Biopsy device incorporating an adjustable probe sleeve

Abstract

A biopsy device and method are provided for obtaining a tissue sample, such as a breast tissue biopsy sample. The biopsy device may include an outer cannula having a distal piercing tip, a cutter lumen, a side tissue port communicating with the cutter lumen, and at least one fluid passageway disposed distally of the side tissue port. The inner cutter may be advanced in the cutter lumen past the side tissue port to sever a tissue sample. After the tissue sample is severed, and before the inner cutter is retracted proximally of the side tissue port, the cutter may be used to alternately cover and uncover the fluid passageway disposed distally of the side tissue.

1 . A device for selectively blocking a proximal portion of a side aperture in a needle or a core biopsy instrument having a cutter that translates across the side aperture to sever prolapsed tissue, comprising: 
 a half cylindrical tube portion having an inner contour corresponding to the side aperture and a proximate upper portion of the needle of the core biopsy instrument;    a gripping flange attached to the half cylindrical tube portion positioned to resiliently lock to an underside of a proximate lower portion of the needle; and    a finger flange attached to a proximal portion of the half cylindrical tube portion sized for manual longitudinal positioning of the half cylindrical tube portion relative to the side aperture.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the half cylindrical tube portion comprises a transparent material.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the half-cylindrical tube portion comprises a magnetic resonance imaging compatible material.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the half cylindrical tube portion further comprises a distal outer ramped surface.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein a distal portion of the half cylindrical tube portion comprises an inner relieved contour sized to avoid contact with the cutter of the core biopsy instrument.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein a distal portion of the half cylindrical tube portion comprises an inner metallic guide resistant to damage from the cutter of the core biopsy instrument.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the half cylindrical tube portion further comprises measurement indicia.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a metallic reinforcement portion attached to the half cylindrical tube portion.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the gripping flange comprises left and right gripping flanges, each gripping flange attached to upwardly and outwardly diverging finger flanges manually depressed together to flare the gripping flanges out of engagement with the needle of the core biopsy instrument.  
     
     
         10 . A device for selectively blocking a proximal portion of a side aperture in a needle or a core biopsy instrument having a cutter that translates across the side aperture to sever prolapsed tissue, comprising: 
 a transparent half cylindrical tube portion having an inner contour corresponding to the side aperture and a proximate upper portion of the needle of the core biopsy instrument, the inner contour including a distal portion operatively configured to avoid damage from the cutter of the core biopsy instrument;    a gripping flange attached to the half cylindrical tube portion positioned to resiliently lock to an underside of a proximate lower portion of the needle; and    a finger flange attached to a proximal portion of the half cylindrical tube portion sized for manual longitudinal positioning of the half cylindrical tube portion relative to the side aperture.    
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the distal portion of the half cylindrical tube portion comprises an inner relieved contour sized to avoid contact with the cutter of the core biopsy instrument.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the distal portion of the half cylindrical tube portion comprises an inner metallic guide resistant to damage from the cutter of the core biopsy instrument.  
     
     
         13 . A biopsy device, comprising: 
 a piercing tube having a side aperture proximate to a distal end thereof defining a bowl portion within the piercing tube for receiving prolapsed tissue through the side aperture;    a cutter tube longitudinally translatable within the piercing tube;    a cutter drive assembly operatively configured to distally translate the cutter tube across the side aperture severing prolapsed tissue; and    a probe sleeve selectably positionable across a proximal portion of the side aperture.    
     
     
         14 . The biopsy device of  claim 13 , wherein the probe sleeve comprises a collar selectively detachable from the probe tube.  
     
     
         15 . The biopsy device of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 a vacuum assistance system; and    a vacuum lumen attached along a length of the piercing tube in fluid communication with the bowl portion thereof forming a vacuum assisted probe and the vacuum assistance system;    wherein the probe sleeve further comprises a circumferential portion shaped to engage the piercing tube and vacuum lumen.    
     
     
         16 . The biopsy device of  claim 2 , wherein the probe sleeve includes a proximally attached actuator shaped to be grasped by a user.  
     
     
         17 . The biopsy device of  claim 13 , wherein the cutter lumen includes a piercing tip wherein a dead space longitudinal distance from a distal end of the side aperture to a distal-most end of the piercing tip is less than  7 . 8  mm.  
     
     
         18 . The biopsy device of  claim 17 , wherein the dead space longitudinal distance is approximately  6  mm.  
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the half cylindrical tube portion comprises a transparent material.  
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 13  wherein the half-cylindrical tube portion comprises a magnetic resonance imaging compatible material.  
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the half cylindrical tube portion further comprises a distal outer ramped surface.  
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein a distal portion of the half cylindrical tube portion comprises an inner relieved contour sized to avoid contact with the cutter of the core biopsy instrument.  
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein a distal portion of the half cylindrical tube portion comprises an inner metallic guide resistant to damage from the cutter of the core biopsy instrument.  
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the half cylindrical tube portion further comprises measurement indicia.  
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 13 , further comprising a metallic reinforcement portion attached to the half cylindrical tube portion.  
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the gripping flange comprises left and right gripping flanges, each gripping flange attached to upwardly and outwardly diverging finger flanges manually depressed together to flare the gripping flanges out of engagement with the needle of the core biopsy instrument.