Patent ID: 7740597
Filing Date: 2010-06-22
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A biopsy device comprising: a hollow biopsy needle having a tissue receiving port; a hollow cutter advanceable within the biopsy needle to sever tissue received within the tissue receiving port, wherein the cutter has a sidewall surrounding an interior, wherein the cutter has a plurality of holes spaced from the distal end of the cutter, wherein the plurality of holes are formed transversely through the sidewall of the cutter for providing fluid communication from a region exterior to the sidewall of the cutter to the interior of the cutter, and wherein the holes are positioned for providing vacuum axially through the cutter when multiple tissue samples are disposed within a sample tube within the cutter; and the sample tube advanceable within the hollow cutter, the sample tube having an open distal end sized for receiving a tissue sample severed by the hollow cutter, the sample tube being releasably supported on the biopsy device such that the sample tube and at least one tissue sample stored therein may be removed from the biopsy device without disassembling the biopsy device, wherein the sample tube comprises a vacuum lumen and a sample lumen, wherein the vacuum lumen extends along side of at least a portion of the sample lumen, wherein the hollow cutter is operable to be advanced to a distal most position within the hollow biopsy needle to sever the tissue sample, and wherein the sample tube is operable to be advanced to the distal most position within the hollow cutter to receive the tissue sample after the tissue sample has been completely severed.