Methods and devices for automated biopsy and collection of soft tissue

A biopsy instrument, comprising:

• an elongate hollow outer piercing needle having a lumen, a sharpened distal end for piercing tissue, and a lateral opening located proximal to said sharpened distal end for receiving a portion of a tissue mass positioned adjacent to said lateral opening;
• an elongate inner cutting cannula having a lumen and being disposed coaxially and slidable within said elongate outer piercing needle, said elongate inner cannula having a sharpened distal end for cutting the portion of tissue protruding into said elongate outer piercing needle lateral opening when said elongate inner cannula slides distally past said lateral opening, thereby depositing the portion of cut tissue within said elongate inner cannula proximal to said sharpened distal end;
• a vacuum generator for generating a vacuum pressure which fluidly communicates with said lateral opening through said inner cannula lumen;
• and
• a tissue stop device disposed in the lumen of said inner cannula and having a structure disposed proximally of said lateral opening which is adapted to sufficiently obstruct said lumen so that a tissue sample drawn into the lateral opening by said vacuum pressure and severed by the cutting cannula is prevented from migrating proximally through the cutting cannula lumen.

A biopsy instrument, comprising:

• an outer hollow cannula having a distal end portion which comprises a plurality of leaflets, said leaflets each having a proximal end which is hinged to the outer cannula wall and a distal end, the leaflets being biased to pivot about their hinges to a closed position wherein the distal ends of the leaflets contact one another;
• and
• an inner hollow cannula;
• wherein at least one of said cannulas is slidable relative to the other cannula so that first the inner cannula may be extended distally with respect to the outer cannula to force said leaflets to an open position and to cut and contain a tissue sample, and then the outer cannula may be extended distally with respect to the inner cannula sufficiently so that the leaflets clear the inner cannula and snap closed about their hinges, thereby serving said tissue sample and containing it within the inner cannula.

A biopsy instrument, comprising:

• an outer hollow cannula having a sharpened distal end portion;
• and
• an inner hollow cannula having a distal portion which is biased to expand radially at its distal end;
• wherein at least one of said cannulas is slidable relative to the other cannula so that first the inner cannula may be extended distally with respect to the outer cannula such that said inner cannula distal portion expands radially to caputre a tissue sample, and then the outer cannula may be extended distally with respect to the inner cannula sufficiently so that the distal end portion of the inner cannula is forced by the outer cannula to close about and sever the tissue sample, thereby containing the sample within the inner cannula