Importance

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Abstract

A surgical tool forms a collapsible cage that surrounds a lesion or a tumor in a breast or soft tissue so that removal of all encaged tissue ensures the removal of the tumor or lesion. The collapsibility of the cage enables it to be closed and repositioned if needed. A leading tube and a trailing tube are interconnected by a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart members that are jointed at their respective mid-lengths. The respective leading ends of the jointed members are hingedly connected to a trailing end of the leading tube and the respective trailing ends of the jointed members are hingedly connected to the leading end of the trailing tube. The leading and trailing tubes slidingly receive a hollow needle and the leading tube is secured to the hollow needle at its distal end so that the leading tube cannot slide with respect to the hollow needle. Sliding the trailing tube toward the leading tube causes the jointed members to bend at their respective mid-lengths and to displace radially outwardly at their respective mid-joints, relative to a longitudinal axis of the leading and trailing tubes. A lesion is encaged by the jointed wires and a surgeon removes all encaged tissue to ensure removal of the lesion. If the lesion is not fully encaged, the trailing tube is retracted to return the jointed members to a substantially straight configuration so that the hollow needle can be withdrawn from the breast and an additional attempt to properly position it can be made.

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First Claim