Abstract: An adjustable coaxial needle assembly for placement into a tissue mass prior to a biopsy procedure comprises a guide cannula assembly, a stylet, and a throw calibrator. The stylet is selectively coaxially received by the guide cannula, which is in turn coaxially received by the throw calibrator. The effective length of the guide cannula can be selectively adjusted by moving the throw calibrator relative to the guide cannula to adjust the distance between an open distal end of the guide cannula and a the throw calibrator.

Abstract: A core biopsy device comprises a cutting cannula provided at a distal end with a helical excising blade. The cutting cannula can be rotated within a tissue mass so that the helical excising blade can excise a biopsy sample from the surrounding tissue.

Abstract: A biopsy device having a sample size control assembly for selecting the specimen size to be collected. The sample size control assembly includes a rotatable nose on the biopsy device for actuating the operation of the sample size control assembly. A needle assembly of the biopsy device can extend through the rotatable nose. Also disclosed is a method for making a biopsy device, including coupling a tip protector to a sample size control assembly.

Abstract: An adjustable coaxial needle assembly for placement into a tissue mass prior to a biopsy procedure comprises a guide cannula assembly, a stylet, and a throw calibrator. The stylet is selectively coaxially received by the guide cannula, which is in turn coaxially received by the throw calibrator. The effective length of the guide cannula can be selectively adjusted by moving the throw calibrator relative to the guide cannula to adjust the distance between an open distal end of the guide cannula and a the throw calibrator.

Abstract: An adjustable coaxial needle assembly for placement into a tissue mass prior to a biopsy procedure comprises a guide cannula assembly, a stylet, and a throw calibrator. The stylet is selectively coaxially received by the guide cannula, which is in turn coaxially received by the throw calibrator. The effective length of the guide cannula can be selectively adjusted by moving the throw calibrator relative to the guide cannula to adjust the distance between an open distal end of the guide cannula and a the throw calibrator.

Abstract: A biopsy device having a sample size control assembly for selecting the specimen size to be collected. The sample size control assembly includes a rotatable nose on the biopsy device for actuating the operation of the sample size control assembly. A needle assembly of the biopsy device can extend through the rotatable nose. Also disclosed is a method for making a biopsy device, including coupling a tip protector to a sample size control assembly.

Abstract: A biopsy device having a sample size control assembly for selecting the specimen size to be collected. The sample size control assembly includes a rotatable nose on the exterior of the biopsy device for actuating the operation of the sample size control assembly. A needle assembly of the biopsy device can extend through the rotatable nose. A tip protector can be coupled to the sample size control assembly, and can be engaged by a user to operate the sample size control assembly. Also disclosed is a method for making a biopsy device, including coupling a tip protector to a sample size control assembly.

Abstract: A biopsy device includes a housing, a stylet carriage having a strike, a cannula carriage having a strike, and a cocking element comprising a catch carried by a resilient shaft that extends along an operational axis of the biopsy device. To arm the biopsy device, the cocking element is moved in a first arming stroke such that the catch engages the strike on the cannula carriage to deflect the resilient shaft from the operational axis such that the catch clears the strike on the stylet.

Abstract: A biopsy apparatus comprises an outer cannula with a resilient excising finger and an inner cannula received within the outer cannula. The excising finger is flexible to extend toward the longitudinal axis of the outer cannula. The outer cannula can be rotated relative to the inner cannula so that the excising finger can excise a biopsy sample from a surrounding tissue mass. The inner cannula can be provided with a spoon portion for supporting the biopsy sample.

Abstract: A core biopsy device comprises an outer cutting cannula in telescoping register with an inner spoon cannula. The outer cutting cannula is provided at a distal end with an arcuate excising blade that is biased radially inwardly to extend beyond the longitudinal axis of the cannula. The inner spoon cannula terminates at a distal end in an arcuate wall to form a biopsy sample spoon for supporting a biopsy sample thereon. The outer cutting cannula can be rotated relative to the inner spoon cannula so that the excising blade can excise the biopsy sample from the surrounding tissue. After removal of the core biopsy device from the tissue, the outer cutting cannula can be retracted away from the inner spoon cannula to reveal the biopsy sample and enable the sample to be removed from the biopsy device in a relatively undisturbed condition.

Abstract: A biopsy device includes a housing, a stylet carriage having a strike, a cannula carriage having a strike, and a cocking element comprising a catch carried by a resilient shaft that extends along an operational axis of the biopsy device. To arm the biopsy device, the cocking element is moved in a first arming stroke such that the catch engages the strike on the cannula carriage to deflect the resilient shaft from the operational axis such that the catch clears the strike on the stylet.

Abstract: A biopsy device having a sample size control assembly for selecting the specimen size to be collected. The sample size control assembly includes a rotatable nose on the exterior of the biopsy device for actuating the operation of the sample size control assembly. A needle assembly of the biopsy device can extend through the rotatable nose. A tip protector can be coupled to the sample size control assembly, and can be engaged by a user to operate the sample size control assembly. Also disclosed is a method for making a biopsy device, including coupling a tip protector to a sample size control assembly.

Abstract: An adjustable coaxial needle assembly for placement into a tissue mass prior to a biopsy procedure comprises a guide cannula assembly, a stylet, and a throw calibrator. The stylet is selectively coaxially received by the guide cannula, which is in turn coaxially received by the throw calibrator. The effective length of the guide cannula can be selectively adjusted by moving the throw calibrator relative to the guide cannula to adjust the distance between an open distal end of the guide cannula and a the throw calibrator.

Abstract: A core biopsy device comprises a cutting cannula provided at a distal end with a helical excising blade. The cutting cannula can be rotated within a tissue mass so that the helical excising blade can excise a biopsy sample from the surrounding tissue.

Abstract: A biopsy device comprises a housing carrying a stylet is telescoping register with a coring cannula and a specimen length adjuster operably coupled to the stylet to move the stylet relative to the coring cannula to set the size of the biopsy sample to be collected. The coring cannula is moved over the stylet and rotated relative to the stylet to excise the biopsy sample from surrounding tissue. A trigger assembly is provided that includes a release button on opposing sides of the housing as well as a rear trigger button that enables a user to comfortably actuate the biopsy device using any of the three trigger buttons.

Abstract: A drug-eluting tissue marker for marking a site in a tissue mass comprises a drug-eluting portion having a drug for timed release to the site and a material that can be imaged using an imaging technique.

Abstract: An apparatus for implanting a locatable marker at a target site within a tissue mass comprises an insertion device and a marker introducer system that is received within the insertion device. The marker introducer system is anchored in a compressed tissue mass and a locatable marker is deployed from the introducer system after the tissue mass is decompressed.

Abstract: A localizing wire comprising an anchor portion that can change shape from a collapsed shape to an expanded shape and thereby anchor within a tissue mass. A localizing wire having an exterior portion that can lie flat against the tissue mass. A localizing wire that can be repositioned or withdrawn without the need for the reinsertion of an introducer.

Abstract: A localizing wire comprising an anchor portion that can change shape from a collapsed shape to an expanded shape and thereby anchor within a tissue mass. A localizing wire having an exterior portion that can lie flat against the tissue mass. A localizing wire that can be repositioned or withdrawn without the need for the reinsertion of an introducer.

Abstract: A marking device according to one embodiment of the invention comprises a handle, a cannula having a cannula distal end and slidably mounted to the handle, and a stylet having a stylet distal end and slidably mounted to the handle in the cannula. The stylet distal end is spaced proximally of the cannula distal end to form a marker recess that receives an imaging marker. The marking device further comprises an actuator operably coupled to the cannula to effect retraction of the cannula into the handle following implantation of the imaging marker. The imaging marker can be implanted by advancing the stylet relative to the cannula to eject the imaging marker from the marker recess, or the cannula can be retracted relative to the stylet to expose the imaging marker.