Length detection system for biopsy device

A disposable unit for a biopsy device, the biopsy device having a control system, the disposable unit comprising:

• a longitudinally extending hollow needle with a distal end portion adapted to be introduced into the body of a living being, the distal end portion of the hollow needle having a cutting edge for severing at least one tissue sample;
• a sample-receiving device with a cavity for receiving the at least one severed tissue sample, the sample-receiving device being receivable in the hollow needle and longitudinally displaceable therein between a first extended position, in which the cavity of the sample-receiving device projects from the distal end portion of the hollow needle, and a second retracted position, in which the cavity of the sample-receiving device is in a proximal position with respect to the distal end portion of the hollow needle, the second retracted position defining a position within the biopsy device for ejection of the at least one tissue sample from the cavity;
• and
• a transport device for moving the sample-receiving device in the hollow needle between the first extended position and the second retracted position, wherein the transport device includes:
• a bendable elongate element having an end attached to the sample-receiving device and having a tooth surface;
• a driven rotatable gear wheel that engages the toothed surface of the transport device;
• and
• a coiling device for coiling the bendable elongate element along a longitudinal path defined by the longitudinally extending hollow needle as the sample-receiving device is moved linearly by operation of the driven rotatable gear from the first extended position to the second retracted position, relative to the distal end portion of the hollow needle;
• and
• a physical non-transitory electronic memory device communicatively coupled to the control system, the physical non-transitory electronic memory device being configured to store information representative of a distance between the first extended position and the second retracted position of the sample-receiving device and configured to provide the information to the control system.

A biopsy device for harvesting at least one tissue sample from a body of a living being, the biopsy device comprising:

• a handle unit having an electronic interface and a control system communicatively coupled to the electronic interface;
• and
• a disposable unit configured to be operatively coupled to the handle unit, the disposable unit including a sample-receiving device and a longitudinally extending hollow needle, the sample-receiving device having a cavity to receive tissue, the hollow needle being configured to move relative to the cavity of the sample-receiving device to sever a tissue sample from tissue received in the cavity, and
• the disposable unit having a physical non-transitory electronic memory device, wherein the electronic interface of the handle unit is configured to communicate with the physical non-transitory electronic memory device of the disposable unit to derive information stored in the physical non-transitory electronic memory device and communicate the information to the control system.