Biopsy device with replaceable probe incorporating static vacuum source dual valve sample stacking retrieval and saline flush

A biopsy device, comprising:

• a probe assembly, comprising:
• a probe support structure,
• a probe tube attached to the probe support structure and having a side aperture,
• a cutter tube slidingly received by the probe tube and sized to translate across the side aperture, a first fluid passage defined within the cutter tube and a second fluid passage defined between an outer surface of the cutter tube and an inner surface of the probe tube,
• a pneumatic conduit connectable between a vacuum source and a proximal end of the probe tube communicating with a selected one of the first and second fluid passages, and
• a flush valve assembly operatively configured to selectively communicate between a fluid source and the proximal end of the probe communicating with the other one of the first and second fluid passages;
• and
• a hand piece, comprising:
• a hand piece support structure having a lateral engaging portion operatively configured to receive the probe assembly.

A biopsy device, comprising:

• a first probe assembly, comprising:
• a probe support structure,
• a probe attached to the probe support structure and having a side aperture,
• a cutter tube slidingly received by the probe and sized to translate across the side aperture,
• a lateral lumen of the probe communicating with the side aperture,
• a pneumatic conduit connectable between a vacuum source and a proximal end of the cutter tube, and
• a flush valve assembly operatively configured to selectively communicate between a fluid source and a proximal opening of the lateral lumen;
• a second probe assembly, comprising:
• a probe support structure,
• a probe attached to the probe support structure and having a side aperture,
• a cutter tube slidingly received by the probe and sized to translate across the side aperture,
• a lateral lumen of the probe communicating with the side aperture,
• a pneumatic conduit connectable between a vacuum source and a proximal end of the cutter tube, and
• a tissue sample retraction mechanism;
• and
• a hand piece, comprising:
• a hand piece support structure having a lateral engaging portion operatively configured to receive a selected one of first and second probe assemblies, and
• a lead screw for cutter translation attached for rotation to the hand piece support structure.

A biopsy system for performing a core biopsy procedure, comprising:

• a static vacuum source;
• a fluid supply;
• a hand-held device, comprising:
• a core biopsy probe comprising a cutter lumen having a distal sample aperture,
• a housing proximally attached to the core biopsy probe and sized to be manually held for positioning the core biopsy probe,
• a fluid input attached to the housing and attachable to the fluid supply,
• user controls attached to the housing,
• a motorized cutter translated in the cutter lumen of the core biopsy probe in response to the user controls, and
• a valve assembly responsive to the user controls to selectively communicate the fluid input to the core biopsy probe.