Surgical biopsy device having automatic rotation of the probe for taking multiple samples

摘要

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a biopsy device and method for the collection of at least one tissue sample from a surgical patient. The device includes a frame and an elongated piercing element attached to the distal end of the frame. The piercing element has distal end, a proximal end and a lumen extending at least partially therethrough. The piercing element has a sharpened member at its distal end for piercing tissue, and a port proximal thereto which exposes the lumen. The device further includes an elongated cutter and tissue remover disposed coaxially and slidably within the lumen of the piercing element for harvesting a tissue mass disposed within the port of the piercing element and depositing the tissue mass proximal to the port for retrieval. Lastly, the device includes a mechanism for automatically axially rotating the piercing element after severing a sample so multiple samples can be harvested about a longitudinal axis of the piercing element without manually rotating the piercing element. <IMAGE>