Apparatus to allow biopsy sample visualization during tissue removal

Abstract

A biopsy device includes a body, a needle, a cutter, a tissue sample holder, and a gate assembly. The needle extends distally from the body. The cutter is longitudinally translatable relative to the needle and defines a cutter lumen. The tissue sample holder is coupled proximally relative to the body. The cutter lumen of the cutter defines at least a portion of a fluid conduit extending between the cutter and the tissue sample holder. The gate assembly is configured to selectively arrest movement of a tissue sample holder within the fluid conduit between the cutter and the tissue sample holder.

I/we claim: 
     
         1 . A biopsy device comprising:
 (a) a body;   (b) a needle extending distally from the body;   (c) a cutter longitudinally translatable relative to the needle, wherein the cutter defines a cutter lumen;   (d) a tissue sample holder coupled to the body, wherein the cutter lumen of the cutter defines at least a portion of a fluid conduit extending between the cutter and the tissue sample holder; and   (e) a sample stopping assembly disposed between a distal end of the cutter and the tissue sample holder, wherein the sample stopping assembly is configured to selectively stop a tissue sample being transported within the fluid conduit for inspection and to allow the movement of the stopped tissue sample towards the tissue sample holder.   
     
     
         2 . The biopsy device of  claim 1 , wherein the sample stopping assembly includes a transparent sample inspection window to permit visual inspection of the stopped tissue sample. 
     
     
         3 . The biopsy device of  claim 2 , wherein the sample inspection window and the gate seal are both movable relative to the body to transition the gate seal from a closed position that stops the tissue sample to an open position that allows movement of the stopped tissue sample towards the tissue sample holder. 
     
     
         4 . The biopsy device of  claim 2 , wherein the gate seal includes a plurality of vacuum openings, wherein the sample inspection window includes a plurality of vacuum channels, wherein the gate seal is positioned relative to the sample inspection window such that the vacuum openings of the gate seal are in fluid communication with the vacuum channels of the sample inspection window. 
     
     
         5 . The biopsy device of  claim 4 , wherein the vacuum channels of the sample inspection window together with the vacuum openings of the gate seal are configured to promote the flow of fluid through the gate seal when a tissue sample is adjacent to the gate seal. 
     
     
         6 . The biopsy device of  claim 2 , wherein the gate seal is flexible. 
     
     
         7 . The biopsy device of  claim 2 , further including a cutter actuation assembly, wherein the cutter actuation assembly is operable to drive movement of the cutter. 
     
     
         8 . The biopsy device of  claim 7 , wherein the cutter actuation assembly includes a cutter drive member, wherein at least a portion of the cutter drive member is configured to secure the gate seal to the sample inspection window of the gate assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The biopsy device of  claim 8 , wherein the sample inspection window includes a lumen, wherein the cutter drive member includes a lumen, wherein the lumens of the sample inspection member and the cutter drive member both define a portion of the fluid conduit extending between the cutter and the tissue sample holder. 
     
     
         10 . The biopsy device of  claim 2 , wherein the gate seal is configured to transition between an open configuration and closed configuration, wherein the gate seal includes a plurality of openings, wherein each opening of the plurality of openings is configured to permit communication of fluid through the gate seal when the gate seal is in both the open configuration and the closed configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The biopsy device of  claim 2 , wherein the biopsy device further includes a transport tube extending distally from the tissue sample holder, wherein the transport tube defines at least a portion of the fluid conduit, wherein the transport tube is configured to transition the gate seal from a closed position that stops the tissue sample to an open position that allows movement of the stopped tissue sample towards the tissue sample holder upon movement of the gate seal relative to the transport tube. 
     
     
         12 . The biopsy device of  claim 1 , wherein the sample stopping assembly includes a sample inspection member, the sample inspection member including a sensor to detect the presence of a tissue sample within the sample inspection member. 
     
     
         13 . The biopsy device of  claim 12 , wherein the sensor is in communication with a controller, wherein the controller is configured to reduce vacuum supplied to the tissue sample holder in response to detection of the presence of a tissue sample by the sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The biopsy device of  claim 13 , wherein the sensor includes an impedance sensor, wherein the controller is configured to identify characteristics of a tissue sample based on signals from the impedance sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The biopsy device of  claim 12 , wherein the sample inspection member includes access window, wherein the access window is configured to move between an open configuration and a closed configuration to permit removal of a tissue sample from the sample inspection member. 
     
     
         16 . A biopsy device, the biopsy device comprising:
 (a) a body;   (b) a needle extending distally from the body;   (c) a cutter longitudinally translatable relative to the needle, wherein the cutter defines a cutter lumen;   (d) a tissue sample holder coupled proximally relative to the body, wherein the cutter lumen of the cutter defines at least a portion of a fluid conduit extending between the cutter and the tissue sample holder; and   (e) a cutter actuation assembly, wherein the cutter actuation assembly includes a cutter driver in communication with the cutter, a translation member, and a drive gear, wherein the cutter driver includes a threaded portion having a plurality of threads, wherein the threads are interrupted by a channel extending laterally along the threaded portion, wherein the translation member is configured to engage the threaded portion to translate the cutter via the cutter driver, wherein the drive gear is configured to engage the channel to rotate the cutter via cutter driver.   
     
     
         17 . The biopsy device of  claim 16 , wherein the translation member includes a body defining a bore, wherein the body further defines threading extending inwardly within the bore, wherein the threading is configured to mesh with the threads of the cutter driver. 
     
     
         18 . The biopsy device of  claim 17 , wherein the threading defined by the body of the translation member includes a single thread defined by a single turn around the interior of the bore. 
     
     
         19 . The biopsy device of  claim 16 , wherein the cutter driver is configured to actuate a tissue stopping assembly, wherein the tissue stopping assembly includes a seal, wherein the cutter driver is configured to move the seal while simultaneously moving the cutter. 
     
     
         20 . A method for collecting tissue samples using a biopsy device, the method comprising:
 (a) transporting a first tissue sample through a cutter of the biopsy device to a sample viewing portion of the biopsy device;   (b) arresting the first tissue sample in the sample viewing portion;   (c) inspecting the first tissue sample while the first tissue sample is disposed within the viewing portion;   (d) transporting the first tissue sample from the sample viewing portion to a tissue sample holder; and   (e) transporting a second tissue sample through the cutter to the sample viewing portion.