Single use automated soft tissue aspiration biopsy device

Claim 2

A biopsy aspiration device comprising: a hollow cannula having a proximal end and a distal end; a stylet having a proximal end and a distal end and positioned within said cannula for axial movement relative thereto; a housing providing a sealed chamber and means for holding the operative components of the biopsy aspiration device; slide means movably associated with said housing in cooperative relationship with said sealed chamber, said slide means being movable from a cocked actuated position wherein the volume of said sealed chamber is minimized to a released at rest position wherein the volume of said sealed chamber is maximized; biasing means engageable with said slide means when said slide means is in said cocked position to urge said slide means to said at rest position; cocking and releasing means associated with said slide means and said housing for moving said slide means against force of said biasing means to the cocked actuated position and for releasing said slide means to be moved to said released at rest position by said biasing means; said hollow cannula being communicated with said sealed chamber, and one of said stylet or said cannula having its proximal end fixedly anchored to said slide means and the other one of said stylet or said cannula having its proximal end fixed relative to said slide means and engaging said housing when said slide means is in said cocked actuated position; whereby upon release of said slide means by said releasing means, the resultant volume increase in said sealed chamber creates a pressure reduction, and the pressure reduction generated within said chamber is translated to the distal end of said cannula to effect aspiration of a biopsy specimen into the cannula during actuation of the device.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1 wherein said stylet has a contoured surface provided along its length to facilitate the translation of the pressure reduction from the chamber to the distal end of the stylet and cannula.

Claim 4

The device of claim 1 and including sealing means between the slide means and the housing to enhance the generation of pressure reduction within said chamber during actuation of the device when operated to obtain a biopsy specimen.

Claim 5

The device according to claim 1 wherein said stylet is fixed to said housing and said cannula is fixed to said slide means and movable therewith.

Claim 6

The device according to claim 1 wherein said cannula is fixed to said housing and said stylet is fixed to said slide means and movable therewith.

Claim 7

A biopsy aspiration device comprising: a hollow cannula having a proximal end and a distal end; a stylet having a proximal end and a distal end and positioned within said cannula for axial movement relative thereto; a housing providing a sealed chamber and means for holding the operative components of the biopsy aspiration device; slide means movably associated with said housing in cooperative relationship with said sealed chamber, said slide means being movable from a cocked actuated position wherein the volume of said sealed chamber is minimized to a released at rest position wherein the volume of said sealed chamber is maximized; biasing means engageable with said slide means when said slide means is in said cocked position to urge said slide means to said at rest position; cocking and releasing means associated with said slide means and said housing for moving said slide means against force of said biasing means to the cocked actuated position and for releasing said slide means to be moved to said released at rest position and for releasing said slide means to be moved to said released at rest position by said biasing means; said hollow cannula being communicated with said sealed chamber, said cannula having its proximal end fixedly anchored to said slide means and with said stylet having its proximal end fixed relative to said housing as the sealed chamber increases in volume to its maximum volume during movement of said slide means from its cocked actuated position to its at rest position; and whereby upon release of said slide means by said releasing means, the resultant volume increase in said sealed chamber creates a pressure reduction, and the pressure reduction generated within said chamber is translated to the distal end of said cannula to effect aspiration of a biopsy specimen into the cannula during actuation of the device.

Claim 8

A biopsy aspiration device comprising: a hollow cannula having a proximal end and a distal end; a stylet having a proximal end and a distal end and positioned within said cannula for axial movement relative thereto; a housing providing a sealed chamber and means for holding the operative components of the biopsy aspiration device; slide means movably associated with said housing in cooperative relationship with said sealed chamber, said slide means being movable from a cocked actuated position wherein the volume of said sealed chamber is minimized to a released at rest position wherein the volume of said sealed chamber is maximized; biasing means engageable with said slide means when said slide means is in said cocked position to urge said slide means to said at rest position; cocking and releasing means associated with said slide means and said housing for moving said slide means against force of said biasing means to the cocked actuated position and for releasing said slide means to be moved to said released at rest position and for releasing said slide means to be moved to said released at rest position by said biasing means; said hollow cannula being communicated with said sealed chamber, said cannula having its proximal end fixedly anchored to said slide means and with said stylet having its proximal end fixed relative to said housing as the sealed chamber increases in volume to its maximum volume during movement of said slide means from its cocked actuated position to its at rest position; and whereby upon release of said slide means by said releasing means, the resultant volume increase in said sealed chamber creates a pressure reduction, and the pressure reduction generated within said chamber is translated to the distal end of said cannula to effect aspiration of a biopsy specimen into the cannula during actuation of the device.