Patent ID: 7896817

Claim:
A method of obtaining a plurality of biopsy tissue samples, the method comprising: (a) providing a biopsy device, the biopsy device comprising: (i) a biopsy probe cannula having a distal end and a distal opening, wherein the biopsy probe cannula defines a probe axis, (ii) a cutter tube translatable within the probe cannula, (iii) a handle coupled with the probe cannula, wherein the handle has a feature configured to be coupled with a vacuum source, and (iv) a storage unit engaged with the handle, wherein the storage unit has a plurality of tissue storage compartments, wherein the storage unit is configured to receive at least one tissue sample within each of the tissue storage compartments, wherein the storage unit is configured to rotate relative to the handle, about a rotation axis, in order to receive tissue samples communicated proximally through the cutter tube, wherein the rotation axis is positioned lateral to the probe axis; (b) obtaining a first biopsy tissue sample from a patient, wherein the first biopsy tissue sample is communicated to a first tissue storage compartment of the plurality of tissue storage compartments via the cutter tube by a vacuum urging the first tissue sample proximally through the cutter tube; (c) manually rotating the storage unit about the rotation axis to substantially align a second tissue storage compartment of the plurality of tissue storage compartments with the cutter tube, wherein the act of manually rotating the storage unit is carried out without using a motor to rotate the storage unit; and (d) obtaining a second biopsy tissue sample from a patient, wherein the second biopsy tissue sample is communicated to the second tissue storage compartment via the cutter tube by a vacuum urging the second tissue sample proximally through the cutter tube.