Patent ID: 8096956
Filing Date: 2012-01-17
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A biopsy instrument comprising: a support; a cutting head having first and second co-operable jaws movable with respect to the support between open and closed states; and a jaw drive for moving one or both of the jaws into the closed state to take a biopsy sample in response to an actuating input from a user; wherein the jaw drive is user-adjustable between first and second cutting modes differentiated by the bite direction of the jaws with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the instrument, the bite direction being the centerline between the open jaws, wherein, in the first cutting mode, the bite direction is substantially aligned with the central longitudinal axis of the instrument and in the second cutting mode, the bite direction is substantially offset from the central longitudinal axis of the instrument; and wherein the user-adjustable jaw drive comprises a sleeve movable distally with respect to the support to bear against at least one of the jaws, thereby to drive the closing movement of that jaw between the open and closed states, the sleeve having a jaw-supporting formation that is disengaged from the jaws in the first cutting mode to allow both jaws to move relative to the support, and that is engaged with one of the jaws in the second cutting mode to restrain the movement of that jaw relative to the support.