Biopsy device with in-line sample imaging outside aspiration path

An apparatus for use with a biopsy device, the apparatus comprising:

• (a) a tissue transport tube, the tissue transport tube being configured to receive and transport one or more tissue samples acquired by the biopsy device;
• (b) a tissue sample holder, the tissue sample holder including a tissue tray, the tissue tray being in selective communication with the tissue transport tube to receive the one or more tissue samples acquired by the biopsy device from the tissue transport tube;
• and
• (c) an analysis assembly defining an imaging axis extending from a detector, the tissue tray being configured to move relative to the analysis assembly into alignment with the imaging axis to analyze the one or more tissue samples acquired by the biopsy device.

A method of analyzing a tissue sample, the method comprising:

• (a) transporting a tissue sample acquired by a biopsy device through a tissue transport tube into a sample chamber of a tissue tray aligned with a sampling axis defined by the tissue transport tube;
• (b) moving the sample chamber of the tissue tray relative to the sampling axis to align the sample chamber with an imaging axis;
• and
• (c) imaging the tissue sample while the sample chamber of the tissue tray is aligned with the sampling axis.