A biopsy apparatus, comprising: a biopsy probe assembly having a cutter cannula, a vacuum cannula, and a stylet cannula coaxially arranged along a longitudinal axis, the vacuum cannula being positioned inside the stylet cannula to define a first intermediate lumen therebetween, the stylet cannula being positioned within the cutter cannula to define a second intermediate lumen therebetween, and the vacuum cannula having a vacuum lumen, wherein: the stylet cannula is movable relative to the vacuum cannula and the cutter cannula between a first extended position and a first retracted position; and the stylet cannula has a plurality of vent openings, the plurality of vent openings including at least one longitudinal vent slot (82, 86); and a seal having a proximal seal portion and a distal seal portion, the distal seal portion having a distal seal lip that is positioned for radial engagement with an outside diameter of the cutter cannula, and the proximal seal portion having a proximal seal lip that is positioned for radial engagement with an outside diameter of the stylet cannula, wherein: when the stylet cannula is moved from the first extended position toward the first retracted position, the at least one longitudinal vent slot (82, 86) is longitudinally positioned under the proximal seal lip of the proximal seal portion of the seal so as to open a seal bypass path across a longitudinal extent of the proximal seal lip of the proximal seal portion of the seal so as to establish both a first air path at the first intermediate lumen between an outside diameter of the vacuum cannula and an inside diameter of the stylet cannula and a second air path at the second intermediate lumen between an inside diameter of the cutter cannula and the outside diameter of the stylet cannula, the first air path and the second air path being in fluid communication with a region proximal to the seal. a biopsy probe assembly having a cutter cannula, a vacuum cannula, and a stylet cannula coaxially arranged along a longitudinal axis, the vacuum cannula being positioned inside the stylet cannula to define a first intermediate lumen therebetween, the stylet cannula being positioned within the cutter cannula to define a second intermediate lumen therebetween, and the vacuum cannula having a vacuum lumen, wherein: the stylet cannula is movable relative to the vacuum cannula and the cutter cannula between a first extended position and a first retracted position; and the stylet cannula has a plurality of vent openings, the plurality of vent openings including at least one longitudinal vent slot (82, 86); and the stylet cannula is movable relative to the vacuum cannula and the cutter cannula between a first extended position and a first retracted position; and the stylet cannula has a plurality of vent openings, the plurality of vent openings including at least one longitudinal vent slot (82, 86); and a seal having a proximal seal portion and a distal seal portion, the distal seal portion having a distal seal lip that is positioned for radial engagement with an outside diameter of the cutter cannula, and the proximal seal portion having a proximal seal lip that is positioned for radial engagement with an outside diameter of the stylet cannula, wherein: when the stylet cannula is moved from the first extended position toward the first retracted position, the at least one longitudinal vent slot (82, 86) is longitudinally positioned under the proximal seal lip of the proximal seal portion of the seal so as to open a seal bypass path across a longitudinal extent of the proximal seal lip of the proximal seal portion of the seal so as to establish both a first air path at the first intermediate lumen between an outside diameter of the vacuum cannula and an inside diameter of the stylet cannula and a second air path at the second intermediate lumen between an inside diameter of the cutter cannula and the outside diameter of the stylet cannula, the first air path and the second air path being in fluid communication with a region proximal to the seal.