Abstract: An implantable marker for marking an intracorporeal tissue region of an animal or human, including at least one strand produced from biocompatible material and which has a three-dimensional shape impressed during a shaping process. The strand adopts the three-dimensional shape after cessation of an external mechanical constraint that forced the strand to adopt a compacted three-dimensional shape. The three-dimensional shape impressed upon the strand comprises at least two fixed strand eyelets with each eyelet being formed by at least one helical winding of the strand and having at least one of shape and relative spatial position being different in the compacted three-dimensional shape forced upon them by the external mechanical constraint and the three-dimensional shape adopted after cessation of the mechanical constraint.

Abstract: A biopsy device includes a housing, a probe assembly, and an insert aid. The probe includes a biopsy needle unit, a vacuum pressure-generating device, and a flexible connection tube that connects the biopsy needle unit to the vacuum pressure-generating device. The insert aid device has a body that defines a pair of cradles configured to respectively receive the biopsy needle unit and the vacuum pressure-generating device, and configured to orient the biopsy needle unit to lie parallel to the vacuum pressure-generating device in the insert aid device for insertion of the biopsy needle unit and the vacuum pressure-generating device into the housing.

Abstract: A cannula assembly includes an outer tube having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a lumen. The outer tube defines a longitudinal axis. An inner tube is disposed within the lumen of the outer tube. A cap is connected to the proximal portion of the outer tube. The cap has a recessed portion that defines an interior wall. The recessed portion extends proximally from the lumen of the outer tube. A stopper is configured to be slidably received in the recessed portion of the cap. The stopper has a through hole located on the longitudinal axis and configured to receive the inner tube. An inner seal is interposed between the stopper and the inner tube. An outer seal is interposed between the stopper and the interior wall of the cap.

Abstract: A biopsy device includes a biopsy needle including a sample chamber, and a cutting element coaxial having a cutting blade. A drive unit has a needle-shooting mechanism configured to be switched from a cocked configuration to a released configuration. The drive unit is configured to cause relative movement of the cutting element and the biopsy needle by a predetermined distance to cock the needle-shooting mechanism. The needle-shooting mechanism is configured to shoot the biopsy needle simultaneously with the cutting element in a distal direction by an amount of the predetermined distance when switched from the cocked configuration to the released configuration.

Abstract: A biopsy device includes a housing, a probe assembly, and an insert aid. The probe includes a biopsy needle unit, a vacuum pressure-generating device, and a flexible connection tube that connects the biopsy needle unit to the vacuum pressure-generating device. The insert aid device has a body that defines a pair of cradles configured to respectively receive the biopsy needle unit and the vacuum pressure-generating device, and configured to orient the biopsy needle unit to lie parallel to the vacuum pressure-generating device in the insert aid device for insertion of the biopsy needle unit and the vacuum pressure-generating device into the housing.

Abstract: A biopsy device includes a drive unit configured to receive a disposable unit having a needle carrier. The drive unit is configured to move a cutting element such that the needle carrier is driven a predetermined distance to move a needle-shooting mechanism to a cocked configuration. A user-actuatable control is configured to release the needle-shooting mechanism to cause the needle-shooting mechanism to shoot a biopsy needle simultaneously with the cutting element by an amount of the predetermined distance.

Abstract: A biopsy device includes a housing containing an electric power source and a tension slide, wherein the tension slide is configured to be moved to a cocked position against the action of a first spring. A releasable locking mechanism is configured to lock the tension slide in the cocked position. A removable element is configured for insertion into the housing. The removable element has a cutting sheath configured to couple the electric power source to the tension slide. The electric power source is configured to rotate the cutting sheath to move the tension slide to the cocked position.

Abstract: A cannula assembly includes an outer tube having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a lumen. The outer tube defines a longitudinal axis. An inner tube is disposed within the lumen of the outer tube. A cap is connected to the proximal portion of the outer tube. The cap has a recessed portion that defines an interior wall. The recessed portion extends proximally from the lumen of the outer tube. A stopper is configured to be slidably received in the recessed portion of the cap. The stopper has a through hole located on the longitudinal axis and configured to receive the inner tube. An inner seal is interposed between the stopper and the inner tube. An outer seal is interposed between the stopper and the interior wall of the cap.

Abstract: A cannula arrangement includes an inner tube disposed within an outer tube. A flexible sealing element is connected to a proximal portion of the outer tube. The flexible sealing element has a longitudinal axis coaxial with the outer tube. The flexible sealing element has a cantilevered portion that longitudinally extends a longitudinal distance parallel to the longitudinal axis in a proximal direction from the proximal end of the outer tube. The cantilevered portion has a projecting portion that projects diagonally toward the inner tube to define an interior edge to contact an outer surface of the inner tube.

Abstract: A cannula arrangement includes an outer tube and an inner tube. The outer tube has a proximal end and a distal end. The inner tube is disposed within the outer tube to define a space between an inner surface of the outer tube and an outer surface of the inner tube. A sealing element is mounted at the proximal end of the outer tube. The sealing element has a projecting portion that projects proximally from the proximal end of the outer tube. The projecting portion has a projecting end that has an interior edge to contact the outer surface of the inner tube.

Abstract: A cannula arrangement includes an outer tube and an inner tube. The outer tube has a proximal end and a distal end. The inner tube is disposed within the outer tube to define a space between an inner surface of the outer tube and an outer surface of the inner tube. A flexible sealing element is sized to seal the space between the inner surface of the outer tube and the outer surface of the inner tube. The flexible sealing element is connected to a proximal portion of the outer tube. The flexible sealing element has a cantilevered portion that longitudinally extends proximally from the proximal end of the outer tube. The cantilevered portion has an inner surface portion that does not contact the inner tube, and a proximal portion configured to define an interior edge to contact the outer surface of the inner tube.

Abstract: A biopsy device includes a drive unit configured to receive a disposable unit having a needle carrier. The drive unit is configured to move a cutting element such that the needle carrier is driven a predetermined distance to move a needle-shooting mechanism to a cocked configuration. A user-actuatable control is configured to release the needle-shooting mechanism to cause the needle-shooting mechanism to shoot a biopsy needle simultaneously with the cutting element by an amount of the predetermined distance.

Abstract: A disposable biopsy unit includes a biopsy needle unit and a pump. The biopsy needle unit includes a carrier, a biopsy needle and a cutting sheath. The carrier is configured to mount the biopsy needle and the cutting sheath. The cutting sheath is configured to move along a longitudinal axis relative to the biopsy needle. The pump has an elongate cylinder and a plunger. The plunger is configured to be movable inside the elongate cylinder in a first direction from a distal end of the elongate cylinder to a proximal end of the elongate cylinder to generate a vacuum and configured to be movable inside the elongate cylinder in a second direction from the proximal end of the elongate cylinder to the distal end of the elongate cylinder to build up pressure. The distal end of the elongate cylinder is coupled in fluid communication with the biopsy needle.

Abstract: A biopsy device includes a disposable unit including a needle carrier and a biopsy needle. The biopsy needle has a distal portion including a sample chamber, and is configured to rotate around a longitudinal axis. The disposable unit includes a hub portion connected to the biopsy needle proximal to the sample chamber. The needle carrier has a holding portion. The holding portion and the hub portion are collectively configured to permit the biopsy needle to rotate within the needle carrier to rotationally position the sample chamber while restraining rotation of the biopsy needle at a series of rotational detent positions within a range of rotation around the longitudinal axis. Each of the series of rotational detent positions is defined by a resistance to a rotation of the hub portion in the holding portion.

Abstract: A method for operating a biopsy device for taking tissue samples includes coupling an electric power source to a tension slide via a removable biopsy needle unit, the removable biopsy needle unit including a biopsy needle and a cutting sheath coaxially arranged with the biopsy needle, the biopsy needle having a sample removal chamber; rotating the cutting sheath via the electric power source to move the tension slide against an action of a spring; locking the tension slide in a cocked position by a releasable locking mechanism; and releasing the releasable locking mechanism when the tension slide is in the cocked position such that the tension slide is moved by the spring away from the cocked position to move the biopsy needle and the cutting sheath in a distal direction.

Abstract: A method for operating a biopsy device for taking tissue samples includes coupling an electric power source to a tension slide via a removable biopsy needle unit, the removable biopsy needle unit including a biopsy needle and a cutting sheath coaxially arranged with the biopsy needle, the biopsy needle having a sample removal chamber; rotating the cutting sheath via the electric power source to move the tension slide against an action of a spring; locking the tension slide in a cocked position by a releasable locking mechanism; and releasing the releasable locking mechanism when the tension slide is in the cocked position such that the tension slide is moved by the spring away from the cocked position to move the biopsy needle and the cutting sheath in a distal direction.

Abstract: A disposable biopsy unit includes a biopsy needle unit and a pump. The biopsy needle unit includes a carrier, a biopsy needle and a cutting sheath. The carrier is configured to mount the biopsy needle and the cutting sheath. The cutting sheath is configured to move along a longitudinal axis relative to the biopsy needle. The pump has an elongate cylinder and a plunger. The plunger is configured to be movable inside the elongate cylinder in a first direction from a distal end of the elongate cylinder to a proximal end of the elongate cylinder to generate a vacuum and configured to be movable inside the elongate cylinder in a second direction from the proximal end of the elongate cylinder to the distal end of the elongate cylinder to build up pressure. The distal end of the elongate cylinder is coupled in fluid communication with the biopsy needle.

Abstract: A biopsy device includes a disposable unit including a needle carrier and a biopsy needle. The biopsy needle has a distal portion including a sample chamber, and is configured to rotate around a longitudinal axis. The disposable unit includes a hub portion connected to the biopsy needle proximal to the sample chamber. The needle carrier has a holding portion. The holding portion and the hub portion are collectively configured to permit the biopsy needle to rotate within the needle carrier to rotationally position the sample chamber while restraining rotation of the biopsy needle at a series of rotational detent positions within a range of rotation around the longitudinal axis. Each of the series of rotational detent positions is defined by a resistance to a rotation of the hub portion in the holding portion.

Abstract: A biopsy device includes a disposable unit including a needle carrier and a biopsy needle. The biopsy needle has a distal portion including a sample chamber and a hub portion located proximal to the sample chamber. The needle carrier has a holding portion. The holding portion and the hub portion are collectively configured to form a detent mechanism configured to permit the biopsy needle to rotate within needle carrier to rotationally position the sample chamber while restraining rotation of the biopsy needle at a series of rotational detent positions.

Abstract: A cannula arrangement includes an outer tube and an inner tube. The outer tube has a proximal end and a distal end. The inner tube is disposed within the outer tube to define a space between an inner surface of the outer tube and an outer surface of the inner tube. A flexible sealing element is sized to seal the space between the inner surface of the outer tube and the outer surface of the inner tube. The flexible sealing element is connected to a proximal portion of the outer tube. The flexible sealing element has a cantilevered portion that longitudinally extends proximally from the proximal end of the outer tube. The cantilevered portion has an inner surface portion that does not contact the inner tube, and a proximal portion configured to define an interior edge to contact the outer surface of the inner tube.