Vacuum sensor and pressure pump for tetherless biopsy device

A biopsy device comprising:

• (a) a handpiece;
• (b) a hollow cutter translatable relative to the handpiece and operable to sever tissue samples;
• (c) a pressure pump in fluid communication with the hollow cutter;
• (d) a tissue sample receiving member associated with the handpiece and positioned for receiving tissue samples transported through the hollow cutter;
• (e) a controller;
• and
• (f) a pressure sensor disposed within the handpiece, and wherein the pressure sensor is in fluid communication with the tissue sample receiving member to detect a level of pressure in the hollow cutter, wherein the pressure sensor is further operable to communicate the level of pressure to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to respond to the level of pressure communicated from the pressure sensor to initiate a predetermined operational cycle when the level of pressure is below a predetermined clear probe level of pressure.

A method for clearing tissue from within a biopsy device, wherein the biopsy device comprises a handpiece, a probe extending distally from the handpiece, and a tissue sample holder configured to receive severed tissue from the probe, wherein the handpiece comprises a sensor operable to measure levels of vacuum in the tissue sample holder, a motor, and a controller, wherein the probe comprises a needle and a hollow cutter disposed within the needle, wherein the motor is operable to translate the hollow cutter, and wherein the controller is communicatively coupled to the sensor and operable to regulate the motor, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) receiving a signal from the sensor indicative of the measured levels of vacuum in the tissue sample holder;
• (b) monitoring the signal from the sensor for a predetermined period of time to store the measured levels of vacuum as a function of the longitudinal position of the cutter using the controller, wherein the measured levels of vacuum monitored during the predetermined period of time are stored as a first set of measured levels of vacuum;
• (c) determining if the first set of measured levels of vacuum have decreased below a predetermined level of vacuum after the predetermined period of time since the signal was monitored by using the controller to compare the first set of measured levels of vacuum to the predetermined level of vacuum;
• and
• (d) translating the cutter one or more times in response to the determination that the first set of measured levels of vacuum have decreased below the predetermined level of vacuum.