Patent ID: 7775989

Claim:
A needle biopsy instrument comprising: a hollow cable with a proximal and a distal end; two opposing cups operatively connected to said distal end of said hollow cable and moveable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, said cups, when in said closed configuration, defining a space between them for capturing at least one tissue sample severed by said cups; a needle disposed between said cups for piercing said at least one tissue sample, said needle being permanently operatively connected to said instrument, said needle being axially moveable so that said needle cannot extend beyond a most distal point of said space between said cups, axial movement of said needle being independent of the opening and closing of said cups; a tissue sample pushing surface disposed at a proximal end of said needle and engageable with said at least one tissue sample on the needle for movement relative to said needle so as to remove said at least one tissue sample from said needle upon retraction of said needle; a locking mechanism for locking said needle in a most advanced position wherein a most distal portion of said needle is disposed between said cups when said cups are in said closed configuration; and a needle advance stop mechanism for preventing said needle from advancing past said most advanced position relative to said cups when said cups are in said open configuration and when said cups are in said closed configuration, wherein the instrument is configured to eject said at least one tissue sample that has been pierced by said needle.