Patent ID: 8657760
Filing Date: 2014-02-25
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A biopsy instrument, comprising: a housing having a front end opposite a rear end and a housing length extending between the front end and the rear end, the housing having a first longitudinal axis extending along the housing length and defining an inner passageway; a needle assembly extending from the front end of the housing, the needle assembly having a proximal end disposed in the inner passageway and a distal end, the needle assembly comprising a cannula defining a lumen and a stylet having a distal end defining a specimen notch, the stylet slidably disposed within the lumen; a support shaft having a first end and a second end and moveable between a chambered position in which the entire circumference of the first end and the entire circumference of a first axial portion of the support shaft extending a first distance from the first end toward the second end are disposed entirely within the inner passageway and a retracted position in which the support shaft is retracted from the inner passageway such that the entire circumference of the first end and the entire circumference of a second axial portion of the support shaft extending a second distance from the first end toward the second end are disposed entirely within the inner passageway, the second distance less than the first distance, the support shaft operably connected to the stylet and the cannula such that proximally-directed movement of the support shaft from the chambered position to the retracted position and along the first longitudinal axis produces proximally-directed movement of the stylet and the cannula along the first longitudinal axis, and such that distally-directed movement of the support shaft from the retracted position to the chambered position and along the first longitudinal axis produces distally-directed movement of the stylet; a handle connected to the housing and extending away from the housing, the handle having a second longitudinal axis that intersects the first longitudinal axis at an acute angle; and a priming slider connected to the housing and adapted to move from a first position to a second position such that movement of the priming slider from the first position to the second position results in movement of the support shaft from the chambered position to the retracted position, in the first position the priming slider is disposed over the housing and in the second position the priming slider extends along the first longitudinal axis and away from the rear end of the housing.