US 12,471,893 B2
Biopsy device having a linear motor drive
Chad C Van Liere, Phoenix, AZ (US)
Assigned to C.R. Bard, Inc., Franklin Lakes, NJ (US)
Filed by C.R. Bard, Inc., Franklin Lakes, NJ (US)
Filed on Nov. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/531,936.
Application 17/531,936 is a continuation of application No. 16/463,103, granted, now 11,213,280, previously published as PCT/US2017/063427, filed on Nov. 28, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/434,704, filed on Dec. 15, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2022/0079568 A1, Mar. 17, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 10/02 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 10/0275 (2013.01) [A61B 2010/0208 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A biopsy device, comprising:
a disposable needle assembly having a longitudinal axis, a cutting cannula, a stylet, a cutting cannula driver, and a stylet driver, the cutting cannula driver connected to a cutting cannula first portion, the stylet driver being connected to a stylet first portion, the cutting cannula driver having a first rack member and a flange, the flange having a drive slot, and the flange connected to the first rack member, the stylet driver having a second rack member;
a drive assembly having a power source, a linear motor drive, a transmission assembly, a switching motor drive having at least one DC motor, and an electrical controller circuit, the power source configured to supply electrical power to each of the linear motor drive, the switching motor drive, and the electrical controller circuit;
the electrical controller circuit configured to execute program instructions to selectively operate the linear motor drive and the switching motor drive;
the transmission assembly having a gear assembly drivably coupled to the switching motor drive, the gear assembly configured to releasably engage at least one of the first rack member of the cutting cannula driver and the second rack member of the stylet driver; and
a coupler member connected to the linear motor drive, the coupler member having a face, the face having an upward-facing slot, the upward-facing slot configured to receive and to engage the drive slot of the flange of the cutting cannula driver.