Do Estrogen Receptor ? Polymorphisms Play A Role in the Pharmaco- genetics of Estrogen Signaling?

An automatic biopsy devices for taking plural samples of tissue of a patient. The device is pneumatically operated in response to an actuator activated by the operator and makes use of a removable cassette in which a plurality of stylets are located. The stylets are disposed on a moveable tray within the cassette and are arranged to be selectively positioned within the device for propulsion through a releasably mounted cannula at a high speed into the tissue to be sampled. Each stylet includes a groove adjacent its distal end into which the tissue to be sampled enters when the cannula is propelled into the tissue. Thereafter and in automatic response to the propulsion of the stylet through the cannula into the tissue, the cannula is propelled over the stylet to excise the tissue within the stylet's recess. The propulsion of the stylets and cannula is so rapid that the tissue sampling procedure is virtually pain-free. An indicator is provided so that the operator will know the number of samples taken. The cassette is removable from the device and can be filled with the fixative solution or taken to a laboratory for analysis of the tissue samples, all the while protecting the tissue samples and the personnel handling them.