Tissue modification devices

A flexible tissue-modification device for removing tissue from a patient, the device comprising:

• a flexible elongate body extending in a proximal to distal axis along a length, the elongate body comprising a plurality of rungs extending transverse to the proximal and distal axis, the elongate body having an anterior surface including the anterior surface of the rungs;
• a plurality of cutting edges extending from the anterior surface of the rungs;
• and
• a tissue collection region configured to collect tissue cut by the plurality of cutting edges, the tissue collection region opening through the anterior surface between adjacent rungs of the plurality of rungs.

A method of removing tissue from a patient, the method comprising:

• passing a flexible tissue-modification device having a tissue collection region at least partially around a target tissue, wherein the flexible tissue-modification device comprises:
• a flexible elongate body extending in a proximal to distal axis along a length, the elongate body comprising a plurality of rungs extending transverse to the proximal and distal axis, the elongate body having an anterior surface including the anterior surface of the rungs, and
• a plurality of cutting edges extending from the anterior surface of the rungs,
• wherein the tissue collection region opens through the anterior surface between adjacent rungs of the plurality of rungs;
• moving the tissue-modification device against the target tissue by pulling the tissue-modification device from at least one end of the device;
• cutting the target tissue with the cutting edges;
• and
• collecting the cut tissue in the tissue collection region.

A flexible tissue-modification device for removing tissue from a patient, the device comprising:

• a flexible elongate body having a length, a width and a thickness, wherein the length is greater than the width, and the width is greater than the thickness;
• an anterior surface extending proximally and distally across the width of the flexible elongate body;
• a plurality of cutting edges communicating with the anterior surface;
• wherein the flexible tissue-modification device is convertible from a first configuration, in which the anterior surface has a first proximal to distal shape, and a second configuration in which the anterior surface has a second proximal to distal shape;
• and
• a lock for locking the proximal to distal shape of the anterior surface of the tissue-modification device.