument 20. 
The biopsy instrument 20 can be of the type disclosed in copending U.S. 
patent application Ser. No. 150,984 or: SOFT TISSUE CORE BIOPSY 
INSTRUMENT, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
The arming device 10 with attached biopsy instrument 20 forms an assembly 
22 which is shown resting in the palm 23 of a user's hand 24, 
substantially as the user would hold the assembly 22 for use. 
The biopsy instrument 20 comprises two telescoping barrel members 26 and 28 
which are longitudinally movable relative to one another. The instrument 
20 is shown being "armed" or readied for use by the placement of a 
compressive force, at 29, upon areas 32 of the ring 14, lying generally 
parallel to a longitudinal axis of, and alongside of, the instrument 20, 
by fingers 33 of the user's hand 24. 
As better illustrated in FIG. 2, when a compressive force is applied to the 
areas 32 of the ring 14, the ring 14 is deformed to an oval shape, as 
shown in phantom. Since each of the barrel members 26, 28 is attached to 
the ring at forward and rearward points 34, 36, respectively, with the 
points 34, 36 being directly opposite one another along a diameter of the 
ring 14, this deformation produces a separation of the barrel members 26 
and 28 in the longitudinal direction, which "arms" or readies the 
instrument 20 for use as described in copending application Ser. No. 
150,989. 
As shown in FIG. 3, the ring 14 is provided with two openings or notches 40 
and 42 at the opposed points 34, 36, on the ring 14. The notches 40 and 42 
are shown to be rectangular, each notch 40, 42 extending from an opposite 
side edge 44 or 46 of the ring 14 into a wall 48 of the ring 14. 
The notch 40 is sized and configured to receive the barrel member 26 
therein. For the purpose of engaging the barrel member 26 within the notch 
40, a peripheral, partially or fully annular groove (not shown) may be 
provided in the barrel member 26, within which a wall area 50 of the ring 
14 surrounding and at the edge of the notch 40 may be received. 
The notch 42 is sized and configured to fit over the barrel member 28, just 
forward of a rear flange 52 (FIG. 2) of the barrel member 28. When the 
ring 14 is deformed or squeezed against the instrument 20, the wall area 
50 of the ring 14 surrounding the notch 42 pushes against this flange 52 
while the wall area 50 surrounding the notch 40 pushes against a distal 
wall of the groove (not shown) in the barrel member 26 to cause the two 
barrel members 26 and 28 to separate longitudinally. 
During the process of separating the two barrel members 26 and 28, the 
instrument 20 is "armed" for use, as disclosed in copending U.S. patent 
application Ser. No. 150,984, referred to above. 
Use of the arming device 10, however, need not be limited to use with the 
core biopsy instrument 20. 
In FIGS. 4 and 5, a syringe arming device 60 is illustrated and forms a 
second embodiment of the arming device of the present invention. The 
arming device 60 forms part of an assembly 62 including a syringe 64 for 
one handed operation and control of the syringe 64, such as during an 
aspiration biopsy. 
In this embodiment, the syringe arming device 60 can include a syringe 
mounting sleeve 66 in addition to a ring 68 which is made of a deformable 
material and is similar to the ring 14 shown in FIGS. 1-3. Two openings or 
notches 70 and 72 again are provided at first (forward) and second 
(rearward) points on the ring 68 and extend into a wall 74 of the ring 68 
from opposite side edges 76 and 78 thereof, respectively. 
The notch 70 has a neck portion 80 which connects with a larger rounded 
portion 82, and is sized and configured to receive a proximal end portion 
84 of a shaft 86 of a plunger 88 of the syringe 64 therein in a snap fit 
manner. 
The sleeve 66 is received about a barrel 90 of the syringe 64. The sleeve 
66, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, is sized and configured to engage securely 
about the syringe barrel 90 and has an opening 92 in a forward end 94 
thereof, through which a needle hub 95 of the barrel 90 can extend. 
Proximal to the forward end 94, the sleeve 66 has a circumferential groove 
98 therein as shown in FIG. 4, which receives a wall portion 100 of ring 
68 surrounding the notch 72 therein. 
To facilitate engagement of the sleeve 66 onto the syringe barrel 90, the 
sleeve 66 has a longitudinal channel 102 therein. The sleeve 66 also has 
at least one circumferential boss 104 at a proximal end thereof with a 
circumferential groove 106 therein. Although not shown in FIG. 4, an 
elongate slot is provided within the sleeve 66 and boss 104 and 
communicates with the groove 106 directly opposite the longitudinal 
channel 102 for receiving one of two finger flanges 108 (the one hidden 
from view) on the syringe barrel 90 therein for locking the syringe barrel 
90 within the sleeve 66 against longitudinal movement. 
In use of the arming device 60, the sleeve 66 is slipped over the syringe 
barrel 90, the plunger 88 is snapped into engagement in the notch 72 
provided therefor and the groove 98 receives the wall area at the edge of 
the notch 70, completing the assembly 62, as shown in FIG. 5. 
Another embodiment of a syringe arming device 110 which is an arcuate 
flexible hemicircular or hemi teardrop shaped (or hemi pear shaped) member 
112 is shown in FIGS. 6-8. The arming device 110 includes a sleeve 114 
which receives the syringe barrel 90 therein and which is integral with a 
forward end 116 of the member 112. 
The member 112 extends arcuately from its forward end 116 fixed to a 
forward end 120 of the sleeve 114. As shown, a portion of the sleeve 114 
is cut away to form a longitudinal channel 126 which extends toward the 
forward end 120. The member 112 extends from the forward end 116 
rearwardly to a proximal semi-annular collar 130 which snap fits over the 
plunger 88 of the syringe 64. Use of the hemi circular or hemi tear drop 
shape of the member 112 in place of a ring provides for a more compact 
assembly 131. 
In using the device 110, the syringe barrel 90 with the sleeve 114 
therearound will be placed against a heel of the user's palm 23 and the 
user's fingers 30 will compress or squeeze the arcuate member 112 against 
the sleeve 114 to deform the member 112, thereby extending the plunger 88 
outwardly from the syringe barrel 90, and maintaining such extension 
during removal of the syringe 64 from the point of aspiration biopsy. 
As illustrated in FIG. 7, in forming the assembly 131 the syringe barrel 90 
first will be inserted into the sleeve 114 in a manner similar to that 
described in connection with FIG. 5. In this respect, the sleeve 114 is 
provided with a circumferential boss 132 at a proximal end thereof with a 
groove 134 therein. An elongate slot 136 is provided in the boss 132 and 
communicates with the groove 134 opposite the channel 126 through which 
one finger flange 108 of the syringe barrel 90 extends, locking the barrel 
90 against longitudinal movement within the sleeve 114. Next, the plunger 
88 of the syringe 64 is engaged in a snap fit within the proximal collar 
130 of the arm 116. 
As shown in FIG. 8, which is a rear perspective view of the device 110, the 
proximal collar 130 has a channel 138 therein, through which the plunger 
88 of the syringe 64 is pressed until it snaps into the collar 130. Also, 
the sleeve 114 is shown here to be of a cylindrical configuration, and 
again shows the provision of the slot 136 within a boss 132 thereof for 
receiving one finger flange 108 of the syringe barrel 90 therein. It will 
be understood that the syringe arming device 110 is unitary and, again, is 
made of any suitable flexible material. 
Turning now to FIGS. 9 and 10, there is shown therein an alternative 
embodiment of an arming device 150. Here it will be seen that the ring 14 
of the arming device 10 is replaced by a octagon member 151 of the arming 
device 150 which has openings 152 and 154 in opposite side wall portions 
156 and 158 for receiving the barrel members 26 and 28, respectively. 
In this device 150, however, the openings 152 and 154 are specifically 
configured to engage the respective barrels 26 and 28. 
As shown in FIG. 10, the opening 152 has a hexagonal configuration to fit 
over a hexagonal barrel member 26, which has a hexagonal circumference, by 
being slid over a distal or forward end thereof and snapped or engaged 
within a groove (not shown) on the barrel member 26. 
The opening 154, on the other hand, has a partially circular configuration, 
identical to the circumferential configuration of the barrel member 28. 
The wall portion 158 around the opening 154 is slid over a distal or 
forward end of the barrel member 28 prior to assembly of the two barrel 
members 26 and 28 together to form the biopsy instrument 20. The device 
150 then becomes a part of the biopsy instrument 20 when its assembly is 
completed. 
In use, two side wall portions 160 and 162 of the octagon member 151 are 
squeezed inwardly, toward the biopsy instrument 20, to obtain a separation 
of the barrels 26 and 28 in the longitudinal direction, as shown in 
phantom in FIG. 9. This separation of members 26 and 28, is accomplished 
with one hand 24 of the user. 
The arming devices 10, 60, 110 and 150 of the present invention have a 
number of advantages, some of which have been described above and others 
of which are inherent in the invention. For example, manipulation of the 
biopsy instrument 20 or the syringe 64 using the arming devices 10, 60, 
110 or 150 for the taking of a biopsy, may be performed single handedly, 
which is of importance when working in tight body spaces of a patient, 
such as within the oral cavity, the rectum, the vagina, etc. and allows 
the other hand of the user to be freed for external palpation over the 
biopsy area, for removing the biopsy needle from within the instrument to 
ensure a good specimen, etc. 
Also, modifications may be made to the arming devices of the present 
invention without departing from the teachings thereof. Accordingly, the 
invention is only to be limited as necessitated by the accompanying claims 
.