Deflectable biopsy device

1. A deflectable biopsy device for collecting a tissue biopsy, comprising: a cannula comprising a wall between a proximal end and a distal end defining a cannula lumen therebetween, the cannula, when in an unstressed condition defines a geometry including a preformed bend having a first shape positioned between the proximal and distal ends, wherein said preformed bend is constrainable by a constraining force to alter the geometry of said preformed bend to a second shape and wherein, upon release of the constraining force, the geometry of said preformed bend substantially returns to the first shape; a sampling member slidably disposed within said cannula lumen, said sampling member defining a sampling cavity and being cooperable with said cannula to sever and trap a tissue biopsy in said sampling cavity, wherein said sampling member and said cannula are constructed and arranged to allow the sampling member to slidably navigate the first shape of the preformed bend of said cannula without binding, and wherein said sampling member includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein said second portion is positioned between said first portion and said sampling cavity, and wherein said second portion is more flexible than said first portion; and a firing mechanism engaged to a cannula hub at the proximal end of said cannula and a sampling member hub at a proximal end of said sampling member, wherein said firing mechanism is constructed and arranged to rapidly move said cannula relative to said sampling member from a second position in which said sampling member extends through said cannula with the sampling cavity protruding outside of and not covered by said cannula to a first position in which the sampling cavity is covered by said cannula, and wherein, in the first position, said second portion of said sampling member is aligned with said preformed bend of said cannula.

2. The deflectable biopsy device of claim 1 , further comprising an introducer comprising an introducer lumen sized to receive said cannula through said introducer lumen, wherein said introducer lumen is constructed and arranged to constrain said preformed bend to alter the shape of said preformed bend to substantially conform to the shape of said introducer lumen when said preformed bend is inserted into said introducer lumen, wherein the geometry of said preformed bend is the first shape when said cannula is not received in said introducer.

3. The deflectable biopsy device of claim 2 , wherein said cannula is freely rotatable in said introducer.

4. The deflectable biopsy device of claim 2 , wherein said cannula is slidably deployable from the distal end of said introducer whereby, at exiting from the distal end of said introducer, the geometry of said preformed bend substantially returns to the first shape and wherein said cannula exits said introducer at a different angular orientation than the angular orientation of the distal end of said introducer.

5. The deflectable biopsy device of claim 1 , wherein said cannula further comprises a tip on the distal end constructed and arranged to cut tissue.

6. The deflectable biopsy device of claim 1 , wherein said sampling member further comprises a tip on the distal end constructed and arranged to penetrate tissue.

7. The deflectable biopsy device of claim 1 , wherein said cannula comprises a superelastic material.

8. The deflectable biopsy device of claim 1 , wherein said cannula lumen is defined by an uninterrupted and continuous wall between the distal and proximal ends of said cannula.

9. The deflectable biopsy device of claim 1 , wherein said cannula further comprises a substantially straight walled portion extending between the distal end and said preformed bend, wherein, in the first position, said sampling cavity lines up with said substantially straight wall portion of said cannula.

10. The deflectable biopsy device of claim 1 , wherein said preformed bend is angled between 40 and 90 degrees.

11. The deflectable biopsy device of claim 1 , wherein said preformed bend is angled approximately 90 degrees.

12. The deflectable biopsy device of claim 1 , wherein the constrained configuration is substantially straight.

13. The deflectable biopsy device of claim 1 , wherein said sampling member is freely rotatable in said cannula.

14. The deflectable biopsy device of claim 1 , wherein said second portion is constructed and arranged to not alter the shape of said preformed bend in said first position.

15. The deflectable biopsy device of claim 1 , wherein said second portion has a smaller cross-sectional area than said first portion.

16. A deflectable biopsy device for collecting a tissue biopsy, comprising:

a cannula defining a cannula lumen, the cannula, when in an unstressed condition, defines a geometry including a preformed bend, wherein said cannula comprises a superelastic material;

an introducer defining an introducer lumen sized to receive said cannula through said introducer lumen;

a sampling member disposed within the cannula lumen, said sampling member comprising a sampling cavity, a first portion and a second portion positioned between said first portion and said sampling cavity, wherein said second portion has a smaller cross-sectional area than said first portion, wherein said second portion is aligned with said preformed bend; and

wherein the cannula and sampling member are movable relative to one another so as to sever and collect a tissue biopsy in the sampling cavity, wherein said cannula is movable relative to said introducer through said introducer lumen and wherein, when said cannula passes through said introducer, said cannula exits said introducer at a different angular orientation than the angular orientation of the distal end of said introducer, and wherein said sampling member is constructed and arranged to slidably navigate the preformed bend of said cannula without binding.

17. The deflectable biopsy device of claim 16 , wherein said wall is continuous whereby said cannula lumen is uninterrupted between the distal and proximal ends.

18. The deflectable biopsy device of claim 16 , wherein said sampling member is freely rotatable in said cannula.

19. A deflectable biopsy device for collecting a tissue biopsy, the deflectable biopsy device comprising:

a cannula comprising a wall between a proximal end and a distal end defining a cannula lumen therebetween, the cannula, when in an unstressed condition defines a geometry including a preformed bend having a first shape positioned between the proximal and distal ends and a straight wall portion extending between the preformed bend and the distal end, wherein said preformed bend is constrainable by a constraining force to alter the geometry of said preformed bend to a second shape and wherein, upon release of the constraining force, the geometry of said preformed bend substantially returns to the first shape, wherein said cannula lumen defines an uninterrupted and continuous wall between the distal and proximal ends of said cannula;

a sampling member slidably disposed within said cannula lumen, said sampling member defining a sampling cavity and being cooperable with said cannula to sever and trap a tissue biopsy in said sampling cavity, said sampling member including a first portion and second portion positioned between said first portion and said sampling cavity, wherein said sampling member is constructed and arranged to slidably navigate the preformed bend of said cannula without binding, and wherein said second portion of said sampling member navigates the preformed bend and is more flexible than said first portion of said sampling member; and

a firing mechanism engaged to a cannula hub at the proximal end of said cannula and a sampling member hub at a proximal end of said sampling member, wherein said firing mechanism is constructed and arranged to rapidly move said cannula relative to said sampling member from a second position in which said sampling member extends through said cannula with the sampling cavity protruding outside of and not covered by said cannula to a first position in which the sampling cavity is covered by said cannula, wherein, in the first position, the sampling cavity lines up with said straight wall portion of said cannula.

20. The deflectable biopsy device of claim 19 , further comprising an introducer comprising an introducer lumen sized to receive said cannula through said introducer lumen, wherein said introducer lumen is constructed and arranged to constrain said preformed bend to alter the shape of said preformed bend to substantially conform to the shape of said introducer lumen when said preformed bend is inserted into said introducer lumen, wherein the geometry of said preformed bend is the first shape when said cannula is not received in said introducer.

21. The deflectable biopsy device of claim 19 , wherein said sampling member further comprises a shoulder located between said second portion and the sampling cavity, wherein said second portion has a smaller cross section than said shoulder and wherein, in the second position, the distal end of said cannula is perched on said shoulder.