Handheld biopsy device with needle firing

A biopsy device, comprising:

• (a) a body;
• (b) a needle associated with the body, wherein the needle defines a first lumen and a second lumen, wherein the first lumen extends along a first longitudinal axis, wherein the second lumen extends along a second longitudinal axis, wherein the needle includes an opening fluidly coupling the first lumen with the second lumen;
• (c) a cutter, wherein the cutter is configured to translate relative to the needle to sever tissue;
• and
• (d) a valve assembly, comprising:
• (i) a valve body having an interior, one or more vent openings in communication with the interior, and one or more saline openings in communication with the interior, wherein the interior is in communication with the second lumen, wherein the one or more vent openings are further in communication with atmospheric air, wherein the one or more saline openings are further in communication with a source of saline, and
• (ii) a translating member slidably disposed in the valve body, wherein the translating member is configured to selectively couple the second lumen with either the one or more vent openings or the one or more saline openings based on the longitudinal position of the translating member within the valve body,
• wherein the cutter extends through the valve body and through the translating member.

A biopsy device, comprising:

• (a) a body;
• (b) a needle extending distally from the body, the needle including a tip and a transverse aperture proximal to the tip, wherein the needle defines a first lumen and a second lumen, wherein the transverse aperture is in communication with the first lumen and the second lumen;
• (c) a cutter disposed within the first lumen, wherein the cutter is configured to translate relative to the needle to sever tissue;
• and
• (c) a valve assembly, comprising;
• (i) a sheath extending proximally from the needle, wherein the sheath defines an interior, wherein the sheath is in communication with the second lumen, wherein the sheath comprises one or more proximal openings and one or more distal openings, wherein the openings are in communication with the interior of the sheath,
• (ii) a saline manifold, wherein the saline manifold is disposed over the exterior of at least a portion of the sheath, wherein the saline manifold is configured to communicate saline through the one or more proximal openings of the sheath, and
• (iii) a shuttle valve slider translatable within the sheath, wherein the shuttle valve slider comprises a plurality of recesses configured to seal against an interior diameter of the sheath, wherein the shuttle valve sheath is configured to selectively couple the second lumen with either the one or more proximal openings or the one or more distal openings by translating the recesses relative to the sheath.

A biopsy device, comprising:

• (a) a body;
• (b) a needle associated with the body, wherein the needle defines a first lumen and a second lumen, wherein the needle includes an opening fluidly coupling the first lumen with the second lumen;
• (c) a cutter, wherein the cutter is configured to translate relative to the needle to sever tissue;
• and
• (d) a valve assembly, comprising:
• (i) a valve body having an interior, one or more vent openings in communication with the interior, and one or more saline openings in communication with the interior, wherein the interior is in communication with the second lumen, wherein the one or more vent openings are further in communication with atmospheric air, wherein the one or more saline openings are further in communication with a source of saline, and
• (ii) a translating member slidably disposed in the valve body, wherein the translating member comprises a plurality of annular recesses, wherein the translating member is configured to selectively couple the second lumen with either the one or more vent openings or the one or more saline openings based on the longitudinal position of the annular recesses within the valve body,
• wherein the cutter extends through the valve body and through the translating member.