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Biopsy apparatus having integrated thumbwheel mechanism for manual rotation of biopsy cannula

  • US 9,173,641 B2
  • Filed: 08/12/2009
  • Issued: 11/03/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2009
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A biopsy apparatus, comprising:

  • a driver assembly having a housing configured to be grasped by a user;

    a biopsy probe mechanism drivably coupled to said driver assembly, said biopsy probe mechanism including a biopsy cannula having a cylindrical side wall, a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis extending between said proximal end and said distal end, said cylindrical side wall defining a lumen and having a side port located near said distal end that extends through said side wall to said lumen;

    a thumbwheel mechanism including a thumbwheel mounted to said driver assembly and configured to rotate about a first rotational axis, wherein at least a portion of said thumbwheel is exposed external to said housing, and wherein said thumbwheel is configured to be rotated with a single hand to rotatably position said side port of said biopsy cannula at a desired rotational position about said longitudinal axis relative to said driver assembly;

    a detent wheel mounted to said biopsy cannula configured for coaxial rotation with said biopsy cannula about said longitudinal axis, said detent wheel having a circumferential surface and a plurality of detent recesses formed through said circumferential surface and extending radially toward said longitudinal axis, said plurality of detent recesses being positioned about said longitudinal axis at predetermined angular positions; and

    a lock mechanism mounted to said driver assembly, said lock mechanism including a locking pin biased along a locking axis in constant engagement with said detent wheel, said locking pin including an engagement end having a tapered portion and a non-tapered portion angularly offset from said tapered portion about said locking axis,configured such that when said locking pin is positioned in a first rotational position relative to said locking axis, said engagement end rides along said circumferential surface of said detent wheel and said tapered portion sequentially passes into and out of a respective detent recess of said plurality of detent recesses of said detent wheel as said biopsy cannula is rotated thereby providing at least one of aural, visual and tactile feedback of a progressive rotation of said biopsy cannula, andconfigured such that when said locking pin is positioned in a second rotational position relative to said locking axis, said engagement end rides along said circumferential surface of said detent wheel and said non-tapered portion lockably engages a next detent recess of said plurality of detent recesses of said detent wheel as said biopsy cannula is rotated to lock said biopsy cannula from further rotation.

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