Reusable automated biopsy needle handle

Claim 2

A biopsy handle capable of receiving a needle set assembly having a stylet adapted for piercing and storing a tissue sample and a cannula adapted for severing and trapping the tissue sample, the biopsy handle comprising: a housing including a slidable lid adapted for accepting the needle set; a first actuator slidably attached to the housing and adapted for selectively positioning the cannula relative to the housing; a second actuator slidably attached to the housing and adapted for selectively positioning the stylet relative to the housing; and said first actuator and said second actuator both including an element which is adapted to allow said first actuator and said second actuator to be slid in a forward and a reverse direction with respect to the housing in order to move the cannula and the stylet relative to the housing using a single hand of a use.

Claim 3

The biopsy handle of claim 1, wherein the biopsy handle is made of metal and reusable.

Claim 4

The biopsy handle of claim 1, further including: a fixed lid located on a portion of a bottom of said housing and adjacent to said slidable lid, wherein said slidable lid can be moved from an open position in order to accept the needle set into said housing to a closed and locked position in order to lockingly contain the needle set in the housing.

Claim 5

The biopsy handle of claim 3 wherein: said slidable lid include a notch and said housing includes a cavity having a pivoting locking member therein, said notch receiving said pivoting locking member for securing the slidable lid in place when locking the needle set in said housing in said closed position.

Claim 6

The biopsy handle of claim 4 wherein: said housing includes a spring for urging said pivoting locking member into said notch.

Claim 7

A biopsy handle capable of receiving a needle set assembly having a stylet adapted for piercing and storing a tissue sample and a cannula adapted for severing and trapping the tissue sample, the biopsy handle capable of receiving the needle set in a pre-cocked position and a cocked position, the biopsy handle comprising: a housing having a fixed bottom lid covering a portion of the housing; a slidable lid, said slidable lid mounted within the housing and parallel to said fixed bottom lid; and said slidable lid is positionable such that said slidable lid is open to a first position in the pre-cocked position and said slidable lid is open to a second position in the cocked position.

Claim 8

A biopsy handle capable of receiving a needle set assembly having a stylet adapted for piercing and storing a tissue sample and a cannula adapted for severing and trapping the tissue sample, the biopsy handle capable of receiving the needle set in a pre-cocked position and a cocked position, the biopsy handle comprising: a housing having a fixed bottom lid covering a portion of the housing; a slidable lid, said slidable lid mounted within the housing and parallel to said fixed bottom lid; and said slidable lid is positionable such that said slidable lid is open to a first position in the pre-cocked position and said slidable lid is open to a second position in the cocked position.

Claim 9

The biopsy handle of claim 6, further comprising: a first guide secured to said housing; a second guide secured to said housing; a first actuator slidably mounted on said housing; a second actuator slidably mounted on said housing; a first pin associated with said first guide; a second pin associated with said second guide; said first pin adapted to engage a cannula of a needle set; said second pin adapted to engage a stylet of a needle set; a first spring associated with said first guide and said first pin; a second spring associated with said second guide and said second pin; a first pushing member that is associated with said first pin in order to urge said first pin relative to said first guide and against said first spring; a second pushing member that is associated with said second pin in order to urge said second pin relative to said second guide and against said second spring; and said first pin and said first pushing member operatively associated with said first actuator such that as said first actuator slides relative to said housing, said first pin and said first pushing member move relative to said housing and along said first guide in order to urge the cannula into a first operable position.

Claim 10

The biopsy handle of claim 7 further including: said housing having a first locking member; said first pin having a second locking member; and with the cannula in the first operable position such that said first pin is urged against said first spring, said first locking member engages said second locking member in order to lock said first pin in the first operable position relative to said housing.

Claim 11

The biopsy handle of claim 8 further including: said second pin and said second pushing member operatively associated with said second actuator such that as said second actuator slides relative to said housing, said second pin and said second pushing member move relative to said housing and alone said second guide in order to urge the stylet into a second operable position; said housing having a third locking member; said second pin having a fourth locking member; and with the stylet in the second operable position such that said second pin is urged against said second spring, said third locking member engages said fourth locking member in order to lock said second pin in the second operable position relative to said housing.

Claim 12

The biopsy handle of claim 8 further including: a trip pin; said trip pin associated and movable with said second actuator; said trip pin being capable of contacting said third locking member in order to release said fourth locking member and thereby allow said second spring to move said second pin and thus the stylet relative to said housing.

Claim 13

The biopsy handle of claim 10 further including: an actuating pin; said actuating pin associated and movable with said second actuator; said actuating pin being capable of contacting an actuating arm, said actuating arm also being capable of contacting said first locking member in order to release said second locking member and thereby allow said first spring to move said first pin and thus the cannula relative to said housing.

Claim 14

The biopsy handle of claim 6 wherein: said slidable lid is positionable in a closed position, said slidable lid includes a notch and said housing includes a cavity having a pivoting locking member therein, said notch receiving said pivoting locking member for securing said slidable lid in place when locking the needle set in said housing in said closed position.

Claim 15

The biopsy handle of claim 6, wherein the biopsy handle is reusable and made of metal.

Claim 16

The biopsy handle of claim 6, wherein said slidable lid is open approximately one-third of a housing length in the pre-cocked position and said slidable lid is open approximately two-thirds of the housing length in the cocked position.

Claim 17

A biopsy handle capable of receiving a needle set assembly having a stylet adapted for piercing and storing a tissue sample and a cannula adapted for severing and trapping the tissue sample, the biopsy handle capable of receiving the needle set in a pre-cocked position and a cocked position, the biopsy handle comprising: a housing having a fixed bottom lid covering a portion of the housing; a slidable lid, said slidable lid mounted within the housing and parallel to said fixed bottom lid; a first extension having a first pushing member, said first extension slidably mounted on said housing; a second extension having a second pushing member, said second extension slidably mounted on said housing; a first hook; a second hook; a biasing member in communication with said first hook and said second hook; a first rod secured to said housing; a second rod secured to said housing; a first pin in communication with said first pushing member and said first rod, said first pin having a first locking member; a second pin in communication with said second pushing member and said second rod, said second pin having a second locking member; wherein said first pushing member urges said first pin relative to said first rod sliding said first extension relative to said housing for urging the cannula into a first operable position, said first hook engaging said first locking member in said first operable position, and said second pushing member urges said second pin relative to said second rod sliding said second extension relative to said housing for urging the stylet into a second operable position, said second hook engaging said second locking member in said second operable position.

Claim 18

A biopsy handle capable of receiving a needle set assembly having a stylet adapted for piercing and storing a tissue sample and a cannula adapted for severing and trapping the tissue sample, the biopsy handle capable of receiving the needle set in a pre-cocked position and a cocked position, the biopsy handle comprising: a housing having a fixed bottom lid covering a portion of the housing; a slidable lid, said slidable lid mounted within the housing and parallel to said fixed bottom lid; a first extension having a first pushing member, said first extension slidably mounted on said housing; a second extension having a second pushing member, said second extension slidably mounted on said housing; a first hook; a second hook; a biasing member in communication with said first hook and said second hook; a first rod secured to said housing; a second rod secured to said housing; a first pin in communication with said first pushing member and said first rod, said first pin having a first locking member; a second pin in communication with said second pushing member and said second rod, said second pin having a second locking member; wherein said first pushing member urges said first pin relative to said first rod sliding said first extension relative to said housing for urging the cannula into a first operable position, said first hook engaging said first locking member in said first operable position, and said second pushing member urges said second pin relative to said second rod sliding said second extension relative to said housing for urging the stylet into a second operable position, said second hook engaging said second locking member in said second operable position.

Claim 19

The biopsy handle of claim 15, wherein the needle set is inserted in the pre-cocked position before said first operable position and said second operable position have been achieved.

Claim 20

The biopsy handle of claim 15, wherein the needle set is inserted in the cocked position after said first operable position and said second operable position have been achieved.

Claim 21

The biopsy handle of claim 15, wherein the slidable lid is open approximately one-third of a housing length in the pre-cocked position and the slidable lid is open approximately two-thirds of the housing length in the cocked position.

Claim 22

The biopsy handle of claim 15 wherein: said slidable lid is positionable in a closed position, said slidable lid includes a notch and said housing includes a cavity having a pivoting locking member therein, said notch receiving said pivoting locking member for securing said slidable lid in place when locking the needle set in said housing in said closed position.

Claim 23

The biopsy handle of claim 15, wherein the biopsy handle is reusable and made of metal.