Biopsy device with aperture orientation and improved tip

Abstract

A biopsy device for accessing and collecting multiple tissue specimens includes a probe component and a drive component. The probe component includes a probe housing that fits within a housing cover, an elongated distal shaft with a tubular section proximal to a penetrating distal tip, an elongated tissue cutting member, and a first probe gear. The tubular section having an inner lumen, an open tissue receiving aperture, and a proximal extremity configured to be operatively connected to the drive component. The elongated distal shaft secured to the probe housing. The elongated tissue cutting member is slidably disposed within the tubular section. The elongated tissue cutting member having at least one tissue cutting edge and a cutting member inner lumen extending therein. The drive component has a first driver motor and a first driving gear configured to drive the first probe gear in order to orient the open tissue receiving aperture.

1 - 69 . (canceled) 
     
     
         70 . A biopsy device for accessing and collecting multiple tissue specimens from a target site within a patient, comprising:
 a probe component comprising:
 a housing cover, 
 a probe housing having a longitudinal axis extending in a proximal direction and a distal direction, the probe housing configured to fit within the housing cover, 
 an elongated distal shaft having a penetrating distal tip, a tubular section proximal to the penetrating distal tip, an inner lumen extending within the tubular section, an open tissue receiving aperture in the tubular section configured to provide access to tissue at the target site, and a proximal extremity configured to be operatively connected to a drive component, the elongated distal shaft secured to the probe housing, 
 an elongated tissue cutting member configured to be slidably disposed within the tubular section, the elongated tissue cutting member having at least one tissue cutting edge and a cutting member inner lumen extending therein, and 
 a first probe gear; and 
   the drive component configured to receive a proximal portion of the probe component in an operational relationship, the drive component configured to interfit with the housing cover, the drive component comprising:
 a first driver motor, and 
 a first driving gear configured to engage the first probe gear to rotate the probe housing in order to orient the open tissue receiving aperture, 
   wherein the probe housing is interposed between the housing cover and the drive component.   
     
     
         71 . The biopsy device of  claim 70 , wherein the probe component further comprising a second probe gear configured to be rotated, and the drive component further comprising:
 a second driver motor, and   a second driving gear configured to engage the second probe gear to drive the elongated tissue cutting member longitudinally within the inner lumen of the tubular section to cut tissue extending through the open tissue receiving aperture.   
     
     
         72 . The biopsy device of  claim 71 , wherein the probe component further comprising a third probe gear configured to be rotated, and the drive component further comprises a third driver motor configured to rotate the third probe gear, the third probe gear configured to rotate the elongated tissue cutting member within the tubular section. 
     
     
         73 . The biopsy device of  claim 72 , wherein the second driver motor and the third driver motor are operable together so that the third driver motor is configured to rotate the elongated tissue cutting member within the tubular section as second driver motor is configured to move the elongated tissue cutting member longitudinally within the inner lumen of the tubular section. 
     
     
         74 . The biopsy device of  claim 73 , wherein the third driver motor is configured to oscillate the elongated tissue cutting member within the tubular section as the elongated tissue cutting member moves longitudinally therein. 
     
     
         75 . The biopsy device of  claim 71 , wherein the drive component further comprises:
 a cutter traverse nut connected to the second probe gear,   a cutter screw threadably connected to the cutter traverse nut, the cutter screw having a distal end provided with a recess, and   a cutter shuttle having a rib, the recess is configured to receive the rib of the cutter shuttle the cutter shuttle being secured to the elongated tissue cutting member.   
     
     
         76 . The biopsy device of  claim 75 , wherein the second driver motor is configured to rotate the second probe gear that is configured to rotate the cutter traverse nut, the second probe gear configured to adjust a relative axial position of the cutter screw with respect to the cutter traverse nut. 
     
     
         77 . The biopsy device of  claim 75 , wherein the drive component is configured to longitudinally move the cutter shuttle via rotation of the cutter screw, and the cutter shuttle is configured to move the elongated tissue cutting member longitudinally. 
     
     
         78 . The biopsy device of  claim 75 , wherein the cutter traverse nut comprises an internal thread configured to threadably engage an external thread of the cutter screw. 
     
     
         79 . The biopsy device of  claim 70 , wherein the first driver motor is configured to rotate the tubular section in discrete steps about the longitudinal axis thereof. 
     
     
         80 . The biopsy device of  claim 70 , wherein the housing cover, the probe housing, the elongated distal shaft, the elongated tissue cutting member, and the first probe gear are arranged coaxially along the longitudinal axis of the probe component. 
     
     
         81 . A probe component of a biopsy device for accessing and collecting multiple tissue specimens from a target site within a patient, comprising:
 a housing cover,   a probe housing having a longitudinal axis extending in a proximal direction and a distal direction, the probe housing configured to fit within the housing cover,   a cannula having a cannula inner lumen extending proximally from a closed tissue penetrating distal tip, the cannula having an open tissue receiving aperture configured to provide access to tissue at the target site, and a proximal extremity configured to be operatively connected to a drive component, the cannula secured to the probe housing,   an elongated tissue cutting member coaxially arranged within the cannula inner lumen, the elongated tissue cutting member having at least one tissue cutting edge and a cutting member inner lumen extending therein, and   a first probe gear arranged coaxially with the cannula, the first probe gear configured to be driven by the drive component to rotate the probe housing to control an angular position of the open tissue receiving aperture.   
     
     
         82 . The probe component of  claim 81 , wherein the closed tissue penetrating distal tip has a plurality of concave surfaces annularly arranged to form at least three adjacent pairs of concave surfaces. 
     
     
         83 . The probe component of  claim 81 , further comprising a second probe gear configured to be rotated by the drive component, the second probe gear is configured to move the elongated tissue cutting member longitudinally. 
     
     
         84 . The probe component of  claim 83 , further comprising a third probe gear configured to be rotated by the drive component, the third probe gear configured to rotate the elongated tissue cutting member within the tubular section. 
     
     
         85 . The probe component of  claim 84 , wherein the second probe gear and the third probe gear are operable together so that the probe component is configured to rotate the elongated tissue cutting member about the longitudinal axis of the probe component and to move the elongated tissue cutting member longitudinally simultaneously. 
     
     
         86 . The probe component of  claim 81 , wherein the housing cover, the probe housing, the cannula, the elongated tissue cutting member, and the first probe gear are arranged coaxially along the longitudinal axis of the probe component. 
     
     
         87 . A biopsy device for accessing and collecting multiple tissue specimens from a target site within a patient, comprising:
 a probe component comprising:
 a housing cover, 
 a probe housing having a longitudinal axis extending in a proximal direction and a distal direction, the probe housing configured to fit within the housing cover, 
 an elongated distal shaft having a closed penetrating distal tip, a tubular section proximal to the closed penetrating distal tip, an inner lumen extending within the tubular section, an open tissue receiving aperture in the tubular section configured to provide access to tissue at the target site, and a proximal extremity configured to be operatively connected to a drive component, the elongated distal shaft secured to the probe housing, 
 an elongated tissue cutting member which is slidably disposed within the tubular section, the elongated tissue cutting member having at least one tissue cutting edge and a cutting member inner lumen extending therein, 
 a first probe gear, and 
 a second probe gear; 
   the drive component configured to receive a proximal portion of the probe component in an operational relationship, the drive component configured to interfit with the housing cover, the drive component comprising:
 a first driver motor, 
 a first driving gear configured to engage the first probe gear to rotate the probe housing in order to orient the open tissue receiving aperture, 
 a second driver motor, and 
 a second driving gear configured to engage the second probe gear to drive the elongated tissue cutting member longitudinally within the inner lumen of the tubular section to cut tissue extending through the open tissue receiving aperture, 
   wherein the probe housing is interposed between the housing cover and the drive component.   
     
     
         88 . The biopsy device of  claim 87 , wherein the closed tissue penetrating distal tip has a plurality of concave surfaces annularly arranged to form at least three adjacent pairs of concave surfaces. 
     
     
         89 . The biopsy device of  claim 87 , wherein the drive component further comprises:
 a cutter traverse nut connected to the second probe gear,   a cutter screw threadably connected to the cutter traverse nut, the cutter screw having a distal end provided with a recess, and   a cutter shuttle having a rib, the recess is configured to receive the rib of the cutter shuttle the cutter shuttle being secured to the elongated tissue cutting member, wherein the second driver motor is configured to rotate the second probe gear that is configured to rotate the cutter traverse nut, the second probe gear configured to adjust a relative axial position of the cutter screw with respect to the cutter traverse nut, wherein the cutter shuttle is configured to move the elongated tissue cutting member longitudinally.