Biopsy marker delivery devices and methods

1. A biopsy system comprising:

(a) a biopsy device operable for taking one or more biopsy samples from a patient, the biopsy device comprising:

(i) a body portion having an alignment chamber disposed at a proximal end of the body portion, wherein the alignment chamber is defined by an outer perimeter having a non-circular cross-section,

(ii) a tissue sample holder comprising at least a part configured to selectively cover and uncover the alignment chamber, and

(iii) a hollow biopsy needle extending distally from the body portion, the biopsy needle having a proximal end, a closed distal end, an interior lumen, and a lateral aperture configured to receive tissue; and

(b) a marker delivery device comprising:

(i) a marker deployer tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a side opening formed in a sidewall of the marker deployer tube, and

(ii) an alignment member associated with the marker deployer tube and configured to matingly engage with and be received by the alignment chamber on the biopsy device when the at least a part of the tissue sample holder uncovers the alignment chamber, wherein upon and during said receipt, the alignment member is non-rotatable with respect to the alignment chamber, wherein the alignment member has a non-circular cross-section that is complementary to the non-circular cross-section of the outer perimeter of the alignment chamber;

wherein the marker deployer tube is insertable into the interior lumen of the biopsy needle such that, when the alignment chamber on the biopsy device and the alignment member on the marker delivery device matingly engage, the side opening of the marker deployer tube will be located within the biopsy needle in substantial alignment with the lateral aperture of the biopsy needle, wherein the marker deployer tube is configured to be received by the alignment chamber.

2. The biopsy system of claim 1 , wherein the marker deployer tube extends distally away from the alignment member.

3. The biopsy system of claim 2 , wherein the alignment chamber is in communication with the interior of the biopsy needle such that the distal end of the marker deployer tube is insertable into the interior lumen of the biopsy needle through the alignment chamber.

4. The biopsy system of claim 3 , wherein the marker deployer tube extends through the alignment member of the marker delivery device.

5. The biopsy system of claim 1 , wherein the alignment member has a cross-sectional shape which is offset from the longitudinal axis of the deployer tube; wherein the alignment chamber has a corresponding cross-sectional shape which is offset from the longitudinal axis of the biopsy needle.

6. The biopsy system of claim 5 , wherein the alignment member and the alignment chamber have corresponding tear-shaped cross-sections.

7. The biopsy system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one biopsy site marker disposed in the deployer tube.

8. A biopsy system comprising:

(a) a biopsy device operable for taking one or more biopsy samples from a patient, the biopsy device comprising:

(i) a body portion having a proximal alignment recess,

(ii) at least a removable part of a tissue sample holder disposed at a proximal end of the body portion and configured to be removed from the body portion, wherein the at least a removable part of the tissue sample holder is configured to cover the proximal alignment recess when the at least a removable part of the tissue sample holder is coupled with the body portion, and wherein the at least a removable part of the tissue sample holder is configured to uncover the proximal alignment recess when the at least a removable part of the tissue sample holder is removed from the body portion, and

(iii) a hollow biopsy needle extending distally from the body portion, the biopsy needle having a proximal end, a distal end, an interior lumen, and a lateral aperture configured to receive tissue, wherein the tissue sample holder is configured to receive tissue from the lateral aperture; and

(b) a marker delivery device comprising:

(i) a marker deployer tube having a longitudinal axis, proximal end, a distal end, and a side opening formed in a sidewall of the marker deployer tube, and

(ii) an alignment feature associated with the marker deployer tube and configured to matingly engage with and be received by the alignment recess on the biopsy device;

wherein, when the at least a removable part of the tissue sample holder is removed from the body portion, the marker deployer tube is insertable into the interior lumen of the biopsy needle such that, when the alignment recess on the biopsy device and the alignment feature on the marker delivery device matingly engage, the side opening of the marker deployer tube will be located within the biopsy needle in substantial alignment with the lateral aperture of the biopsy needle.

9. The biopsy system of claim 8 , wherein the marker deployer tube extends distally away from the alignment feature.

10. The biopsy system of claim 9 , wherein the alignment recess is in communication with the interior of the biopsy needle such that the distal end of the marker deployer tube is insertable into the interior lumen of the biopsy needle through the alignment recess.

11. The biopsy system of claim 10 , wherein the marker deployer tube extends through the alignment feature of the marker delivery device.

12. The biopsy system of claim 8 , wherein the alignment feature has a cross-sectional shape which is offset from the longitudinal axis of the deployer tube; wherein the alignment recess has a corresponding cross-sectional shape which is offset from the longitudinal axis of the biopsy needle.

13. The biopsy system of claim 12 , wherein the alignment feature and the alignment recess have corresponding tear-shaped cross-sections.

14. The biopsy system of claim 8 , further comprising at least one biopsy site marker disposed in the deployer tube.

15. A biopsy system comprising:

(a) a biopsy device operable for taking one or more biopsy samples from a patient, the biopsy device comprising:

(i) a body portion having an alignment chamber disposed at a proximal end,

(ii) at least a part of a tissue sample holder configured to selectively be removed from the proximal end of the body portion such that the at least a part of the tissue sample holder is configured to cover the alignment chamber when coupled to the proximal end of the body portion and the at least a part of the tissue sample holder is configured to uncover the alignment chamber when removed from the proximal end of the body portion, and

(iii) a hollow biopsy needle extending distally from the tissue sample holder, the biopsy needle having a proximal end, a distal end, an interior lumen, and a lateral aperture configured to receive tissue, wherein the tissue sample holder is configured to receive tissue from the lateral aperture; and

(b) a marker delivery device comprising:

(i) a marker deployer tube having a perimeter, a proximal end, a distal end, and a side opening formed in a sidewall of the marker deployer tube, and

(ii) an alignment member having a perimeter, wherein the alignment member is associated with the marker deployer tube and configured to matingly engage with and be received by the alignment chamber on the biopsy device when the at least a part of the tissue sample holder is removed from the proximal end of the body portion, wherein the alignment member is disposed at a proximal end of the marker deployer tube, wherein the perimeter of the marker deployer tube is disposed within the perimeter of the alignment member;

wherein the marker deployer tube is insertable into the interior lumen of the biopsy needle such that, when the alignment chamber on the biopsy device and the alignment member on the marker delivery device matingly engage, the side opening of the marker deployer tube will be located within the biopsy needle in substantial alignment with the lateral aperture of the biopsy.

16. The biopsy system of claim 15 , wherein the marker deployer tube extends distally away from the alignment member.

17. The biopsy system of claim 16 , wherein the alignment chamber is in communication with the interior of the biopsy needle such that the distal end of the marker deployer tube is insertable into the interior lumen of the biopsy needle through the alignment chamber.

18. The biopsy system of claim 15 , wherein the alignment member has a cross-sectional shape which is offset from the longitudinal axis of the deployer tube; wherein the alignment chamber has a corresponding cross-sectional shape which is offset from the longitudinal axis of the biopsy needle.

19. The biopsy system of claim 18 , wherein the alignment member and the alignment chamber have corresponding tear-shaped cross-sections.

20. The biopsy system of claim 15 , further comprising at least one biopsy site marker disposed in the deployer tube.