A biopsy device for taking a core biopsy from internal organs, the biopsy device comprising:
- a biopsy needle assembly, said biopsy needle assembly comprising:
- a flexible plastic guide tube having a proximal end extending from a housing, a distal end terminating away from said housing, and a longitudinal axis extending between said proximal and distal guide tube ends;
- a substantially straight, cylindrical cannula needle having a sharpened annular distal end for cutting tissue and a proximal end terminating in a cannula hub, said cannula needle being moveably disposed within said guide tube such that said sharpened distal end of said cannula needle is extendable from said distal end of said guide tube;
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- a substantially straight stylet needle having a sharpened distal end for puncturing tissue, a proximal end terminating in a stylet hub, and a tissue sample receiving slot located adjacent to said distal end, said stylet needle being moveably disposed within said cannula needle such that said sharpened distal end of said stylet needle is extendable from said distal end of said cannula needle;
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- a table-top biopsy instrument actuating device adapted to be positioned on a bedside table adjacent to a patient for actuating said biopsy needle assembly, said table-top biopsy instrument actuating device comprising:
- a housing having a front panel including:
- a plurality of controlling switches and knobs including at least a main power switch, a cautery main switch, a releasing activator button, a firing button, a specimen retrieval button, a stylet and cannula forward speed control knob, a withdrawal lag time control knob, and a depth of needle invasion control knob;
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- a digital display for indicating information regarding position and energized status of said biopsy instrument actuating device such that a user can be visually informed of a status of the biopsy device;
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- a biopsy actuator disposed within the housing, the biopsy actuator comprising:
- a cannula slide having a recess for securely engaging said cannula hub to transfer linear movement of said cannula slide to said cannula needle;
- a stylet slide having a recess for securely engaging said stylet hub to transfer linear movement of said stylet slide to said stylet needle;
- a base-frame including two parallel, solid cylindrical shafts forming a sliding guide-way for movement of the cannula slide and the stylet slide, said base-frame shafts being kept parallel by three fixed jaws;
- a stylet spring mechanism for acting on said stylet slide to move said distal end of the stylet needle away from said housing, wherein said stylet spring mechanism is placed into an energized mode to store energy and is then released from said energized mode to propel said stylet slide along said base-frame shafts, such that said distal end of said stylet needle is extended from said distal end of said cannula needle to capture a tissue sample within said tissue sample receiving slot;
- a cannula spring mechanism for acting on said cannula slide to move said distal end of the cannula needle away from said housing, wherein said cannula spring mechanism is placed into an energized mode to store energy and is then released from said energized mode to propel said cannula slide along said base-frame shafts, such that said distal end of said cannula needle is extended from said distal end of said guide tube to enclose said tissue sample receiving slot of said stylet needle, thereby severing a tissue sample disposed within said tissue sample receiving slot;
- a stylet latch mechanism selectively releasable by an electromagnetic releasing assembly for releasably holding said stylet spring mechanism in said energized mode;
- said stylet latch mechanism being releasable in response to striking of a releasing lever to hook ends of retaining arms of said stylet slide;
- a cannula latch mechanism for releasably holding said cannula spring mechanism in said energized mode, said cannula latch mechanism being releasable subsequent to release of said stylet spring mechanism by striking of said stylet slide to hook ends of retaining arms of said cannula slide.