Flexible tip medical instrument

Claim 2

A biopsy device having a flexible distal portion for obtaining a biopsy sample from a biopsy site, comprising: a coring cannula having a wall between a proximal end and a distal end and defining a lumen therebetween, said wall defining a coring relief notch adjacent said distal end, said coring relief notch having a length along a longitudinal axis of said cannula, said length of said coring relief notch longer than a width of said coring relief notch; a wire slidably disposed within said lumen of said coring cannula and having a proximal end and a distal end, said wire defining a sampling cavity adjacent said distal end and a wire relief notch adjacent said sampling cavity, said wire relief notch having a length along a longitudinal axis of said wire, said length of said wire relief notch longer than a width of said wire relief notch; said wire and said coring cannula having a first position with said wire retracted within said lumen so that said coring cannula covers said sampling cavity and a second position wherein said distal end of said wire is extended away from said coring cannula to expose said sampling cavity; and a firing mechanism engaged to said proximal ends of said coring cannula and said wire, said firing mechanism operable to move said coring cannula relative to said wire from the second position to the first position to trap tissue from the biopsy site in the sampling cavity.

Claim 3

The biopsy device of claim 1 wherein said wire relief notch is in communication with said coring relief notch when said wire and said coring cannula are in said first and second positions.

Claim 4

The biopsy device of claim 1 wherein said coring cannula further defines a slot adjacent said distal end.

Claim 5

The biopsy device of claim 3 wherein said slot is between said distal end and said coring relief notch.

Claim 6

The biopsy device of claim 3 wherein said coring relief notch is axially aligned with said slot.

Claim 7

The biopsy device of claim 3 wherein said sampling cavity is axially aligned with said wire relief notch.

Claim 8

The biopsy device of claim 3 wherein said coring cannula further defines a second slot adjacent said distal end.

Claim 9

A biopsy assembly, comprising: an introducer having an elongated cannula defining an introducer lumen defined between a proximal end and a distal end, said cannula having a curved portion adjacent said distal end; a body portion attached to said proximal end of said cannula and defining a channel in communication with said introducer lumen, and an access port defined in said body portion and in communication with said channel; a biopsy device disposed within said introducer lumen through said access port, said biopsy device including a coring cannula having a wall between a proximal end and a distal end and defining a lumen therebetween, said wall defining a coring relief notch adjacent said distal end, said coring relief notch having a length along a longitudinal axis of said coring cannula, said length of said coring relief notch longer than a width of said coring relief notch, a wire slidably disposed within said lumen of said coring cannula and having a proximal end and a distal end, said wire defining a sampling cavity adjacent said distal end and a wire relief notch adjacent said sampling cavity, said wire relief notch having a length along a longitudinal axis of said wire, said length of said wire relief notch longer than a width of said wire relief notch, said wire and said coring cannula having a first position with said wire retracted within said lumen so that said coring cannula covers said sampling cavity and a second position wherein said distal end of said wire is extended away from said coring cannula to expose said sampling cavity, and a firing mechanism engaged to said proximal ends of said coring cannula and said wire, said firing mechanism operable to move said coring cannula relative to said wire from the second position to the first position to trap tissue from the biopsy site in the sampling cavity; and said coring cannula and said wire being sufficiently flexible at said distal ends to traverse said curved portion as said biopsy device is inserted into said introducer lumen.

Claim 10

A biopsy assembly, comprising: an introducer having an elongated cannula defining an introducer lumen defined between a proximal end and a distal end, said cannula having a curved portion adjacent said distal end; a body portion attached to said proximal end of said cannula and defining a channel in communication with said introducer lumen, and an access port defined in said body portion and in communication with said channel; a biopsy device disposed within said introducer lumen through said access port, said biopsy device including a coring cannula having a wall between a proximal end and a distal end and defining a lumen therebetween, said wall defining a coring relief notch adjacent said distal end, said coring relief notch having a length along a longitudinal axis of said coring cannula, said length of said coring relief notch longer than a width of said coring relief notch, a wire slidably disposed within said lumen of said coring cannula and having a proximal end and a distal end, said wire defining a sampling cavity adjacent said distal end and a wire relief notch adjacent said sampling cavity, said wire relief notch having a length along a longitudinal axis of said wire, said length of said wire relief notch longer than a width of said wire relief notch, said wire and said coring cannula having a first position with said wire retracted within said lumen so that said coring cannula covers said sampling cavity and a second position wherein said distal end of said wire is extended away from said coring cannula to expose said sampling cavity, and a firing mechanism engaged to said proximal ends of said coring cannula and said wire, said firing mechanism operable to move said coring cannula relative to said wire from the second position to the first position to trap tissue from the biopsy site in the sampling cavity; and said coring cannula and said wire being sufficiently flexible at said distal ends to traverse said curved portion as said biopsy device is inserted into said introducer lumen.

Claim 11

The biopsy assembly of claim 8 wherein said wire relief notch is in communication with said coring relief notch when said wire and said coring cannula are in said first and second positions.

Claim 12

The biopsy assembly of claim 8 wherein said coring cannula further defines a slot adjacent said distal end.

Claim 13

The biopsy assembly of claim 10 wherein said slot is between said distal end and said coring relief notch.

Claim 14

The biopsy assembly of claim 10 wherein said coring relief notch is axially aligned with said slot.

Claim 15

The biopsy assembly of claim 10 wherein said sampling cavity is axially aligned with said wire relief notch.

Claim 16

The biopsy assembly of claim 10 wherein said coring cannula further defines a second slot adjacent said distal end.

Claim 17

A biopsy device having a flexible portion for obtaining a biopsy sample from a biopsy site, comprising: a coring cannula having a wall between a proximal end and a distal end and defining a lumen therebetween, said coring cannula defining a coring relief notch positioned at a location between said proximal end and said distal end, said coring relief notch having a length along a longitudinal axis of said cannula, said length of said coring relief notch longer than a width of said coring relief notch; a wire slidably disposed within said lumen of said coring cannula and having a proximal end and a distal end, said wire defining a sampling cavity adjacent said distal end; said wire and said coring cannula having a first position with said wire retracted within said lumen so that said coring cannula covers said sampling cavity and a second position wherein said distal end of said wire is extended away from said coring cannula to expose said sampling cavity; a firing mechanism engaged to said proximal ends of said coring cannula and said wire, said firing mechanism operable to move said coring cannula relative to said wire from the second position to the first position to trap tissue from the biopsy site in the sampling cavity; and said wire further defining a wire relief notch at a location corresponding to said location of said coring cannula so that said wire relief notch is in communication with said coring cannula relief notch when said wire and said coring cannula are in said first and second positions.

Claim 18

A biopsy device having a flexible portion for obtaining a biopsy sample from a biopsy site, comprising: a coring cannula having a wall between a proximal end and a distal end and defining a lumen therebetween, said coring cannula defining a coring relief notch positioned at a location between said proximal end and said distal end, said coring relief notch having a length along a longitudinal axis of said cannula, said length of said coring relief notch longer than a width of said coring relief notch; a wire slidably disposed within said lumen of said coring cannula and having a proximal end and a distal end, said wire defining a sampling cavity adjacent said distal end; said wire and said coring cannula having a first position with said wire retracted within said lumen so that said coring cannula covers said sampling cavity and a second position wherein said distal end of said wire is extended away from said coring cannula to expose said sampling cavity; a firing mechanism engaged to said proximal ends of said coring cannula and said wire, said firing mechanism operable to move said coring cannula relative to said wire from the second position to the first position to trap tissue from the biopsy site in the sampling cavity; and said wire further defining a wire relief notch at a location corresponding to said location of said coring cannula so that said wire relief notch is in communication with said coring cannula relief notch when said wire and said coring cannula are in said first and second positions.