Biopsy Device with Central Thumbwheel

Abstract

A biopsy device comprises a probe and a holster. The probe has a distally extending needle and a central thumbwheel coupled with the needle. The needle has a transverse tissue receiving aperture. A cutter is translatable relative to the needle to sever tissue protruding through the aperture. The central thumbwheel is manually operable to rotate the needle to reorient the angular position of the aperture about the longitudinal axis defined by the needle. The central thumbwheel is positioned coaxially with the longitudinal axis. An elongate sleeve unitarily couples the needle with the central thumbwheel. A cable driven mechanism in the holster drives the cutter. A rotatable tissue sample holder is coupled with the probe, and has chambers configured to receive tissue samples communicated proximally through a lumen defined by the cutter. A piezoelectric motor in the holster drives the tissue sample holder.

1 . A biopsy device, comprising:
 a probe, wherein the probe comprises:
 a body portion, 
 a needle extending distally from the body portion, wherein the needle defines a longitudinal axis and a transverse tissue receiving aperture, 
 a cutter rotatably and translatably movable within the needle to sever tissue drawn into the aperture, wherein the cutter defines a cutter lumen, 
 a rotatable thumbwheel centrally located within the body portion, wherein the thumbwheel is coupled with the needle, wherein the thumbwheel is manually operable to rotate the needle about the longitudinal axis, and 
 a vacuum source in communication with the cutter lumen; and 
   a holster removably coupled with the body portion of the probe.   
     
     
         2 . The biopsy device of  claim 1 , further comprising a sleeve extending between the thumbwheel and the needle, wherein the sleeve is configured to rotate unitarily with the thumbwheel and the needle. 
     
     
         3 . The biopsy device of  claim 2 , wherein the sleeve is in fluid communication with the vacuum source. 
     
     
         4 . The biopsy device of  claim 3 , further comprising a first tube and a second tube, wherein the first tube provides fluid communication from the vacuum source to the cutter lumen, wherein the second tube provides fluid communication to the sleeve. 
     
     
         5 . The biopsy device of  claim 4 , further comprising a manifold positioned at a proximal end of the sleeve and within the thumbwheel, wherein the second tube is coupled with the manifold, wherein the manifold is fixed relative to the body such that the thumbwheel rotates about the manifold. 
     
     
         6 . The biopsy device of  claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the cutter extends through the sleeve. 
     
     
         7 . The biopsy device of  claim 1 , wherein the thumbwheel is positioned coaxially with the longitudinal axis defined by the needle. 
     
     
         8 . The biopsy device of  claim 1 , wherein the thumbwheel further comprises at least one gripping feature around a periphery of the thumbwheel. 
     
     
         9 . The biopsy device of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one gripping feature comprises gear teeth. 
     
     
         10 . The biopsy device of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the thumbwheel extends below the body of the probe, wherein the holster further defines a recess to receive the portion of the thumbwheel extending below the body of the probe and into the holster. 
     
     
         11 . The biopsy device of  claim 1 , wherein the probe comprises a cutter rotation and translation mechanism, wherein the holster comprises a cutter drive mechanism configured to communicate with the cutter rotation and translation mechanism of the probe. 
     
     
         12 . The biopsy device of  claim 12 , further comprising a rotary cable coupled with the cutter drive mechanism of the holster, wherein the rotary cable is operable to actuate the cutter drive mechanism of the holster. 
     
     
         13 . The biopsy device of  claim 12 , wherein the cutter drive mechanism is operable to communicate rotary motion, wherein the cutter rotation and translation mechanism is operable to convert rotary motion into simultaneous rotation and longitudinal translation of the cutter. 
     
     
         14 . The biopsy device of  claim 1 , further comprising a tissue sample holder, wherein the tissue sample holder defines a plurality of tissue sample chambers, wherein the tissue sample holder is rotatable relative to the body of the probe to successively index each of the tissue sample chambers to the cutter lumen for receipt of tissue samples communicated through the cutter lumen. 
     
     
         15 . The biopsy device of  claim 14 , wherein the holster comprises a motor in communication with the tissue sample holder, wherein the motor is operable to rotate the tissue sample holder. 
     
     
         16 . The biopsy device of  claim 15 , wherein the motor comprises a piezoelectric motor. 
     
     
         17 . The biopsy device of  claim 15 , wherein the holster further comprises an encoder coupled with the motor to measure rotation of the motor and the tissue sample holder. 
     
     
         18 . A biopsy device, comprising:
 a body portion including a housing;   a needle extending distally from the body portion, wherein the needle defines a longitudinal axis and a transverse tissue receiving aperture;   a cutter rotatably and translatably movable within the needle to sever tissue drawn into the aperture, wherein the cutter defines a cutter lumen; and   a rotatable thumbwheel centrally located within the body portion, wherein the thumbwheel is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the needle, wherein the thumbwheel is coupled with the needle, wherein the thumbwheel is manually operable to rotate the needle about the longitudinal axis, wherein a first portion of the thumbwheel protrudes through the housing of the body portion while a second portion of the thumbwheel is positioned within the housing of the body portion.   
     
     
         19 . The biopsy device of  claim 18 , further comprising a holster coupled with the body portion. 
     
     
         20 . A biopsy device, comprising:
 a body portion;   a needle extending distally from the body portion, wherein the needle defines a longitudinal axis and a transverse tissue receiving aperture;   a cutter rotatably and translatably movable within the needle to sever tissue drawn into the aperture, wherein the cutter defines a cutter lumen;   a rotatable thumbwheel located within the body portion, wherein the thumbwheel is operable to rotate the needle about the longitudinal axis defined by the needle; and   a sleeve extending between the thumbwheel and the needle, wherein the sleeve is operable to rotate unitarily with the thumbwheel and the needle, wherein a portion of the cutter extends through the sleeve, wherein the sleeve extends through the body portion.