Patent ID: 6527731
Filing Date: 2003-03-04
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A system for controlling the operation of a fine needle aspiration biopsy device whose hollow needle is injectable into a patient's body to engage an internal target and extract therefrom a tissue sample which is then withdrawn from the target and transferred to a syringe communicating with the needle, said system comprising:A. an axially shiftable guide tube surrounding the hollow needle which projects beyond the tube so that it can be injected; B. means operatively coupled to the guide tube which in a first phase of a biopsy procedure axially advances the needle to inject it into the target to extract a tissue sample therefrom, and in a second phase axially retract the needle to withdraw the sample; and C. means operatively coupled to the syringe which in a third phase of the procedure manipulates the syringe to cause it to suck the tissue sample from the needle into the syringe.