Patent ID: 8915864

Claim:
A system for collecting one or more tissue specimens from a target site within a patient, comprising: an elongated probe component including: a distal shaft portion with a distal tip, a tubular section proximal to the distal tip, an inner lumen extending within the tubular section and a tissue receiving aperture in the tubular section which provides access to tissue at the target site, and an elongated tissue cutting member which has at least one tissue cutting edge; a collector housing defining an interior, and having a proximal opening and a distal port opposite the proximal opening, the distal port of the collector housing being configured to receive a proximal end of the elongated probe component such that the proximal end of the elongated probe component can extend into the interior of the collector housing; and a releasable tray that is releasably attached to the collector housing at the proximal opening, the releasable tray including: a first end portion; and a grated portion that extends from the first end portion, the grated portion being configured to extend through the proximal opening of the collector housing in a direction toward the distal port and into the interior to separate the collector housing to define a tissue chamber and a vacuum chamber, and configured such that a tissue discharge port of the elongated probe component is positioned in the tissue chamber above the grated portion, the grated portion having a plurality of holes to facilitate fluid communication between the tissue chamber and the vacuum chamber.