Tissue removal instrument

A method of removing a resected tissue portion from a body, comprising:

• obtaining a tissue removal instrument comprising:
• a first elongate member including a first head portion and a first handle portion defining a free end, the first head portion being elongated along a length direction and including a front edge defining a free end of the first head portion along the length direction;
• a second elongate member rotatably coupled to the first elongate member at a first rotation point, the second member including a second handle portion defining a free end and an end portion on opposing sides of the first rotation point;
• and
• a third elongate member rotatably coupled to the first elongate member at a second rotation point, the third member including a second head portion being elongated along the length direction and an end portion on opposing sides of the second rotation point,
• wherein the end portions of the second and third members are rotatably coupled at a third movable rotation point positioned between the first and second rotation points,
• wherein the second head portion includes an interior surface with a front cutting tooth comprising a front face that defines a free end of the second head portion along the length direction, a cutting edge at a top end of the front face, and a relief surface that extends from the cutting edge at an acute angle with respect to the front face,
• wherein the first head portion comprises a substantially smooth interior tissue engagement surface extending from the front edge, and a chisel portion extending from the front edge at an acute angle with respect to the interior tissue engagement surface, wherein the interior tissue engagement surface, the chisel portion and the front edge form a chisel tooth with the front edge being a tip of the chisel tooth,
• wherein the front cutting tooth is extended along a width direction such that the cutting edge is extended along the width direction, and the chisel tooth is extended along the width direction such that the front edge is extended along the width direction, and
• wherein the second head portion extends further along the length direction than the first head portion such that, in a fully closed relative position of the first and second head portions, the front edge of the chisel tooth abuts the relief surface of the front cutting tooth, the first and second handle portions configured to effectuate relative movement of the first and second head portions between an open position and the fully closed relative position;
• orienting the first and second head portions of the instrument into the open position via the first and second handle portions;
• inserting one of the first head portion or the second head portion between the resected tissue portion and a host tissue portion within the body such that the resected tissue portion is positioned between the first and second head portions of the instrument;
• orienting the first and second head portions of the instrument toward the fully closed relative position via the first and second handle portions to cut tissue extending from the resected tissue portion via the front edge of the first head portion and the front cutting tooth of the second head portion and to engage and support the resected tissue portion via the interior surfaces of the first and second head portions;
• and
• manually removing the instrument and the resected tissue portion from the body.