Skin biopsy with automated lesion stabilization and resection

An automated skin biopsy apparatus for taking a biopsy of a lesion on skin comprising:

• a suction tube configured to be controllably placed against the skin in the area of the lesion and to apply suction to the lesion to controllably stabilize the lesion while on the skin;
• a suction pump configured to controllably deliver suction to the suction tube:
• a lesion resector configured to controllably resect the lesion from the skin while the suction tube is placed against the skin and applying suction to the lesion;
• a user-operated control;
• and
• a controller configured to automatically cause each of the following two steps to occur sequentially in response to and after actuation of the user-operated control by a user without any further command or action being taken by the user:
• the suction tube to be placed against the skin in the area of the lesion and, either before or after, the suction pump to deliver suction to the suction tube, thereby stabilizing the lesion while the suction tube is placed against the skin;
• and
• the lesion resector to resect the lesion from the skin while the lesion is being stabilized by the suction tube is against the skin and applying suction to the lesion.