Apparatus to permit selective biopsy sample visualization during tissue removal

Abstract

A biopsy device includes a body, a needle, a cutter, a tissue sample holder, and a sample stopping 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 a distal end of the cutter and the tissue sample holder. The sample stopping assembly includes a rotatable strainer that is configured to selectively arrest movement of a tissue sample within the fluid conduit between the cutter and the tissue sample holder.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . 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; and   (d) transporting the first tissue sample from the sample viewing portion to a tissue sample holder, the step of transporting including moving a filter gate away from an axis defined by the cutter from a sample stopping position to a transport position.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , the step of inspecting the first tissue sample including visual inspection of the first tissue sample. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising removing the first tissue sample from the sample viewing portion to inspect the first tissue sample by palpitation. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , the step of inspecting the first tissue sample including translating the cutter without rotating the cutter to open at least a portion of an inspection member. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , the step of transporting the first tissue sample from the sample viewing portion to the sample holder including pivoting the filter gate by rotation of the cutter, the rotation of the cutter being performed while translating the cutter. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , the cutter including a distal portion and a proximal portion, the step of transporting the first tissue sample including pivoting the filter gate by moving the proximal portion of the cutter relative to the distal portion of the cutter. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , the step of inspecting the first tissue sample including inspection using a tissue analysis sensor. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising detecting the presence of the first tissue sample in the viewing portion using a sensor. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising changing a flow of vacuum through the cutter after the step of detecting the presence of the first tissue sample in view viewing portion. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , the step of transporting the first tissue sample from the sample viewing portion to the sample holder including pivoting the filter gate by rotation of a portion of a cutter drive associated with the cutter. 
     
     
         31 . 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) transitioning a filter gate from a sample stopping position to a transport position, the step of transitioning the filter gate being performed by moving a portion of a cutter drive assembly relative to the cutter; and   (e) transporting the first tissue sample from the sample viewing portion to a tissue sample holder after transitioning the filter gate to the transport position.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising removing the first tissue sample from the sample viewing portion through a window in the sample viewing portion to inspect the first tissue sample by palpation. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , the step of transitioning the filter gate including rotating the filter gate about an axis. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , the step of transitioning the filter gate including rotating the filter gate about a cylindrical member protruding from a portion of the filter gate. 
     
     
         35 . 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) stopping the first tissue sample to hold the first tissue sample within the sample viewing portion;   (c) inspecting the first tissue sample after stopping the first tissue sample;   (d) rotating a filter gate about an axis to move the filter gate from a sample stopping position to a transport position, the step of rotating the filter gate being performed by rotating a first portion of the cutter relative to a second portion of the cutter; and   (e) transporting the first tissue sample from the sample viewing portion to a tissue sample holder after moving the filter gate to the transport position.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising transporting a second tissue sample through the cutter to the sample viewing portion, further comprising rotating the filter gate about the axis to move the filter gate from the transport position to the sample stopping position prior to the step of transporting the second tissue sample. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , the step of rotating the filter gate from the sample stopping position to the transport position including rotating the first portion of the cutter in a first direction, the step of rotating the filter gate from the transport position to the sample stopping position including rotating the first portion of the cutter in a second direction, the second direction being opposite the first direction. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , the step of stopping the first tissue sample being performed while the filter gate is in the sample stopping position. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising passing a flow of vacuum through the filter gate while the filter gate is in the sample stopping position. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 36 , the step of rotating the filter gate including pivoting the filter gate relative to a lumen defined by the cutter.