Patent ID: 8251915
Filing Date: 2012-08-28
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method of collecting tissue from a region of skin comprising the steps of: holding a dermal punch having a cutting edge extending along a first wall with a first plurality of teeth and a second wall with a second plurality of teeth, the first wall and second wall meeting at mating edges to define a cavity having a fusiform shape, the cavity having a major axis and a minor axis that are perpendicular to a vertical axis of the dermal punch, each of the teeth extending in a distal direction that is parallel to the vertical axis of the dermal punch, at least one first apex tooth projecting at an apex of the first wall and at least one second apex tooth projecting at an apex of the second wall to define a plurality of apex teeth and at least one mating edge tooth projecting at each mating edge at which the first wall meets the second wall to define a plurality of edge teeth, the plurality of apex teeth and the plurality of edge teeth defining four corners of the cutting edge; positioning the cutting edge relative to a selected region of skin of a patient; initially puncturing the skin at all four corners of the cutting edge with the apex teeth and the mating edge teeth of the dermal punch by pushing the teeth along the vertical axis that is perpendicular relative to the region of skin; and continuing to insert additional portions of the cutting edge into the skin of the patient to cut the selected region of skin.