Abstract: A biopsy driver assembly includes a biopsy driver housing. An electrical assembly is coupled to the biopsy driver housing. The electrical assembly includes at least one electrical drive configured for drivably engaging a biopsy probe assembly. A battery is coupled to the biopsy driver housing. A control circuit is coupled to the biopsy driver housing. The control circuit is electrically coupled to the battery and to the electrical assembly. The control circuit has a motion detector, a timer circuit and a battery dwell circuit. The control circuit is configured to conserve the battery by providing electrical power only to the motion detector after a predetermined time following a last detected physical movement of the biopsy driver assembly and to provide electrical power from the battery also to the electrical assembly when a physical movement of the biopsy driver assembly is detected.

Abstract: A biopsy device for harvesting tissue samples from a body of a living being, e.g. in percutaneous aspiration biopsy, includes an outer needle and a sample-receiving device for receiving a severed tissue sample, the sample-receiving device being movable in the hollow needle. The device includes a transport device for moving the sample-receiving device in the hollow needle, the transport device comprising a bendable elongate element, such as a steel wire, a toothed wire made from e.g. a plastics material or a Bowden cable capable of pushing and pulling the sample-receiving device in distal and proximal directions, respectively. A coiling device is provided for the bendable elongate element. The bendable elongate element and the coiling device may be included in a disposable unit, which is attachable to a hand-held unit including a motor for driving the transport device. Orientation means are provided for appropriately orienting the sample-receiving device with respect to the hollow needle.

Abstract: A biopsy driver assembly includes a biopsy driver housing. An electrical assembly is coupled to the biopsy driver housing. The electrical assembly includes at least one electrical drive configured for drivably engaging a biopsy probe assembly. A battery is coupled to the biopsy driver housing. A control circuit is coupled to the biopsy driver housing. The control circuit is electrically coupled to the battery and to the electrical assembly. The control circuit has a motion detector, a timer circuit and a battery dwell circuit. The control circuit is configured to conserve the battery by providing electrical power only to the motion detector after a predetermined time following a last detected physical movement of the biopsy driver assembly and to provide electrical power from the battery also to the electrical assembly when a physical movement of the biopsy driver assembly is detected.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a valve assembly for insertion in a liquid flow path between a catheter or drain and a liquid bag or container. The valve assembly comprises a first valve member detachably coupled to a second valve member or coupling member by mating locking members. A first controllable valve is adapted to selectively block or enable liquid flow through the first valve member in accordance with a valve control mechanism which is responsive to a coupling state of the first and second locking members.

Abstract: A biopsy apparatus includes a driver assembly to be grasped by a user and a disposable biopsy probe assembly for releasable attachment to the driver assembly. The driver assembly includes a first vacuum path having a first one-way valve configured and arranged to permit a negative pressure fluid flow toward a vacuum source and to prevent a positive pressure fluid flow away from the vacuum source. The disposable biopsy probe assembly includes a second vacuum path having a second one-way valve configured and arranged to permit the negative pressure fluid flow from a sample basket and to redundantly prevent the positive pressure fluid flow toward the sample basket. A vacuum monitoring mechanism is coupled to the vacuum source and configured to shut off the vacuum source when a vacuum level in at least one of the first vacuum path and the second vacuum path reaches a predetermined level.

Abstract: A biopsy apparatus includes a driver assembly and a disposable biopsy probe assembly for releasable attachment to the driver assembly. The driver assembly includes a first vacuum path having a first one-way valve configured and arranged to permit a negative pressure fluid flow toward a vacuum source and to prevent a positive pressure fluid flow away from the vacuum source. The disposable biopsy probe assembly includes a second vacuum path having a second one-way valve configured and arranged to permit the negative pressure fluid flow from a sample basket and to redundantly prevent the positive pressure fluid flow toward the sample basket. A fluid management tank is fluidically interposed in the second vacuum path between the first end and the second end. The fluid management tank includes a filter arrangement to prevent a flow of residual biopsy biological material from the sample basket to the vacuum source.

Abstract: A biopsy apparatus includes a driver assembly to be grasped by a user and a disposable biopsy probe assembly for releasable attachment to the driver assembly. The driver assembly includes a first vacuum path having a first one-way valve configured and arranged to permit a negative pressure fluid flow toward a vacuum source and to prevent a positive pressure fluid flow away from the vacuum source. The disposable biopsy probe assembly includes a second vacuum path having a second one-way valve configured and arranged to permit the negative pressure fluid flow from a sample basket and to redundantly prevent the positive pressure fluid flow toward the sample basket. In some embodiments, a fluid management tank may be fluidically interposed in the second vacuum path to prevent a flow of residual biopsy biological material from the sample basket to the vacuum source.

Abstract: A charging station for a battery powered biopsy apparatus includes a charging dock having a housing and a charging unit contained in the housing. The charging unit has a set of electrical contacts. The housing is received in a first cavity of a driver assembly with the electrical contacts being coupled in electrical communication with the driver assembly when the driver assembly is mounted on the charging dock for charging. The charging unit provides a signal to the driver assembly to reset the driver assembly to an initialized state when the driver assembly is mounted to the charging station.

Abstract: A tissue handling system includes a biopsy device having an invasive unit with tissue-receiving and tissue-severing components being capable of harvesting and bringing at least one tissue sample to a point outside the body of a patient. The tissue handling system further includes a tissue collecting device adapted to be brought in detachable operative engagement with the tissue-receiving components of the biopsy device to remove the at least one tissue sample. Additionally, the tissue handling device comprises a tissue storage container configured to receive the at least one tissue sample, the entire tissue collecting device, or the part of the collecting device that contains the at least one tissue sample. The tissue storage container further is configured to receive a volume of preserving agent. The tissue handling system also comprises a vessel including the preserving agent adapted to be gas-tightly mated or coupled to the tissue storage container.

Abstract: A biopsy apparatus includes a biopsy probe having a biopsy cannula and a sample basket arranged coaxially about a longitudinal axis. The sample basket is movably disposed relative to the biopsy cannula along the longitudinal axis from a tissue harvesting position to a tissue sample retrieval region. The sample basket has a sample notch formed as an elongate recessed region for receiving a tissue sample. A tissue sample retrieval mechanism includes a sample collection tank configured for removable insertion into a sample tank receptacle. The sample tank receptacle permits movement of the sample collection tank in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and prohibits movement of the sample collection tank in a direction along the longitudinal axis. The sample collection tank is configured to retrieve the tissue sample directly from the sample notch as the sample basket is moving along the longitudinal axis at the tissue sample retrieval region.

Abstract: A tissue handling system includes a biopsy device having an invasive unit with tissue-receiving and tissue-severing components being capable of harvesting and bringing at least one tissue sample to a point outside the body of a patient. The tissue handling system further includes a tissue collecting device adapted to be brought in detachable operative engagement with the tissue-receiving components of the biopsy device to remove the at least one tissue sample. Additionally, the tissue handling device comprises a tissue storage container configured to receive the at least one tissue sample, the entire tissue collecting device, or the part of the collecting device that contains the at least one tissue sample. The tissue storage container further is configured to receive a volume of preserving agent. The tissue handling system also comprises a vessel including the preserving agent adapted to be gas-tightly mated or coupled to the tissue storage container.

Abstract: A biopsy driver assembly includes a biopsy driver housing. An electrical assembly is coupled to the biopsy driver housing. The electrical assembly includes at least one electrical drive configured for drivably engaging a biopsy probe assembly. A battery is coupled to the biopsy driver housing. A control circuit is coupled to the biopsy driver housing. The control circuit is electrically coupled to the battery and to the electrical assembly. The control circuit has a motion detector, a timer circuit and a battery dwell circuit. The control circuit is configured to conserve the battery by providing electrical power only to the motion detector after a predetermined time following a last detected physical movement of the biopsy driver assembly and to provide electrical power from the battery also to the electrical assembly when a physical movement of the biopsy driver assembly is detected.

Abstract: A biopsy device for harvesting tissue samples from a suspect tissue mass in a body of a living being, e.g. in percutaneous aspiration biopsy, includes a hollow needle and a sample-receiving device, which is movable in the hollow needle. A first user-operable firing mechanism is provided for causing the hollow needle and the sample-receiving device to be substantially simultaneously displaced in a distal direction, so as to penetrate body tissue at or near the suspect tissue mass. A second user-operable firing mechanism may cause the hollow needle solely to be longitudinally displaced in a distal direction from a position, in which the sample-receiving device projects from the distal end of the hollow needle, to a position, in which the hollow needle essentially accommodates the sample-receiving device, so as to sever the tissue sample from remaining body tissue at the harvesting site.

Abstract: A charging station for a battery powered biopsy apparatus includes a charging dock having a housing and a charging unit contained in the housing. The charging unit has a set of electrical contacts. The housing is received in a first cavity of a driver assembly with the electrical contacts being coupled in electrical communication with the driver assembly when the driver assembly is mounted on the charging dock for charging. The charging unit provides a signal to the driver assembly to reset the driver assembly to an initialized state when the driver assembly is mounted to the charging station.

Abstract: A self-contained hand-held biopsy device includes a hollow needle having a distal end portion with a circumferential cutting edge. A sample-receiving device is received in the hollow needle, and has a tapered distal tip and a cavity configured to receive a tissue sample. The sample-receiving device is configured to move in the hollow needle between a first extended position and a second retracted position. A transport device is configured to move the sample-receiving device relative to the hollow needle. A liquid supply unit is configured to operatively connect to the cavity of the sample-receiving device when the sample-receiving device is in the second retracted position and is configured to deliver a flow of the flushing liquid to the cavity to facilitate tissue sample ejection from the cavity. The liquid supply unit is disconnected from the cavity of the sample-receiving device when the sample-receiving device is in the first extended position.

Abstract: A biopsy device for harvesting at least one tissue sample from a human or animal body, e.g. in percutaneous aspiration biopsy, includes a hollow needle with a distal end portion adapted to be introduced into the body. A sample-receiving device with a cavity is movable in the hollow needle between a first extended and a second retracted position. A liquid supply unit comprising a flushing liquid, such as saline, is provided for ejecting the sample from the cavity, when the sample-receiving device is in the second retracted position. The liquid is conveyed form the liquid supply unit to a flushing chamber by an appropriate pump, such as a peristaltic pump.

Abstract: The assembly includes a miniature electroacoustic transducer and a flexible electrical wire. The flexible electrical wire is terminated by a connecting element with an electrically conductive shoulder portion. The miniature electroacoustic transducer comprises an electrically conducting, externally accessible terminal having a slot structure formed therein. The slot structure is configured to mechanically and electrically engage the electrically conductive shoulder portion of the connecting element.

Abstract: A biopsy device includes a handle unit, a hollow needle comprised in a disposable unit, which is releasably attached to the handle unit, and a sample-receiving device, which is movable in the hollow needle between two positions. Tissue is severed when the sample-receiving device is in a first one of the positions, and the severed tissue sample is ejected from the sample-receiving device in a second one of the two positions. A control system is provided for controlling movement of the sample-receiving device and for arresting the sample-receiving device in the second position. The distance between the two positions and/or a length of the hollow needle may be detectable in a calibration cycle, which is automatically initiated upon attachment of the disposable unit to the handle unit. The disposable unit may include electronic memory device for communicating with the control system.

Abstract: A biopsy apparatus includes a driver assembly to be grasped by a user and a disposable biopsy probe assembly for releasable attachment to the driver assembly. The driver assembly includes a first vacuum path having a first one-way valve configured and arranged to permit a negative pressure fluid flow toward a vacuum source and to prevent a positive pressure fluid flow away from the vacuum source. The disposable biopsy probe assembly includes a second vacuum path having a second one-way valve configured and arranged to permit the negative pressure fluid flow from a sample basket and to redundantly prevent the positive pressure fluid flow toward the sample basket. In some embodiments, a fluid management tank may be fluidically interposed in the second vacuum path to prevent a flow of residual biopsy biological material from the sample basket to the vacuum source.

Abstract: A biopsy device for harvesting tissue samples from a body of a living being, e.g. in percutaneous aspiration biopsy, includes a handle unit, a hollow needle comprised in a disposable unit, which is releasably attached to the handle unit, and a sample-receiving device, which is movable in the hollow needle between two positions. Tissue is severed when the sample-receiving device is in a first one of the positions, and the severed tissue sample is ejected from the sample-receiving device in a second one of the two positions. A control system is provided for controlling movement of the sample-receiving device and for arresting the sample-receiving device in the second position. The distance between the two positions and/or a length of the hollow needle may be detectable in a calibration cycle, which is automatically initiated upon attachment of the disposable unit to the handle unit. The disposable unit may include electronic memory means for communicating with the control system.