Patent ID: 8287466

Claim:
An apparatus for obtaining a tissue sample, the apparatus comprising: (a) a biopsy probe, the biopsy probe comprising: (i) a cannula having a closed distal end, wherein the cannula defines a longitudinal axis and a side aperture proximal to the closed distal end, wherein the cannula has a first length, and (ii) a cutter positioned within the cannula, wherein the cutter is operable to move within the cannula to cut a tissue sample from tissue protruding through the side aperture; and (b) a blocking member movably coupled with the cannula, wherein the blocking member has a second length and a distal end having a tapered portion, wherein the second length is less than the first length, the blocking member comprising: (i) an elongate structure registered to at least partially encompass and engage the cannula, wherein the elongate structure is open and flexible to provide snap-on engagement of the blocking member with the cannula by snapping the blocking member onto the cannula in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis, wherein the blocking member is configured to slide along the cannula while the blocking member is snapped onto the cannula, wherein a portion of the elongate structure is mounted along the cannula such that the elongate structure blocks at least part of the side aperture and is further positioned such that the cannula and the elongate structure are operable to slidingly enter tissue with the tapered portion, and (ii) a gripping portion attached to a proximal portion of the elongate structure for longitudinally positioning the blocking member relative to the side aperture, wherein the elongate structure extends distally from the gripping portion.