Control for biopsy device

Abstract

An exemplary biopsy system includes a biopsy device having a probe. The probe includes a distally extending needle and a cutter movable relative to the needle. The probe also includes a tissue sample holder detachably coupled to the proximal end of the probe. The biopsy system has a cycle where the biopsy system provides vacuum to the biopsy device, retracts the cutter to a proximal position, advances the cutter to a distal position, and transports a sample to the tissue sample holder. The biopsy system is capable of adjusting the duration of its cycle during operation of the biopsy device.

I/we claim: 
     
         1 . A biopsy system comprising a biopsy device, wherein the biopsy device comprises a probe, wherein the probe comprises:
 (a) a needle, wherein the needle extends distally from the probe,   (b) a cutter, wherein the cutter is movable relative to the needle, and   (c) a tissue sample holder, wherein the tissue sample holder is detachably coupled to a proximal end of the probe;   wherein the biopsy system is operable in a cycle to provide vacuum to the biopsy device, retract the cutter to a proximal position, advance the cutter to a distal position, and transport a sample to the tissue sample holder; and   wherein the biopsy system is configured to adjust the duration of the cycle of the biopsy system during the cycle of the biopsy system.   
     
     
         2 . The biopsy system of  claim 1 , wherein the biopsy system is operable to measure the amount of vacuum provided to the biopsy device. 
     
     
         3 . The biopsy system of  claim 2 , wherein the biopsy system is operable to selectively categorize the measured vacuum pressure. 
     
     
         4 . The biopsy system of  claim 3 , wherein the biopsy system is operable to selectively categorize the measured vacuum pressure as relatively low, relatively nominal, or relatively high. 
     
     
         5 . The biopsy system of  claim 3 , wherein the cutter is configured to dwell at the proximal position, wherein the biopsy system is operable to adjust the duration of time the cutter is configured to dwell at the proximal position during the cycle of the biopsy system based on the selected category of the measured vacuum pressure. 
     
     
         6 . The biopsy system of  claim 5 , wherein the biopsy system is operable to increase the duration of time the cutter is configured to dwell at the proximal position when the measured vacuum pressure is selectively categorized as relatively low, or wherein the biopsy system is operable to decrease the duration of time the cutter is configured to dwell at the proximal position when the measured vacuum pressure is selectively categorized as relatively high. 
     
     
         7 . The biopsy system of  claim 3 , wherein the biopsy system is operable to adjust the speed of the translation of the cutter from the proximal position to the distal position during the cycle of the biopsy system based on the selected category of the vacuum pressure. 
     
     
         8 . The biopsy system of  claim 7 , wherein the biopsy system is operable to decrease the speed of the translation of the cutter from the proximal position to the distal position when the measured vacuum pressure is selectively categorized as relatively low, or wherein the biopsy system is operable to increase the speed of the translation of the cutter from the proximal position to the distal position when the measured vacuum pressure is selectively categorized as relatively high. 
     
     
         9 . The biopsy system of  claim 3 , wherein the cutter is operable to oscillate proximally and distally after advancing to the distal position, wherein the biopsy system is operable to adjust the amount of cutter oscillations during the cycle of the biopsy system based on the selected category of the vacuum pressure. 
     
     
         10 . The biopsy system of  claim 9 , wherein the biopsy system is operable to increase the amount of cutter oscillations when the measured vacuum pressure is selectively categorized as relatively low, or wherein the biopsy system is operable to decrease the amount of cutter oscillations when the measured vacuum pressure is selectively categorized as relatively high. 
     
     
         11 . The biopsy system of  claim 9 , wherein the biopsy system is operable to bypass the amount of cutter oscillations when the measured vacuum pressure is selectively categorized as relatively high. 
     
     
         12 . The biopsy system of  claim 3 , wherein the biopsy system is operable to adjust the duration of time to transport the sample to the tissue sample holder during the cycle of the biopsy system based on the selected category of the vacuum pressure. 
     
     
         13 . The biopsy system of  claim 12 , wherein the biopsy system is operable to increase the duration of time to transport the sample to the tissue sample holder when the measured vacuum pressure is selectively categorized as relatively low, or wherein the biopsy system is operable to decrease the duration of time to transport the sample to the tissue sample holder when the measured vacuum pressure is selectively categorized as relatively high. 
     
     
         14 . The biopsy system of  claim 1 , wherein the biopsy system is operable to increase the amount of vacuum provided to the biopsy device after the cutter translates from the proximal position to the distal position. 
     
     
         15 . The biopsy system of  claim 14 , wherein the biopsy system is operable to adjust the amount of vacuum provided to the biopsy device to a maximum amount of vacuum after the cutter translates from the proximal position to the distal position. 
     
     
         16 . The biopsy device of  claim 15 , wherein the biopsy system further comprises an interface configured to selectively increase or decrease vacuum provided to the biopsy device, wherein the biopsy system is operable to override the selected increase or decrease in vacuum by the interface when the amount of vacuum is adjusted to the maximum amount of vacuum. 
     
     
         17 . A method for operating a biopsy system, wherein the biopsy system comprises a biopsy device, wherein the biopsy device comprises a probe having a needle distally extending from the probe, a cutter movable relative to the needle, and a tissue sample holder detachably coupled to the proximal end of the probe, wherein the biopsy system is operable to provide vacuum to the biopsy device, the method comprising:
 (a) applying a selected amount of vacuum to the biopsy device;   (b) retracting the cutter to a proximal position;   (c) dwelling the cutter at the proximal position;   (d) advancing the cutter to a distal position; and   (e) applying maximum vacuum to the biopsy device to override the selected amount of vacuum.   
     
     
         18 . A method for operating a biopsy system, wherein the biopsy system comprises a biopsy device, wherein the biopsy device comprises a probe having a needle distally extending from the probe, a cutter movable relative to the needle, and a tissue sample holder detachably coupled to the proximal end of the probe, wherein the biopsy system is operable to provide vacuum to the biopsy device, the method comprising:
 (a) applying a selected amount of vacuum to the biopsy device;   (b) retracting the cutter to a proximal position;   (c) measuring the amount of vacuum applied to the biopsy device;   (d) categorizing the measured amount of vacuum applied to the biopsy device;   (e) dwelling the cutter at the proximal position for an amount of time determined based on the categorized amount of vacuum; and   (f) advancing the cutter to a distal position at a speed determined based on the categorized amount of vacuum.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the cutter is configured to oscillate proximally and distally after advancing to the distal position, wherein the amount of cutter oscillations is determined based on the categorized amount of vacuum. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising applying a maximum amount of vacuum after the cutter is advanced to the distal position.