Patent ID: 7914464

Claim:
A biopsy system comprising: a) a handpiece including an elongated, hollow piercer and a cutter rotatably and axially positionable relative to said piercer, said piercer having a lateral port for receiving a tissue sample into said piercer, and said handpiece being operably associated with a vacuum source; b) a control unit operatively associated with said handpiece for selecting from two or more operational modes, wherein at least two of said operational modes provide control of vacuum in said biopsy system, wherein each of the two or more operational modes comprises a series of preprogrammed actions; c) a console assembly, wherein the control unit is operatively associated with the console assembly; and d) a remote control, wherein the remote control is operable to be selectively coupled with the control unit to place the remote control in communication with the control unit; and wherein at least one of the operational modes includes a sampling mode wherein the cutter is operable to advance with respect to the lateral port to sever a tissue sample received in the port, and wherein the sampling mode provides for retraction of the cutter with respect to the lateral port after a predetermined period of time.