Patent ID: 8480592

Claim:
A biopsy probe mechanism, comprising: an elongate sample receiving member having a longitudinal axis and having a sample receiving notch; a cutting cannula arranged coaxially with said sample receiving member, said elongate sample receiving member and said cutting cannula being movable relative to one another along said longitudinal axis between a first relative position and a second relative position; and a plurality of echogenic features including a first echogenic feature established on said elongate sample receiving member and a second echogenic feature established on said cutting cannula, said first echogenic feature being in longitudinal alignment with said second echogenic feature when said elongate sample receiving member and said cutting cannula are in said first relative position, said first echogenic feature being out of longitudinal alignment with said second echogenic feature when said elongate sample receiving member and said cutting cannula are in said second relative position, and wherein said sample receiving notch in said sample receiving member is closed by said cutting cannula in said first relative position, and said sample receiving notch is open when in said second relative position.