Methods and devices for biopsy and collection of soft tissue

Abstract

A biopsy system includes a housing, a cannula, a hollow cutter, and a rotatable tissue sample holder. The cannula extends distally from the housing and is rotatable with respect to the housing. The cutter is movable with respect to the cannula for severing tissue received by the cannula. The tissue sample holder includes a plurality of separate tissue sample compartments, the tissue sample compartments being disposed about an axis of rotation of the tissue sample holder. The biopsy system transports severed tissue samples to the tissue sample holder.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A biopsy system comprising:
 (a) a housing;   (b) a cannula extending distally from the housing, wherein the cannula comprises a tissue receiving port and a plurality of vacuum ports, wherein at least one of the plurality of vacuum ports is oriented distally relative to the tissue receiving port;   (c) a hollow cutter, wherein the cutter is movable with respect to the cannula for severing tissue received by the cannula; and   (d) a tissue sample holder;   wherein the biopsy system is operable to transport severed tissue samples to the tissue sample holder.   
     
     
         22 . The biopsy system of  claim 21 , wherein the cannula further comprises a vacuum lumen. 
     
     
         23 . The biopsy system of  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of vacuum ports are operable to communicate vacuum from the vacuum lumen to the tissue receiving port. 
     
     
         24 . The biopsy system of  claim 21 , wherein the cannula further comprises a cutter lumen. 
     
     
         25 . The biopsy system of  claim 24 , wherein the cutter is movable within the cutter lumen of the cannula. 
     
     
         26 . The biopsy system of  claim 21 , wherein the tissue sample holder comprises a plurality of discrete tissue sample compartments. 
     
     
         27 . The biopsy system of  claim 26 , wherein the tissue sample holder is in communication with the cutter. 
     
     
         28 . The biopsy system of  claim 27 , wherein the tissue sample holder is movable relative to the cutter to index a single tissue sample compartment of the plurality of tissue sample compartments with the cutter. 
     
     
         29 . The biopsy system of  claim 21 , wherein the cannula further comprises a sharp distal tip extending from a distal end of the cannula. 
     
     
         30 . The biopsy system of  claim 29 , wherein the tissue receiving port is proximal of the distal tip. 
     
     
         31 . The biopsy system of  claim 29 , wherein the plurality of vacuum ports are oriented proximally of the distal tip. 
     
     
         32 . The biopsy system of  claim 29 , wherein the distal tip includes a plurality of faceted surfaces converging to form a point. 
     
     
         33 . The biopsy system of  claim 31 , further comprising a vacuum source. 
     
     
         34 . The biopsy system of  claim 33 , wherein the vacuum source is in communication with the vacuum lumen of the cannula through the tissue sample holder via a vacuum connection. 
     
     
         35 . The biopsy system of  claim 33 , wherein the vacuum source is external to the housing. 
     
     
         36 . A biopsy system comprising:
 (a) a cannula comprising a sharp distal tip and a lateral tissue receiving port, wherein the distal tip comprises a plurality of facets;   (b) a cutter movable relative to the cannula, wherein the cutter is operable to sever tissue received in the tissue receiving port; and   (c) a tissue sample holder comprising a plurality of discrete tissue sample compartments;   wherein the biopsy system is operable to transport tissue samples to the tissue sample holder.   
     
     
         37 . The biopsy system of  claim 36 , wherein the plurality of facets define a substantially flat surface on a side of the distal tip that is aligned with the tissue receiving port. 
     
     
         38 . The biopsy system of  claim 36 , wherein the plurality of facets intersect with each other, wherein the intersection between each facet is oriented away from the tissue receiving port. 
     
     
         39 . A biopsy system comprising:
 (a) a housing;   (b) a cannula extending distally from the housing, wherein the cannula comprises a lateral tissue receiving port and a vacuum lumen, wherein the vacuum lumen is configured to communicate vacuum through the tissue receiving port;   (c) a hollow cutter, wherein the cutter is movable with respect to the cannula for severing tissue received by the cannula;   (d) a tissue sample holder, wherein the tissue sample holder comprises a vacuum connection; and   (f) a vacuum source, wherein the vacuum source is in communication with the vacuum lumen through the tissue sample holder via the vacuum port;   wherein the biopsy system is operable to transport severed tissue samples to the tissue sample holder.   
     
     
         40 . The biopsy system of  claim 39 , wherein the vacuum connection of the tissue sample holder is in communication with the vacuum source via a vacuum tube, wherein the vacuum connection is operable to communicate vacuum to the vacuum lumen of the cannula via the tissue sample holder.