Patent ID: 7645239

Claim:
A biopsy apparatus, comprising: a coaxial cannula configured for insertion in tissue with the aid of a mandrel, the coaxial cannula having a proximal end and an interior wall; a biopsy needle unit configured for insertion into the coaxial cannula after the mandrel is removed from the coaxial cannula, the biopsy needle unit having an exterior wall, an interior space, and a longitudinally movable specimen separating device; and a sealing element positioned on the proximal end of the coaxial cannula, the sealing element being configured to enclose an intermediate space between the interior wall of the coaxial cannula and the exterior wall of the biopsy needle unit, wherein the sealing element is configured to provide an air outlet of the intermediate space when the biopsy needle unit is inserted into the coaxial cannula and is configured to prevent air from entering the intermediate space after the needle unit has been positioned and a vacuum has been created in the interior space of the biopsy needle, wherein the sealing element is an elastic member defining a sealing lip and having an interior diameter, the sealing element being pushed over the proximal end of the coaxial cannula, the interior diameter being dimensioned to leave open a gap between the sealing lip of the sealing element and the biopsy needle unit, and the elasticity of the sealing element is such that, given an underpressure in the intermediate space between the exterior wall of the biopsy needle unit and the interior wall of the coaxial cannula, the sealing lip of the sealing element at the gap comes into contact with the biopsy needle unit to form a seal against the biopsy needle unit.