Surgical Device for The Collection of Soft Tissue

Abstract

A handheld biopsy device is provided for the collection of soft tissue samples from a surgical patient. In a preferred embodiment, the biopsy device comprises a handpiece, a fluid collection system, and a power transmission source. The handpiece is configured for grasping by a single hand, and being independently manipulatable by hand for movement of the instrument toward and away from the patient. An elongated piercer extends from the distal end of the handpiece. The piercer has a sharpened distal end for entering the tissue and a port located proximal to the sharpened distal end for receiving a portion of tissue mass. An elongated cutter is disposed coaxially relative to a piercer lumen of the piercer. A distal blade of the cutter slides distally past the port of the piercer to severe the tissue portion drawn into the port by vacuum. The cutter is retracted to a most proximal position for removal of the tissue portion from a cutter lumen of the cutter. The handpiece further comprises a holster for detachably connecting a cutter rotation transmission and a cutter axial transmission to the power transmission source.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A biopsy device comprising:
 a handpiece configured for grasping by a single hand, the handpiece having a distal end and a proximal end, the handpiece being independently manipulatable by the single hand without an external support for movement of the biopsy device toward and away from the patient;   an elongate outer piercing needle extending from the distal end of the handpiece, the outer piercing needle having a longitudinal axis, a closed distal end, and a lateral opening located proximal to the closed distal end for receiving tissue;   an elongate hollow cutter having a longitudinal axis and the cutter being translatable and rotatable with respect to the lateral opening in the needle, and the cutter having a sharpened distal end for cutting tissue received in the lateral opening of the outer piercing needle;   a linear actuator disposed within the handpiece for providing translation of the cutter, wherein the linear actuator is offset from the longitudinal axis of the cutter.   
     
     
         14 . The biopsy device of  claim 13  wherein the linear actuator comprises a motor offset from the longitudinal axis of the cutter. 
     
     
         15 . A biopsy device comprising:
 a handpiece configured for grasping by a single hand, the handpiece having a distal end and a proximal end, the handpiece being independently manipulatable by the single hand without an external support for movement of the biopsy device toward and away from the patient;   an elongate outer piercing needle extending from the distal end of the handpiece, the outer piercing needle having a longitudinal axis, a closed distal end, and a lateral opening located proximal to the closed distal end for receiving tissue;   an elongate hollow cutter having a longitudinal axis and the cutter being translatable and rotatable with respect to the lateral opening in the needle, and the cutter having a sharpened distal end for cutting tissue received in the lateral opening of the outer piercing needle;   a rotary actuator disposed within the handpiece for providing rotation of the cutter, wherein the rotary actuator is offset from the longitudinal axis of the cutter.   
     
     
         16 . The biopsy device of  claim 15  wherein the rotary actuator comprises a motor offset from the longitudinal axis of the cutter. 
     
     
         17 . A biopsy device comprising:
 a handpiece configured for grasping by a single hand, the handpiece having a distal end and a proximal end, the handpiece being independently manipulatable by the single hand without an external support for movement of the biopsy device toward and away from the patient, the handpiece having an outer surface adapted to be grasped by the user;   an elongate outer piercing needle extending from the distal end of the handpiece, the outer piercing needle having a longitudinal axis, a closed distal end, and a lateral opening located proximal to the closed distal end for receiving tissue, the elongate outer piercing needle being offset with respect to the handpiece;   an elongate hollow cutter having a longitudinal axis and the cutter being translatable and rotatable with respect to the lateral opening in the needle, and the cutter having a sharpened distal end for cutting tissue received in the lateral opening of the outer piercing needle.   
     
     
         18 . A biopsy device comprising:
 a handpiece configured for grasping by a single hand, the handpiece having a distal end and a proximal end, the handpiece being independently manipulatable by the single hand without an external support for movement of the biopsy device toward and away from the patient, the handpiece having a portion disposed between the proximal end and the distal end of the handpiece, the portion having an outer surface adapted to be grasped by the user;   an elongate outer piercing needle extending from the distal end of the handpiece, the outer piercing needle having a longitudinal axis, a closed distal end, and a lateral opening located proximal to the closed distal end for receiving tissue, wherein the longitudinal axis of the elongate outer piercing needle is offset from the center of the portion of the handpiece having the outer surface adapted to be grasped by a user;   an elongate hollow cutter having a longitudinal axis and the cutter being translatable and rotatable with respect to the lateral opening in the needle, and the cutter having a sharpened distal end for cutting tissue received in the lateral opening of the outer piercing needle.