Introducer cannula having a tissue anchor for use with a medical instrument

An introducer cannula configured for receiving a medical instrument, comprising:

• a cannula tube having a side wall, a proximal end, and a distal end, said side wall surrounding a central lumen, said cannula tube having a central longitudinal axis passing through said central lumen and extending between said proximal end and said distal end;
• an elongate tissue anchor positioned in said central lumen of said cannula tube, said elongate tissue anchor having a mounting end and an anchoring free end, said elongate tissue anchor being movable in said central lumen such that said anchoring free end is movable between a retracted position and a deployed position;
• and
• an actuator coupled to said proximal end of said cannula tube, said actuator being coupled to said mounting end of said elongate tissue anchor, said actuator being operatively configured to selectively position said anchoring free end of said elongate tissue anchor in one of said retracted position and said deployed position, wherein said actuator includes:
• a hub fixedly connected to said end of said cannula tube, said hub having a hollow interior coaxial with said central lumen, said hub having a guide slot having a proximal circumferential slotted portion, a distal circumferential slotted portion, and a longitudinal portion extending between said proximal circumferential slotted portion and said distal circumferential slotted portion, said proximal circumferential slotted portion defining said retracted position and said distal circumferential slotted portion defining said deployed position;
• and
• an actuation lever mounted in said guide slot, said actuation lever having a first end and a second end, said first end being positioned to extend outwardly from said guide slot, and said second end being positioned in said hollow interior and coupled to said mounting end of said elongate tissue anchor.

A biopsy system, comprising:

• a medical instrument;
• and
• an introducer cannula configured for receiving the medical instrument, including:
• a cannula tube having a side wall, a proximal end, and a distal end, said side wall surrounding a central lumen;
• an elongate tissue anchor positioned in said central lumen of said cannula tube, said central lumen being sized to concurrently accommodate both said elongate tissue anchor and an elongate portion of said medical instrument, said elongate tissue anchor having a mounting end and an anchoring free end, said elongate tissue anchor being movable in said central lumen such that said anchoring free end is movable between a retracted position and a deployed position;
• and
• an actuator coupled to said proximal end of said cannula tube, said actuator being coupled to said mounting end of said elongate tissue anchor, said actuator being operatively configured to rotate relative to the cannula tube to selectively position said anchoring free end of said elongate tissue anchor in one of said retracted position and said deployed position.

A biopsy system, comprising:

• a medical instrument;
• and
• an introducer cannula configured for receiving the medical instrument, including:
• a cannula tube having a side wall, a proximal end, and a distal end, said side wall surrounding a central lumen;
• an elongate tissue anchor positioned in said central lumen of said cannula tube, said central lumen being sized to concurrently accommodate both said elongate tissue anchor and an elongate portion of said medical instrument, said elongate tissue anchor having a mounting end and an anchoring free end, said elongate tissue anchor being movable in said central lumen such that said anchoring free end is movable between a retracted position and a deployed position;
• and
• an actuator coupled to said proximal end of said cannula tube, said actuator being coupled to said mounting end of said elongate tissue anchor, said actuator being operatively configured to selectively position said anchoring free end of said elongate tissue anchor in one of said retracted position and said deployed position, wherein said actuator includes:
• a hub fixedly connected to said end of said cannula tube, said hub having a hollow interior coaxial with said central lumen, said hub having a guide slot having a proximal circumferential slotted portion, a distal circumferential slotted portion, and a longitudinal portion extending between said proximal circumferential slotted portion and said distal circumferential slotted portion, said proximal circumferential slotted portion defining said retracted position and said distal circumferential slotted portion defining said deployed position;
• and
• an actuation lever mounted in said guide slot, said actuation lever having a first end and a second end, said first end being positioned to extend outwardly from said guide slot, and said second end being positioned in said hollow interior and coupled to said mounting end of said elongate tissue anchor.