Patent ID: 8568332

Claim:
A biopsy apparatus, comprising: a disposable cutting element; and a reusable handpiece, wherein the disposable cutting element includes an outer cannula defining an outer lumen, the outer cannula having a tissue-receiving opening disposed proximate a distal end of the outer cannula and in communication with the outer lumen, and an inner cannula slidably disposed within the outer lumen, the inner cannula defining an inner lumen, and having open distal and proximal ends in communication with the inner lumen, the open distal end of the inner cannula comprising a cutting edge operable to sever tissue projecting through the tissue-receiving opening, the inner lumen comprising a tissue aspiration path extending from the open distal end to the open proximal end to allow a tissue sample to be aspirated from the open distal end to the open proximal end, and wherein the reusable handpiece includes a first device detachably coupled to the inner cannula to rotate the inner cannula within the outer cannula, and a second device detachably coupled to the inner cannula to translate the inner cannula within the outer cannula while the inner cannula rotates.