Biopsy needle instrument

A medical instrument comprising a housing having an opening at one end thereof;

• a reciprocating shaft within said housing, said reciprocating shaft having a front section and a rear section, said front section of said reciprocating shaft extending outwardly through said opening;
• a cam assembly within said housing operatively coupled to said reciprocating shaft, said cam assembly comprising a cam having first and second spaced apart outwardly facing cam profiles, a first cam follower on one side of said cam in engagement with said first cam profile, and a second cam follower on the other side of said cam in engagement with said second cam profile;
• and a motor operatively coupled to said cam for rotational movement of said cam, whereby said engagement of said first and second cam profiles with said first and second cam followers during rotation of said cam causes reciprocal movement of said reciprocating shaft.

A medical instrument comprising a housing having an opening at one end thereof;

• a reciprocating shaft along a first axis within said housing, said reciprocating shaft having a front section and a rear section, said front section of the shaft extending outwardly through said opening;
• a cam assembly within said housing comprising a cam having first and second spaced apart cam profiles, a first cam follower on one side of said cam in engagement with said first cam profile, and a second cam follower on the other side of said cam in engagement with said second cam profile;
• and a motor on a second axis within said housing operatively coupled to said cam for rotational movement of said cam, said second axis offset from said first axis, whereby rotation of said cam causes reciprocal movement of said reciprocating shaft.