Importance

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Abstract

The present invention is a control apparatus for removing at least one tissue sample from a surgical patient using a surgical biopsy device. The biopsy device comprises an elongated piercer having a piercer lumen extending therethrough, and a cutter rotatably and axially positionable relative to the piercer. The piercer has a port for receiving and transferring the tissue sample into the piercer lumen. The biopsy device further comprises a rotation motor for rotating the cutter and a translation motor for translating the cutter in the axial direction. In one embodiment of the present invention, the control apparatus comprises a computing device for the coordinated control of the rotation and translation motors. The control apparatus further comprises a first sensor operationally connected to the rotation motor for supplying a rotation signal to the computing device for measuring the rotational speed of the cutter. The control apparatus further comprises a second sensor operationally connected to the translation motor for supplying a translation signal to the computing device for measuring the translational position and translational speed of the cutter. The control apparatus further comprises a first driver for driving the translation motor in response to a translation command from the computing device, and a second driver for driving the rotation motor in response to a rotation command from the computing device. The control apparatus automatically modifies the rotational speed and the translational speed of the cutter in response to the translational position and rotational resistance acting on the cutter.

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First Claim