A punch biopsy apparatus to quickly and simply excise a sample of a chosen size and depth while preserving specimen morphology along with an independently operated mechanism to close the excision site. This design includes a body with a cylindrical needle to create a circular incision around the tissue, an independently rotated blade located within the cylindrical needle for excision at the base of the tissue, a plunger to allow release of the specimen, and a compartment for expulsion of skin glue, or another substance, configured to succinctly close the incision site to close the wound. This configuration allows punch biopsies to be performed efficiently with reduced technical skill, number of surgical instruments, and time required for the procedure.

A biopsy and therapy device comprising: a needling unit for holding and inserting a biopsy needle; an imaging module comprising an ultrasound probe and an actuator for moving the probe in a reciprocal action; a first arcuate slide; a second arcuate slide in sliding engagement with the first arcuate slide and a linkage to which the first arcuate slide is mounted; said linkage arranged to move the first and second arcuate slides within a vertical plane; said needling unit mounted to said arcuate slide wherein the first and second arcuate slides are mounted perpendicular to each other so as to rotate the needling unit about respective first and second principal axes.

A platform device for material excision or removal from vascular structures for either handheld or stereotactic table use may comprise a work element or elements configured to selectively open and close at least one articulable beak or scoopula configured to penetrate and remove intra-vascular materials or obstructions, or follow a central lumen of another device or over a wire in a longitudinal direction. Flush and vacuum tissue transport mechanisms may be incorporated. A single tube or an inner sheath and an outer sheath which may be co-axially disposed relative to a work element may be configured to actuate a beak or beaks or scoopulas and provisions for simultaneous beak or scoopula closing under rotation may be incorporated.

A sample injection device (100) includes a tubular suction and discharge unit (23) configured to suction a liquid sample (S), contain the sample therein, and discharge the suctioned sample, and at least a portion of an inner wall (23a) of the suction and discharge unit, the portion having the sample contained therewithin, is subjected to a surface treatment (V) to increase an interfacial tension (F) that acts between the inner wall and the sample.

Exemplary embodiments of method and apparatus are provided for resurfacing of skin that includes formation of a plurality of small holes, e.g., having widths less than about 1 mm or 0.5 mm, using a mechanical apparatus, thus avoiding generation of thermal damage as occurs with conventional laser resurfacing procedures and devices. The holes formed can be well-tolerated by the skin, and can exhibit shorter healing times and less swelling than conventional resurfacing procedures. The apparatus includes one or more needles adapted to remove a small portion of tissue when inserted into and withdrawn from the skin. The fractional surface coverage of the holes can be between about 0.1 and 0.7, or between about 0.2 and 0.5. The exemplary method and apparatus can produce cosmetic effects such as increases in collagen content, epidermal thickness, and dermal/epidermal junction undulations in the skin.

The present invention relates to a method and corresponding apparatus for just in time mixing of a solid or powdered formulation and its subsequent delivery to a biological body. In some embodiments, a powdered formulation is maintained in a first chamber of a plurality of chambers. A plurality of electromagnetic actuators are in communication with the plurality of chambers. The actuators, when activated, generate a pressure within at least the first chamber. The pressure results in mixing of the powdered formulation and a diluent in time for delivering into the biological body.

The present invention relates to a method and corresponding apparatus for just in time mixing of a solid or powdered formulation and its subsequent delivery to a biological body. In some embodiments, a powdered formulation is maintained in a first chamber of a plurality of chambers. A plurality of electromagnetic actuators are in communication with the plurality of chambers. The actuators, when activated, generate a pressure within at least the first chamber. The pressure results in mixing of the powdered formulation and a diluent in time for delivering into the biological body.

Methods and devices for performing minimally invasive procedures useful for Fallopian tube diagnostics are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the proximal os of the Fallopian tube is accessed via an intrauterine approach; an introducer catheter is advanced to cannulate and form a fluid tight seal with the proximal os of the Fallopian tube; a second catheter inside the introducer catheter is provided to track the length of the Fallopian tube and out into the abdominal cavity; a balloon at the end of the second catheter is inflated and the second catheter is retracted until the balloon seals the distal os of the Fallopian tube; irrigation is performed substantially over the length of the Fallopian tube; and the irrigation fluid is recovered for cytology or cell analysis.

Provided herein is a pre-Caesarean method for collecting amniotic fluid from a patient. A needle is inserted into the incision site for the future C-section, which may be under ultrasound guidance, through which the amniotic fluid is drawn under a low level suction and, optionally, gravity to a sterile collection container. The method encompasses filtering and/or irradiating the amniotic fluid to collect biomolecules of interest such as growth factors and/or stem cells. Also provided is the sterile amniotic fluid or filtrates thereof collected by the method described herein.

A device including a probe unit and a driver unit for tissue extraction and sample collection is disclosed. The probe unit includes an injection unit, a driving mechanism, a filtering mechanism and a tissue sample container. The injection unit includes a needle actuated by a prime-mover and the driving mechanism, which drives the needle into the subject for extraction of tissue sample. The tissue extraction is performed by a rotational motion of the needle and pressure. The pressure is provided by a pressure subsystem in the lumen of the needle and the tissue is collected in the tissue sample container. The amount of pressure applied is controlled by a control subsystem based on the organ specific requirement.