Patent ID: 7753857
Filing Date: 2010-07-13
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A biopsy device, comprising: a probe cannula defining an internal passage; a proximal portion attached to the probe cannula positionable to insert the probe cannula into tissue; a cutter reciprocally received by the probe cannula to sever a tissue sample received in the probe cannula; a sample storage lumen communicating with the probe cannula, wherein the sample storage lumen has a sidewall; a proximal vacuum lumen communicating with the sample storage lumen via a longitudinal series of vacuum holes with the sample storage lumen; a vacuum tape positioned to selectively obstruct a distal portion of the longitudinal series of vacuum holes, wherein the vacuum tape extends longitudinally along the sidewall of the sample storage lumen; an indexing mechanism operatively configured to distally reposition longitudinal position of the vacuum tape relative to the sample storage lumen to open a proximal subset of the distal portion of longitudinal series of vacuum holes as a further proximal subset is blocked by previously collected stored tissue samples, wherein the indexing mechanism further comprises a tape wheel rotatably attached to the biopsy device, wherein the tape wheel winds the vacuum tape; a motor assembly operatively configured to translate the cutter to sever the tissue sample in the probe cannula; and a pneumatic switching assembly operatively configured to move the severed tissue sample from the probe cannula into the sample storage lumen.