Patent ID: 8622907

Claim:
A structurally integrated biopsy system, comprising: a single controller comprising a main computer module and a system input console, the system input console being communicatively coupled to the main computer module; a tissue removal system communicatively coupled to the single controller, the tissue removal system including a tissue removal probe, a vacuum module, and a tissue removal control module, the tissue removal control module being coupled in communication with the main computer module, the tissue removal probe being communicatively coupled to the tissue removal control module; an ultrasonic imaging system in direct physical connection with the tissue removal system, the ultrasonic imaging system communicatively coupled to the single controller, the ultrasonic imaging system including an ultrasonic imaging probe and an ultrasound control module, the ultrasound control module being coupled in communication with the main computer module, the ultrasonic imaging probe being coupled in communication with the ultrasonic control module; an image display screen communicatively coupled to the single controller, the image display screen being configured to display an ultrasonic image display based upon data received from an ultrasound probe data and processed by the main computer module; and the single controller being configured to both provide control information for the ultrasound control module of the ultrasonic imaging system and provide control information for the tissue removal control module of the tissue removal system in the structurally integrated biopsy system.