Patent ID: 7918803

Claim:
A biopsy device comprising: a rotatably supported outer piercing needle, the needle having a longitudinal axis, a needle lumen, a tissue piercing closed distal end, and a lateral opening for receiving tissue, the lateral opening located proximal of the tissue piercing closed distal end, the needle rotatable about its longitudinal axis to position the lateral opening at multiple tissue sampling positions; a hollow cutter, the cutter translatable and rotatable in the needle lumen with respect to the lateral opening in the needle, the cutter translatable from an open proximal position to a closed, distal position with respect to the tissue receiving opening, and the cutter having a sharpened distal end for cutting tissue received in the lateral opening of the outer piercing needle; and the biopsy device having a liquid flow path when the cutter is in the closed, distal position for providing a liquid flow in a portion of the needle lumen distal of the cutter, wherein the liquid flow path comprises a hole disposed distally of the lateral opening of the needle.