Soft tissue core biopsy instrument

A soft tissue core biopsy instrument comprising:

• a proximal outer barrel member having a distal end and a proximal end;
• a distal inner barrel member which is slidably received within said outer barrel member and which has a distal end and a proximal end;
• a cannula driver in said inner barrel member;
• a cannula extending distally from said inner barrel member, being fixed to said cannula driver, and having a distal tip, said cannula drive being slidably received and movable within said distal inner barrel member and said cannula extending a predetermined distance out of said distal end of said inner barrel member when the instrument is in an at rest condition;
• a stylet having a distal end, a distal end portion, a proximal end, and being removably received in said outer barrel, in said inner barrel, and in said cannula, said distal end portion having a biopsy sample receiving notch therein;
• a stylet hub mounted to said proximal end of said stylet;
• said hub being removably attached to the proximal end of said proximal outer barrel member to enable multiple biopsies to be obtained with one insertion of said cannula,
• said stylet extending distally from said hub and within said cannula with said distal end portion (a) being positioned within said cannula when the instrument is in an at rest position and (b) extending distally of said distal tip of said cannula in position to capture a biopsy sample when the instrument is in a cocked position;
• biasing means within said inner barrel member for biasing said cannula driver toward the distal end of said inner barrel member;
• latching means associated with said cannula driver and said inner barrel member for latching said cannula driver in a proximally retracted position within said outer barrel member and said inner barrel member against the biasing action of said biasing means;
• a trigger, associated with said latching means, for unlatching said latching means, said trigger, upon being actuated for unlatching of said latching means, allowing said biasing means to quickly return said cannula driver and said cannula to said at rest distally extending position thereof and over said stylet distal end portion;
• and
• means for selectively limiting the distally extending position of said cannula.

A soft tissue core biopsy instrument comprising:

• a proximal outer barrel member having a distal end and a proximal end;
• a distal inner barrel member which is slidably received within said outer barrel member and which has a distal end and a proximal end, said proximal end including a proximal wall;
• a cannula driver located in said inner barrel member and having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a cannula extending distally from said inner barrel member, being fixed to said cannula driver, and having a distal tip, said cannula driver being slidably received and movable within said distal inner barrel member and said cannula extending a predetermined distance out of said distal end of said inner barrel member when the instrument is in an at rest condition;
• a stylet having a distal end, a distal end portion, a proximal inner barrel, and in said cannula, said distal end portion having a biopsy sample receiving notch therein;
• a stylet hub mounted to said proximal end of said stylet;
• said stylet hub being removably attached to the proximal end of said proximal outer barrel member to enable multiple biopsies to be obtained with one insertion of said cannula,
• said stylet extending distally from said hub and within said cannula with said distal end portion (a) being positioned within said cannula when the instrument is in an at rest position and (b) extending distally of said distal tip of said cannula in position to capture a biopsy when the instrument is in a cocked position;
• biasing means within said inner barrel member for biasing said cannula driver toward the distal end of said inner barrel member, said cannula driver biasing means comprising a spring located within said inner barrel member between said proximal wall of said inner barrel member and said proximal end of said cannula driver;
• latching means associated with said cannula driver and said inner barrel member for latching said cannula driver in a proximally retracted position within said outer barrel member and said inner barrel member against the biasing action of said biasing means;
• a trigger, associated with said latching means, for unlatching said latching means, said trigger, upon being actuated for unlatching of said latching means, allowing said biasing means to quickly return said cannula driver and said cannula to said at rest distally extending position thereof and over said stylet distal end portion.