Patent ID: 7264596
Filing Date: 2007-09-04
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A tissue acquisition instrument for retrieving tissue at a body site, having a longitudinal axis and comprising: a distal end adapted for entry into a patient's body; a tissue cutting element extending longitudinally along a length on a distal portion of the instrument proximal to the distal end which has a contracted configuration for delivery to the body site and an expanded configuration for separating a tissue specimen from the body site adjacent the distal portion of the instrument; and a mechanical fixation element on the distal portion of the instrument proximal to the distal end, which is within the length of the tissue cutting element, which has a retracted configuration and which has an expanded configuration for securing the distal portion of said tissue acquisition instrument at the body site in order to ensure that the tissue acquisition instrument remains in place during a tissue specimen acquisition procedure so that the tissue specimen is properly acquired at the body site.