Methods and devices for cutting and collecting soft tissue

A device for removing tissue, comprising:

• a shaft;
• a cutting element coupled to the shaft, the cutting element being movable between a bowed position and a retracted position, wherein a deployed part of the cutting element lies outside the shaft when in the bowed position, the deployed part of the cutting element having a cutting side which penetrates the tissue as the shaft is rotated, the cutting element having means for preventing energy for cutting tissue from being transmitted from a portion of the deployed part of the bowed cutting element to the tissue.

A device for removing breast tissue, comprising:

• a shaft;
• a cutting element mounted to the shaft, the cutting element being movable between a bowed position and a straightened position, the cutting element bowing outward away from the shaft when in the bowed position, the cutting element having an elongate cutting side which cuts tissue when the shaft is rotated, the cutting element having a length which is at least 25 times larger than a width of the cutting element.

A device for cutting breast tissue for removal, comprising:

• a shaft;
• and
• an elongate cutting element mounted to the shaft, the cutting element being movable between a bowed position and a retracted position, the cutting element having a radially outer side and a radially inner side, wherein the radially outer side has a larger surface area for transmitting energy to cut the tissue than the radially inner side.

A device for cutting and collecting a specimen from a mass of tissue, comprising:

• an integrated cut and collect assembly, the integrated cut and collect assembly including a cutting portion and a collection portion that includes a flexible membrane, the collection portion being attached to the cutting portion, the cutting portion being configured to cut the specimen from the mass of tissue and the collection portion being configured to collect the cut specimen and to isolate the cut specimen within the membrane.

A method of cutting and isolating a specimen from a mass of tissue, comprising the steps of:

• inserting an instrument that includes an integrated cut and collect assembly into the mass of tissue, the integrated cut and collect assembly including a cutting portion and a collection portion that includes a thin flexible membrane, the collection portion being attached to the cutting portion, the cutting portion being configured to cut the specimen from the mass of tissue and the collection portion being configured to collect the cut specimen from the mass of tissue and to isolate the cut specimen from the mass of tissue within the membrane,
• isolating the specimen from surrounding tissue by cutting the specimen from the mass of tissue with the cutting portion and collecting the cut specimen within the flexible membrane of the collecting portion.

A device for cutting and collecting a specimen from a mass of tissue, comprising:

• a shaft defining a proximal and a distal end;
• a work assembly near the distal end of the shaft, the work assembly being configured to cut the specimen from the mass of soft tissue and to isolate the cut specimen from surrounding tissue;
• a single actuator near the proximal end of the shaft, the single actuator being mechanically coupled to the work assembly such that rotation of the device and operation of the single actuator is effective to cut, collect and isolate the specimen from the mass of tissue as the device is rotated.

A method of collecting a tissue specimen from a mass of tissue, comprising the steps of:

• inserting a surgical instrument into the mass of tissue to a target location within the mass of tissue, the instrument including a shaft and a work assembly near a distal end of the shaft, the work assembly being configured to controllably cut the specimen from the mass of soft tissue and to isolate the cut specimen from the mass of tissue within a tissue isolator;
• controlling the work assembly of the surgical instrument to cut and isolate the specimen, and
• retracting the instrument from the mass of tissue while the specimen is isolated within the tissue isolator and at least partially trails the distal end of the shaft.