Patent ID: 8048003

Claim:
A biopsy device, comprising: a cutting element mounted to a handpiece, said cutting element comprising: a stylet assembly having a stylet that includes an open proximal end and a tissue opening at a distal end thereof, wherein the tissue receiving opening is in communication with a lumen extending through the stylet, wherein the stylet is formed with a blunt distal end; and an outer cannula assembly including an outer cannula that is slidably mounted over the stylet and having an open distal end with a cutting edge formed thereon; and a vacuum chamber in communication with the lumen; wherein the stylet is selectively advanced distally outwardly with respect to the outer cannula to open the tissue opening to targeted tissue; wherein the outer cannula assembly is actuated so as to at least partially expand the vacuum chamber to generate vacuum, wherein the outer cannula is automatically advanced over the tissue opening after the vacuum chamber is at least partially expanded so as to sever tissue, the vacuum causing tissue to be drawn into and maintained in the tissue opening while the cutting cannula severs tissue to obtain a biopsy core.