Methods and devices for collection of soft tissue

A tissue sampling apparatus, comprising:

• a tubular body having a primary lumen for receiving a tissue sample, the tubular body having a wall, distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis;
• a slit extending part of the way through the thickness of the tube wall, the slit creating a flexible band of material between the slit and the distal end of the tubular body, the flexible band of material being predisposed to rest in a partially collapsed position across the cross-sectional area of the tubular body;
• an inner coaxial tube insertable into the lumen of the tubular body to thereby push the material band into a circumferential configuration substantially coincident with the remainder of the tubular body, the tubular body being electrically conductive to conduct electrical energy from an electrocautery generator to the flexible band of material;
• said flexible band of material comprising an electrosurgical element, wherein when the inner coaxial tube is removed from the tubular body lumen, the electrically energized flexible band of material collapses to its rest position across the cross-sectional area of the tubular body, the collapsing motion of the band of material functioning to sever the distal end of a tissue sample.

A method of capturing a body tissue sample using a tissue sampling apparatus comprising a tubular body having a lumen extending therethrough, a distal end, at least one electrosurgical cutting element disposed distally of the distal end of the tubular body, an actuator for moving the at least one cutting element, and an electrocautery generator, the method comprising:

• activating the electrocautery generator to energize the at least one electrosurgical cutting element;
• advancing the tubular body through a solid tissue portion a desired distance so that one of the at least one energized electrosurgical cutting elements cuts a tissue sample core as the tissue sample enters the lumen, the cutting process creating a blind hole in said solid tissue portion;
• and
• actuating one of the at least one electrosurgical cutting elements so that it moves across at least a portion of a cross-sectional area of the tissue sample core at its distal end, thereby severing the distal end to capture the tissue sample core in a substantially intact condition within the tubular body lumen.