Tissue collection assembly for biopsy device

Abstract

A biopsy device comprises a probe body, a needle portion, a hollow cutter, and a tissue sample holder. The needle portion extends distally from the probe body and comprises a transverse tissue receiving aperture. The hollow cutter is translatable relative to the needle portion to sever a tissue sample from tissue protruding though the aperture. The hollow cutter defines a cutter lumen. The tissue sample holder comprises a body and a tissue sample tray. The tissue sample tray is removably engaged with the body and comprises a downwardly extending lumen. The downwardly extending lumen includes a pair of lower openings which are in communication with a chamber defined by the tissue sample tray.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A biopsy device, the biopsy device comprising:
 (a) a probe body;   (b) a needle portion extending distally from the probe body, wherein the needle portion comprises a transverse tissue receiving aperture;   (c) a hollow cutter, wherein the cutter is translatable relative to the needle portion to sever a tissue sample from tissue protruding through the aperture, wherein the hollow cutter defines a cutter lumen; and   (d) a tissue sample holder, wherein the tissue sample holder comprises:
 (i) a body, and 
 (ii) a tissue sample tray, wherein the tissue sample tray is removably engaged with the body, wherein the tissue sample tray comprises a downwardly extending lumen, wherein the downwardly extending lumen includes a pair of lower openings, wherein the tissue sample tray defines a chamber, wherein the chamber is in communication with the pair of lower openings through a plurality of openings in the tissue sample tray. 
   
     
     
         2 . The biopsy device of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue sample tray further comprises a distal wall. 
     
     
         3 . The biopsy device of  claim 2 , wherein the downwardly extending lumen is disposed within the distal wall of the tissue sample tray. 
     
     
         4 . The biopsy device of  claim 3 , wherein the tissue sample tray further comprises a proximal wall, a floor, and a pair of sidewalls disposed between the distal wall and proximal wall. 
     
     
         5 . The biopsy device of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of openings of the tissue sample tray are disposed through the floor and the pair of sidewalls. 
     
     
         6 . The biopsy device of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable body comprises an upper opening and a lower opening, wherein the upper opening is configured to align with the hollow cutter, wherein the lower opening is configured to align with a vacuum source of the probe body. 
     
     
         7 . The biopsy device of  claim 6 , wherein the tissue sample tray includes an upper opening and a lower recess, wherein the upper opening is in fluid communication with the chamber of the tissue sample tray, wherein the lower recess is in fluid communication with the downwardly extending lumen of the tissue sample tray. 
     
     
         8 . The biopsy device of  claim 7 , wherein the upper opening of the rotatable body is configured to align with the upper opening of the tissue sample tray, wherein the lower opening of the rotatable body is configured to align with the lower recess of the tissue sample tray. 
     
     
         9 . The biopsy device of  claim 8 , wherein the probe body is configured to index the upper opening and the lower opening of the rotatable body with the hollow cutter and the vacuum source such that the cutter is in fluid communication with the cavity of the tissue sample tray and the vacuum source is in fluid communication with the downwardly extending lumen of the tissue sample tray. 
     
     
         10 . The biopsy device of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable body is configured to define a gap between the tissue sample tray and the rotatable body, wherein the pair of lower openings are in fluid communication with the chamber of the tissue sample tray through the gap and plurality of openings in the tissue sample tray. 
     
     
         11 . The biopsy device of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable body includes a tray receiving passageway and a plug receiving passageway. 
     
     
         12 . The biopsy device of  claim 11 , wherein the tray receiving passageway is configured to receive the tissue sample tray. 
     
     
         13 . The biopsy device of  claim 12 , wherein the plug receiving passageway is configured to removably receive a plug, wherein the plug receiving passageway is further configured to receive a marker applier instrument. 
     
     
         14 . The biopsy device of  claim 1 , further comprising a seal positioned between the probe body and the tissue sample holder. 
     
     
         15 . The biopsy device of  claim 1 , wherein the downwardly extending lumen is u-shaped. 
     
     
         16 . A tissue sample holder for use with a biopsy device, the tissue sample holder comprising:
 (a) a cup;   (b) a body, wherein the body is insertable into the cup; and   (c) a tissue sample tray, wherein the tissue sample tray is insertable into the body, wherein the tissue sample tray comprises:
 (i) a distal wall, wherein the distal wall includes an upper opening and a lower recess, wherein the lower recess is in communication with a lumen disposed within the distal wall, wherein the lumen defines a pair of lower openings, 
 (ii) a proximal wall, 
 (iii) a floor, 
 (iv) a pair of sidewalls disposed between the distal and proximal walls, and 
 (v) a tissue collection chamber, wherein the chamber is defined by the distal wall, the proximal wall, the floor, and the pair of sidewalls, 
 wherein the floor and the pair of sidewalls include a plurality of openings, 
 wherein the pair of lower openings defined by the lumen are in fluid communication with the chamber through the plurality of openings in the floor and the pair of sidewalls. 
   
     
     
         17 . The biopsy device of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of openings through the floor and sidewalls are configured to permit the flow of fluids and block the flow of tissue samples severed by the biopsy device. 
     
     
         18 . The biopsy device of  claim 16 , wherein the body and the floor of the tissue sample tray defines a gap between the body and the tissue sample tray, wherein the gap is configured to communicate fluid from the plurality of openings in the floor to the lumen of the distal wall. 
     
     
         19 . The biopsy device of  claim 16 , wherein the lumen of the distal wall is a u-shaped sump lumen. 
     
     
         20 . A tissue sample holder for use with a biopsy device, the tissue sample holder comprising:
 (a) a cup;   (b) a body; and   (c) a plurality of tissue sample trays, wherein the tissue sample trays are insertable into corresponding passages of the body, wherein the tissue sample trays comprise:
 (i) a distal wall, wherein the distal wall includes an upper opening and a lower opening, 
 (ii) a proximal wall, 
 (iii) a floor tapering downwardly from the proximal wall to the distal wall, wherein the floor comprises a plurality of floor openings, 
 (iv) a pair of sidewalls disposed between the distal and proximal walls, wherein the pair of sidewalls comprise a plurality of sidewall openings, and 
 (v) a tissue collection chamber, wherein the chamber is defined by the distal wall, the proximal wall, the floor, and the pair of sidewalls, 
 wherein the floor and the pair of sidewalls define a gap between the body and the tissue sample tray, 
 wherein the lower opening is in fluid communication with the chamber via the gap between the body and the tissue sample tray, and the floor and sidewall openings.