Patent ID: 8257275

Claim:
A biopsy system comprising: (a) a control unit; (b) a needle firing assembly; (c) a probe assembly operatively and removably associated with the needle firing assembly, wherein the probe assembly comprises: (i) a needle having a needle lumen and a tissue receiving opening, wherein the needle firing assembly is operable to fire the needle, and (ii) a hollow cutter having a cutter lumen, the cutter being movable with respect to the needle for severing tissue received in the tissue receiving opening; (d) at least one fluid line for providing fluid communication between the needle lumen, the cutter lumen, and the control unit; and (e) a strainer in fluid communication with the at least one fluid line, wherein the strainer is configured to prevent passage of tissue through the fluid line; wherein the probe assembly and the at least one fluid line are removable together from the needle firing assembly.