Patent ID: 6863676
Filing Date: 2005-03-08
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method of removing a specimen of breast tissue that is cut from surrounding breast tissue, comprising the steps of: providing a device that includes a shaft and a tissue collection element coupled to the shaft, the tissue collection clement including a thin flexible membrane and being movable between a retracted position to an expanded position; introducing the device into the breast tissue with the tissue collection element in the retracted position; expanding the tissue collection element to the expanded position after the introducing step; moving the tissue collection element to capture the cut specimen; encapsulating the cut specimen with the thin flexible membrane while maintaining the cut specimen intact and isolating the captured specimen from contact with the surrounding breast tissue and returning the tissue collection element to the refracted position while maintaining the cut specimen intact and encapsulated; removing the device from the breast tissue while the specimen remains encapsulated within the thin flexible membrane of the retracted tissue collection element.