Patent ID: 8109886

Claim:
A method of operating a biopsy device, comprising the steps of: providing an outer cannula comprising a proximal end, a distal end, a tissue receiving opening adjacent the distal end, and an outer cannula hub including a fitting member formed on the proximal end; providing a tissue biopsy device comprising a tissue biopsy handpiece and an inner cannula, wherein the inner cannula has a longitudinal axis and wherein, the tissue biopsy handpiece comprises a proximal end, a distal end, a first rotary motor disposed within the handpiece, and a second reciprocating motor disposed within the handpiece, wherein operation of the first rotary motor rotates the inner cannula about the inner cannula longitudinal axis, and operation of the second reciprocating motor reciprocates the first rotary motor along the inner cannula longitudinal axis and reciprocates the inner cannula along the inner cannula longitudinal axis; detachably connecting and rotatively engaging the fitting member of the outer cannula hub with an integral mating fitting disposed on an outer surface of the distal end of the tissue biopsy handpiece; providing fluid to the outer cannula hub, through the outer cannula and to the tissue receiving opening while bypassing the tissue biopsy handpiece; and operating the first rotary motor and the second reciprocating motor such that the inner cannula is inserted into the outer cannula and the inner cannula is moved such that tissue received in the tissue receiving opening of the outer cannula is excised.