Biopsy devices and methods of use thereof

Abstract

A biopsy device includes an ultrasonic probe, a display, an actuator, and a needle assembly. The display is associated with the ultrasonic probe, and the ultrasonic probe is configured to send a signal to the display to generate an image on the display. The needle assembly is coupled to the actuator and is at least partially disposed within a channel defined in the ultrasonic probe. The actuator is configured to move the needle assembly in a distal direction relative to the ultrasonic probe and through the channel of the ultrasonic probe from a retracted position to a deployed position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of performing a biopsy, comprising:
 positioning a biopsy device in proximity to target tissue;   generating an image of the target tissue on a display of the biopsy device using an ultrasonic probe of the biopsy device;   aligning a needle of a needle assembly that is disposed within the ultrasonic probe with the target tissue using the image of the target tissue generated on the display; and   deploying the needle of the needle assembly from the ultrasound probe into the target tissue, thereby capturing a tissue sample from the target tissue in the needle.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein aligning the needle with the target tissue includes moving the biopsy device relative to the target tissue into a position in which a projected needle pathway animated on the display is in line with the image of the target tissue on the display. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein deploying the needle into the target tissue includes guiding the needle into the target tissue along the projected needle pathway. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising automatically capturing an image of the needle of the needle assembly with the tissue sample disposed therein. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising abutting a force sensor of the biopsy device with a tissue surface to determine a resistance of the target tissue prior to deploying the needle into the target tissue. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising applying a negative pressure to the needle assembly to draw the tissue sample into a containment chamber defined in the needle assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the negative pressure is applied using at least one of hydraulics or a vacuum. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising automatically retracting the needle into the ultrasound probe after deploying the needle of the needle assembly from the ultrasound probe into the target tissue. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein during deployment of the needle, a leg of the needle assembly advances to disengage an inner sheath of the biopsy device from a housing of the biopsy device and axially fixes the inner sheath with the needle assembly such that the inner sheath and the needle assembly automatically retract together as one unit. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the leg of the needle assembly disengaging the inner sheath from the housing includes releasing a tab of the inner sheath from a stop of the housing. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein axially fixing the inner sheath with the needle assembly includes matingly engaging the leg of the needle assembly with the tab of the inner sheath. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the needle is automatically retracted by a biasing member that exerts a proximally-oriented force on the inner sheath. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising rotating a collar of the biopsy device from a first orientation to a second orientation prior to deploying the needle, the collar and the needle assembly are axially movable with one another when the collar is in the first orientation, and the needle assembly is axially movable relative to the collar when the collar is in the second orientation. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising advancing the needle assembly from a retracted position to an intermediate, pre-fired position, wherein the needle is deployed from the intermediate, pre-fired position. 
     
     
         15 . A method of performing a biopsy, comprising:
 positioning a biopsy device in proximity to target tissue;   generating an image of the target tissue on a display using an ultrasonic probe of the biopsy device;   aligning a needle of a needle assembly of the biopsy device with the target tissue using the image of the target tissue generated on the display;   advancing the needle of the needle assembly through the ultrasound probe into the target tissue, thereby capturing a tissue sample from the target tissue in the needle; and   automatically retracting the needle into the biopsy device upon capturing the tissue sample from the target tissue.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein during the advancing of the needle, an inner sheath of the biopsy device is transitioned from a first state, in which the inner sheath is axially fixed within the biopsy device and the needle is axially movable relative to the inner sheath, to a second state, in which the inner sheath is axially movable within the biopsy device and axially fixed with the needle. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the needle is automatically retracted by a biasing member that exerts a proximally-oriented force on the inner sheath, the needle automatically retracting after the inner sheath transitions to the second state. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein during advancement of the needle, a leg of the needle assembly advances to simultaneously release a tab of the inner sheath from a stop of the biopsy device and matingly engage the tab of the inner sheath such that the inner sheath and the needle assembly automatically retract together as one unit. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising rotating a collar of the biopsy device from a first orientation to a second orientation prior to advancing the needle, the collar and the needle assembly are axially movable with one another when the collar is in the first orientation, and the needle assembly is axially movable relative to the collar when the collar is in the second orientation. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising advancing the needle assembly from a retracted position to an intermediate, pre-fired position while the collar is in the first orientation, wherein the needle is deployed from the intermediate, pre-fired position after the collar is rotated to the second orientation.