Method and device for percutaneous exisional breast biopsy

Abstract

An apparatus for removing suspect breast tissue which includes a penetrating member in the form of a stylet with a tapered front end that can be guided along a localization guide wire. The apparatus also including a first cutting device in the form of a cannula slidingly engaged with the stylet. A driving assembly is in driving engagement with the cannula and, upon activation, potential energy stored in the driving assembly acts to drive the forward end of the cannula forward of the stylet's forward end so as to define a core cavity. A second cutting device which includes a garret wire having a looped section positioned within a recess at the forward end of the cannula is also provided. The driving assembly preferably also acts to rotate the cannula with a cam arrangement such that the cannula rotates when being driven forward. The garret wire is also attached to the rotating cannula such that the wire is drawn up to a stop bead just at the time the cannula reaches its maximum forward extension and further rotation of the cannula results in the contraction of the wire loop and a cutting of a core sample of suspect breast tissue.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.