Methods and apparatus for tissue removal

1. A needle assembly, the needle assembly comprising:

an inner tube having an interior cavity;

an outer cannula having a proximal portion, a distal portion and an interior cavity;

the interior cavity of the outer cannula having an interior diameter to slidably receive the inner tube;

a collapsible leg operably engaged with the inner tube and the outer cannula whereby a forward movement of a portion of the inner tube within the interior cavity of the outer cannula changes the collapsible leg from a neutral position to a collapsed position;

an aperture extending through an interior cavity wall of the outer cannula; and

the aperture configured to pass a tissue portion from the interior cavity of the outer cannula.

2. The needle assembly of claim 1 wherein the aperture is positioned under the collapsible leg when the inner tube and the collapsible leg are received in the interior cavity of the outer cannula.

3. The needle assembly of claim 1 wherein:

the tissue portion comprises a non-sample portion and a sample portion; and

the non-sample portion may be passed from the interior cavity of the outer cannula through the aperture and the sample portion may be retained in the interior cavity of the outer cannula.

4. The needle assembly of claim 1 wherein the tissue portion may be passed from under the collapsible leg through the aperture.

5. The needle assembly of claim 1 wherein the aperture is positioned under a pocket of the collapsible leg when the inner tube and the collapsible leg are received in the interior cavity of the outer cannula.

6. The needle assembly of claim 1 wherein an aperture shape of the aperture comprises one selected from the group consisting of:

a rectangle;

an oval; and

a rectangle with rounded edges.

7. The needle assembly of claim 1 wherein the collapsible leg comprises a separately manufactured element coupled to the inner tube.

8. The needle assembly of claim 1 wherein the collapsible leg is coupled to the distal portion of the inner tube by a first weld and the collapsible leg is coupled to the distal portion of the outer cannula by a second weld.

9. The needle assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a first cam coupled to the proximal portion of the inner tube; and

a second cam coupled to the proximal portion of the outer cannula.

10. The needle assembly of claim 1 wherein the collapsible leg comprises an elastically collapsible leg.

11. The needle assembly of claim 1 wherein the needle assembly is configured to be reused to remove a plurality of tissue portions.

12. The needle assembly of claim 1 wherein the collapsible leg is formed from a super elastic material.

13. A method of using the needle assembly of claim 1 , the method comprising:

providing the needle assembly of claim 1 ;

positioning the needle assembly in a tissue;

engaging the tissue portion in the tissue with the needle assembly; and

withdrawing the tissue portion from the tissue.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of engaging the tissue portion in the tissue with the needle assembly further comprises:

applying a forward force to the inner tube;

applying a restraining force to the outer cannula; and

collapsing the collapsible leg whereby the collapsible leg engages the tissue portion in the inner tube.

15. A tissue removal assembly comprising:

an outer cannula having an interior cavity;

an inner tube slidably received in the outer cannula;

a collapsible section operably engage with the inner tube and the outer cannula whereby a forward force on the inner tube and a restraining force on the outer cannula collapses the collapsible section into a collapsed position; and

an aperture extending through an interior cavity wall of the outer cannula configured to pass a tissue portion from the interior cavity of the outer cannula.

16. The tissue removal assembly of claim 15 further comprising a holder assembly configured to provide the forward force on the inner tube and the restraining force on the outer cannula.

17. A method of using the tissue removal assembly of claim 15 , the method comprising:

providing the tissue removal assembly of claim 15 ;

positioning the tissue removal assembly in a tissue;

engaging the tissue portion in the tissue with the tissue removal assembly; and

withdrawing the tissue portion from the tissue.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of engaging the tissue portion in the tissue with the tissue removal assembly further comprises:

applying the forward force to the inner tube;

applying the restraining force to the outer cannula; and

collapsing the collapsible section whereby the collapsible section engages the tissue portion in the inner tube.

19. A needle assembly comprising:

an inner tube;

an outer cannula having an exterior wall, an interior cavity defined by an interior cavity wall;

an aperture extending through the interior cavity wall;

the outer cannula configured to slidably receive the inner tube;

a collapsible leg operably engaged with the inner tube and the outer cannula whereby a forward movement of a portion of the inner tube relative to the outer cannula changes the collapsible leg from a neutral position to a collapsed position; and

the aperture configured to expel a tissue portion from the interior cavity of the outer cannula through the aperture.

20. A method of using the needle assembly of claim 19 , the method comprising:

providing the needle assembly of claim 19 ;

positioning the needle assembly in a tissue;

engaging the tissue portion in the tissue with the needle assembly; and

withdrawing the tissue portion from the tissue.