Patent ID: 7758515

Claim:
A biopsy device, comprising: a. a probe cannula defining an internal passage and having a side aperture; b. a cutter tube reciprocally received by the probe cannula to sever a tissue sample received in the probe cannula; c. a vacuum lumen communicating to a distal end of the probe cannula; d. a vacuum source in communication with the vacuum lumen and cutter tube; e. a motor assembly operatively configured to translate the cutter tube to sever a tissue sample; f. a pneumatically sealed container at a reduced pneumatic pressure, wherein the container further comprises: i. a fluid reservoir, wherein the fluid reservoir is configured to hold fluid, ii. a filter positioned above the fluid reservoir, wherein the filter is configured to separate fluids from solids, iii. a tissue sample holder defined by the fluid reservoir and the filter, wherein the tissue sample holder is configured to hold solid tissue samples severed by the cutter tube, wherein the tissue sample holder is located in the container, such that the tissue sample holder holds solid tissue samples within the container, and iv. a vacuum port positioned on an exterior surface of the container at a location above a level of the fluid held within the fluid reservoir and above the filter, wherein the vacuum port communicates with the vacuum source; g. a sample retraction conduit communicating between the container and a proximal end of the cutter tube, wherein the sample retraction conduit passes through a plane defined by the filter and terminates at a free end located within the fluid reservoir below the filter and below the vacuum port, wherein the sample retraction conduit is configured to communicate solid tissue samples out through the free end and into the tissue sample holder; and h. a pneumatic switching assembly responsive to the cutter tube, wherein the pneumatic switching assembly is operatively configured to expose both the cutter tube and the vacuum lumen to vacuum from the vacuum source in response to the cutter tube being retracted to prolapse tissue into the side aperture, wherein the pneumatic switching assembly is responsive to the cutter tube being distally positioned to expose the vacuum lumen to an increased pressure to effect retraction of severed tissue to the container via the sample retraction conduit.