Patent ID: 7858038

Claim:
A biopsy device configured to obtain tissue samples from a patient, wherein the biopsy device comprises: (a) a cannula having a tissue piercing tip; (b) a cutter translatable relative to the cannula, wherein the cutter defines an axis; and (c) a tissue sample holder configured to hold tissue samples severed by the cutter and communicated proximally through the cutter, wherein the tissue sample holder comprises: (i) a plurality of discrete tissue sample compartments, and (ii) a rotatable manifold defining an axis, wherein the tissue sample compartments are external to the rotatable manifold, wherein the rotatable manifold comprises a plurality of longitudinal passages generally parallel to the tissue sample compartments, and a plurality of radial passages generally perpendicular to the longitudinal passages, wherein each of the longitudinal passages align with a portion of a corresponding radial passage of the plurality of radial passages, wherein the longitudinal passages are operably configured to transmit a vacuum to the radial passages, wherein the radial passages are operably configured to receive the vacuum from the longitudinal passages and to transmit the vacuum through the tissue sample compartments to the cutter to transport the severed tissue sample proximally to a selected tissue sample compartment.