Patent ID: 6610020
Filing Date: 2003-08-26
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A biopsy instrument comprising:a base assembly including a firing mechanism, wherein said firing mechanism comprises: a firing fork assembly moveably attached to a distal end of said base assembly, said firing fork assembly comprising; a firing fork an inner support rod attached to said firing fork at a distal end said inner support rod comprising: first attachment mechanism at a distal end of said inner support rod adapted to fixedly attach said inner support rod to said firing fork; second attachment mechanism at a proximal end of said inner support rod; third attachment mechanism intermediate said first attachment mechanism and said second attachment mechanism; an outer support rod, surrounding at least a portion of said inner support rod, said outer support rod being rotatably attached to said inner support rod; a drive rod adapted to move said firing fork wherein said drive rod is slideably attached to said inner support rod by said second attachment mechanism and is fixedly attached to a proximal end of said outer support rod by a fourth attachment mechanism; a probe assembly detachably mounted to said base assembly, said probe assembly comprising: a cutter assembly a piercer assembly detachably mounted on said fork and slideably mounted on said cutter assembly; a drive assembly detachably mounted to said cutter assembly, said drive assembly including a flexible drive shaft operatively connected to said cutter assembly.