Soft tissue coring biospy devices and methods

A tissue biopsy device, comprising:

• a work element, the work element being formed of a single tube split axially into a first portion and a second portion and comprising a first articulated beak formed at a distal end of the first portion and a second articulated beak formed at a distal end of the second portion, the work element being configured such that differential axially-directed movement of the first portion relative to the second portion actuates the work element to selectively cause the first and second articulated beaks to assume an open configuration and a closed configuration,
• a distal sheath disposed over at least a portion of the work element, and
• wherein the differential axially-directed movement is configured to cause the first and second articulated beaks to assume the open and the closed configurations independently of the distal sheath and is further configured to enable the first and second beaks to selectively assume an open configuration that enables the tissue biopsy device to core a tissue specimen of a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the single tube from which the work element is formed and that enables the first and second beaks to selectively assume the closed configuration to part off the cored tissue specimen and to compress the parted off tissue specimen within an inner diameter of the single tube of the work element.