Biopsy device and insertable biopsy needle module

Abstract

A biopsy device includes a biopsy needle including a sample chamber, and a cutting element coaxial having a cutting blade. A drive unit has a needle-shooting mechanism configured to be switched from a cocked configuration to a released configuration. The drive unit is configured to cause relative movement of the cutting element and the biopsy needle by a predetermined distance to cock the needle-shooting mechanism. The needle-shooting mechanism is configured to shoot the biopsy needle simultaneously with the cutting element in a distal direction by an amount of the predetermined distance when switched from the cocked configuration to the released configuration.

1 - 44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . A biopsy device, comprising:
 a biopsy needle including a sample chamber;   a cutting element having a cutting blade; and   a drive unit having a needle-shooting mechanism configured to be switched from a cocked configuration to a released configuration, the drive unit being configured to cause relative movement of the cutting element and the biopsy needle by a predetermined distance to cock the needle-shooting mechanism, and the needle-shooting mechanism being configured to shoot the biopsy needle simultaneously with the cutting element in a distal direction by an amount of the predetermined distance when switched from the cocked configuration to the released configuration.   
     
     
         46 . The biopsy device of  claim 45 , wherein the predetermined distance is in a range of 15 millimeters to 25 millimeters. 
     
     
         47 . The biopsy device of  claim 45 , wherein the predetermined distance is 20 millimeters. 
     
     
         48 . The biopsy device of  claim 45 , comprising a user-actuatable control that includes a clamping key and a control key, wherein a user actuation of the clamping key initiates a retraction of the needle-shooting mechanism by the amount of the predetermined distance to the cocked configuration, and a subsequent user actuation of the control key releases the needle-shooting mechanism to shoot the needle carrier including the biopsy needle simultaneously with the cutting element in the distal direction by the amount of the predetermined distance. 
     
     
         49 . The biopsy device of  claim 48 , wherein the user-actuatable control includes a plurality of indicator control lights interposed between the clamping key and the control key. 
     
     
         50 . The biopsy device of  claim 45 , wherein the biopsy needle and the cutting element are part of a disposable unit that further includes a needle carrier configured to move in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction, the biopsy needle and the cutting element being coupled to the needle carrier, and cutting element being configured to move the cutting blade relative to the sample chamber. 
     
     
         51 . The biopsy device of  claim 50 , wherein the drive unit is configured to receive the disposable unit, and the needle-shooting mechanism having a spring and a clamping carriage, the clamping carriage being configured to drivably engage the needle carrier. 
     
     
         52 . The biopsy device of  claim 50 , wherein the drive unit is configured to move the cutting element to drive the needle carrier in the second direction by the predetermined distance to move the needle-shooting mechanism to the cocked configuration. 
     
     
         53 . The biopsy device of  claim 52 , wherein the predetermined distance is in a range of 15 millimeters to 25 millimeters. 
     
     
         54 . The biopsy device of  claim 53 , wherein the predetermined distance is 20 millimeters. 
     
     
         55 . The biopsy device of  claim 50 , wherein the drive unit includes a user-actuatable control configured to release the needle-shooting mechanism. 
     
     
         56 . The biopsy device of  claim 55 , wherein the user-actuatable control includes a clamping key and a control key, wherein a user actuation of the clamping key initiates a retracting of the needle-shooting mechanism in the second direction by the amount of the predetermined distance, and a subsequent user actuation of the control key releases the needle-shooting mechanism to shoot the needle carrier including the biopsy needle simultaneously with the cutting element in the first direction by the amount of the predetermined distance. 
     
     
         57 . The biopsy device of  claim 56 , wherein the user-actuatable control includes a plurality of indicator control lights interposed between the clamping key and the control key. 
     
     
         58 . The device of  claim 50 , wherein the drive unit includes a drive gear, and the disposable unit includes a driven gear connected to the cutting element, the driven gear configured to engage the drive gear to rotate the cutting element to drive the needle carrier in the second direction by the amount of the predetermined distance. 
     
     
         59 . The device of  claim 45 , wherein the cutting element is coaxial with the biopsy needle. 
     
     
         60 . The device of  claim 59 , wherein the cutting element surrounds the biopsy needle. 
     
     
         61 . A method of operating a biopsy device, comprising:
 selecting a shooting distance of a biopsy needle and a cutting sheath;   moving the biopsy needle in a proximal direction by an amount of the shooting distance to cock a cocking apparatus;   releasing the cocking apparatus to shoot the biopsy needle simultaneously with the cutting sheath in a distal direction by an amount of the shooting distance; and   operating the cutting sheath to collect a tissue sample.   
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the act of moving the biopsy needle comprises moving the cutting sheath along the biopsy needle in the distal direction to force a member coupled to the cutting sheath against a stop to in turn drive the biopsy needle in the proximal direction against an urging force of the cocking apparatus to cock the cocking apparatus. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 61 , further comprising operating a user control panel located on the biopsy device, the user control panel having a clamping key and a control key, wherein a user actuation of the clamping key initiates the moving step and a subsequent user actuation of the control key initiates the releasing step.