Abstract:
The invention is directed to tissue cutting members and biopsy devices with such tissue cutting member for separating a tissue specimen from a patient&#39;s body at a target site. The tissue cutting member is slidably disposed within an inner lumen of an elongated probe member of the biopsy device to cut a tissue specimen drawn into the interior of an outer cannula of the biopsy device through a tissue receiving aperture in the probe. The tissue cutting member has a tubular distal portion with a distal tip having an outer tissue cutting edge, an inner tissue receiving aperture, and a longitudinally oriented opening with a closed proximal end and open distal end which opens to the inner tissue receiving aperture to facilitate flaring of the distal tubular portion. The cutting member has at least one opening in a wall of the tubular portion to maintain a vacuum during use.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based on Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/683,584, filed on May 23, 2005, and claims priority therefrom. The provisional application is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to tissue cutting members for tissue removing devices such as biopsy devices and the like. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In diagnosing and treating certain medical conditions, such as potentially cancerous tumors, it is usually desirable to perform a biopsy, in which a specimen of the suspicious tissue is removed for pathological examination and analysis. In many instances, the suspicious tissue is located in a subcutaneous site, such as inside a human breast. To minimize surgical intrusion into the patient&#39;s body, it is desirable to be able to insert a small instrument into the patient&#39;s body to access the targeted site and to separate the biopsy specimen therefrom. 
     Tissue cutting members currently used with biopsy devices have a variety of problems. Often tissue becomes trapped between the cutting member and the shaft within which the cutting member is disposed. Also many cutting members currently available in the art are not suitable for effectively separating tough or hard tissue from the target site in a patient&#39;s body. 
     There is need in the art for cutting members with improved efficiency for separating tissue specimens from a target location in a patient&#39;s body. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is directed to tissue cutting members for devices for separating tissue from a target site within a patient&#39;s body. More particularly, the invention is directed to tissue cutting members and biopsy devices using such tissue cutting members for the separation of a tissue specimen from supporting tissue at the targeted site within a patient. A suitable biopsy device having a cannula which may be utilized with a tissue cutting member having features of the invention is described in co-pending application Ser. No. 11/014,413, filed on Dec. 16, 2004. 
     A tissue cutting member embodying features of the invention includes a distal tubular portion having a distal tip with an outer tissue cutting edge, an inner tissue receiving aperture, and a longitudinal axis. Preferably the distal tip of the distal tubular portion has a beveled front face with a leading edge and a trailing edge. 
     The tubular distal tubular portion has a longitudinally oriented opening in a wall of the distal tubular portion with an open distal end which opens to the inner tissue receiving aperture, and a closed proximal end. The distal tubular portion of the tissue cutting member has at least a second opening in a wall of the tubular portion and preferably a plurality of openings circumferentially spaced from the open ended slot about the longitudinal axis and preferably the centers of these openings are circumferentially located at about 90°, 135°, or 180° from a midpoint of the longitudinally oriented opening. The one or more circumferentially spaced openings may be one of a variety of shapes, for example, a rectangular shape, a circular shape, or an elongated shape such as an oval or elongated slot. One or more of the openings in the distal tubular portion may be of one shape and one or more of the other openings may be of another shape. The openings allow for the vacuum to be maintained within the biopsy device when the cutting member is cutting and provide stress relief, facilitating radial expansion and/or contraction. 
     The distal tubular portion preferably has a flared distal section with a proximal end and a distal end, and a cylindrically shaped proximal section with a proximal end and a distal end. The open distal end of the longitudinally oriented opening facilitates the flaring of the flared distal section. The flared distal section ensures that the outer tissue cutting edge of the distal tubular portion engages an inner tissue cutting edge of a tissue receiving aperture in the cannula of the biopsy device to cleanly sever the tissue specimen from the supporting tissue and to provide a better tissue specimen for pathological examination. 
     These and other advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the accompanying exemplary drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the proximal portion of an elongated probe member of a biopsy device that has features of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of a distal portion of the elongated probe shown in  FIG. 1  illustrating a tissue cutting member embodying features of the invention disposed within the probe. 
         FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of a distal tubular portion of a tissue cutting member embodying features of the invention including two openings with a rectangular shape. 
         FIG. 3B  is a perspective view of the distal tubular portion shown in  FIG. 3A  that has been rotated 180° from the view of  FIG. 3A . 
         FIG. 3C  is an elevational view of the embodiment of the device shown in  FIG. 3A . 
         FIG. 3D  is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the distal tubular portion taken along lines  3 D- 3 D in  FIG. 3C . 
         FIG. 3E  is a transverse cross sectional view of the distal tubular portion taken along lines  3 E- 3 E in  FIG. 3C . 
         FIG. 3F  is a transverse cross sectional view of the distal tubular portion taken along lines  3 F- 3 F. 
         FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of a distal tubular portion of a tissue cutting member embodying features of the invention including two circular openings. 
         FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of the distal tubular portion shown in  FIG. 4A  that has been rotated 180° from the view of  FIG. 4A . 
         FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of a distal tubular portion of a tissue cutting member embodying features of the invention including two circular openings and one opening which is an elongated longitudinally oriented slot. 
         FIG. 5B  is a perspective view of the distal tubular portion shown in  FIG. 5A  that has been rotated 180° from the view of  FIG. 5A . 
         FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of a distal tubular portion of a tissue cutting member embodying features of the invention including two circular openings and one opening which is an elongated longitudinally oriented slot. 
         FIG. 6B  is a perspective view of the distal tubular portion shown in  FIG. 6A  that has been rotated 180° from the view of  FIG. 6A . 
         FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of distal tubular portion of a tissue cutting member embodying features of the invention including two rectangular openings and one opening which is an elongated longitudinally oriented slot. 
         FIG. 7B  is a perspective view of the distal tubular portion shown in  FIG. 7A  that has been rotated 180° from the view of  FIG. 7A . 
         FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of a distal tubular portion of a tissue cutting member embodying features of the invention including two rectangular openings and one opening which is an elongated longitudinally oriented slot. 
         FIG. 8B  is a perspective view of the distal tubular portion shown in  FIG. 8A  that has been rotated 180° from the view of  FIG. 8A . 
         FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of a distal tubular portion of a tissue cutting member embodying features of the invention including two openings which are elongated longitudinally oriented slots. 
         FIG. 9B  is a perspective view of the distal tubular portion shown in  FIG. 9A  that has been rotated 180° from the view of  FIG. 9A . 
         FIG. 10A  is a perspective view of a distal tubular portion of a tissue cutting member embodying features of the invention including two openings which are elongated longitudinally oriented slots with an enlarged circular shape at the proximal end thereof. 
         FIG. 10B  is a perspective view of the distal tubular portion shown in  FIG. 10A  that has been rotated 180° from the view of  FIG. 10A . 
         FIG. 11A  is a perspective view of a distal tubular portion of a tissue cutting member embodying features of the invention including two openings which are elongated longitudinally oriented slots each having an enlarged circular shape between the proximal and distal ends thereof. 
         FIG. 11B  is a perspective view of the distal tubular portion shown in  FIG. 11A  that has been rotated 180° from the view of  FIG. 11A . 
         FIG. 12A  is a perspective view of a distal tubular portion of a tissue cutting member embodying features of the invention including two openings which are elongated longitudinally oriented slots. 
         FIG. 12B  is a perspective view of the distal tubular portion shown in  FIG. 12A  that has been rotated 180° from the view of  FIG. 12A . 
         FIG. 13A  is a perspective view of a distal tubular portion of a tissue cutting member embodying features of the invention including two openings which are elongated longitudinally oriented slots each having an enlarged circular shape at the proximal end thereof. 
         FIG. 13B  is a perspective view of the distal tubular portion shown in  FIG. 13A  that has been rotated 180° from the view of  FIG. 13A . 
         FIG. 14A  is a perspective view of a distal tubular portion of a tissue cutting member embodying features of the invention including two openings which are elongated longitudinally oriented slots with an enlarged circular shape at the proximal end thereof. 
         FIG. 14B  is a perspective view of the distal tubular portion shown in  FIG. 14A  that has been rotated 180° from the view of  FIG. 14A . 
         FIG. 15A  is a perspective view of a distal tubular portion of a tissue cutting member embodying features of the invention including four openings which are elongated longitudinally oriented slots. 
         FIG. 15B  is a perspective view of the distal tubular portion shown in  FIG. 15A  that has been rotated 180° from the view of  FIG. 15A . 
         FIG. 16A  is a perspective view of a distal tubular portion of a tissue cutting member embodying features of the invention including four openings which are elongated longitudinally oriented slots each having an enlarged circular shape at the proximal end thereof. 
         FIG. 16B  is a perspective view of the distal tubular portion shown in  FIG. 16A  that has been rotated 180° from the view of  FIG. 16A . 
         FIG. 17A  is a perspective view of a distal tubular portion of a tissue cutting member embodying features of the invention including four openings which are elongated longitudinally oriented slots. 
         FIG. 17B  is a perspective view of the distal tubular portion shown in  FIG. 17A  that has been rotated 180° from the view of  FIG. 17A . 
         FIG. 18A  is a perspective view of a distal tubular portion of a tissue cutting member embodying features of the invention including four openings which are elongated longitudinally oriented slots each having an enlarged essentially circular shape at the proximal end thereof. 
         FIG. 18B  is a perspective view of the distal tubular portion shown in  FIG. 18A  that has been rotated 180° from the view of  FIG. 18A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of a probe component  10  including a housing  12  and an outer tubular member or cannula  14 . The tissue cutting member  16  embodying features of the invention is slidably disposed within an inner lumen  18  in the cannula  14 . The probe component  10  may be part of a biopsy device such as that described in co-pending application Ser. No. 11/014,413 filed on Dec. 16, 2004. Details of the probe component  10  and other parts of the biopsy device may be found in the aforesaid application. 
     The cannula  14  of the probe component  10  has a distal tip  20  and an open tissue receiving aperture  22  spaced proximal to the distal tip  20 . The tissue receiving aperture  22  has an inner tissue cutting edge  24 . The tissue cutting member  16  is slidably disposed within the inner lumen  18  of the cannula  14  of the probe component, as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     The distal tip  20  of the cannula  14  may have a variety of tip shapes. The shape of the tissue penetrating distal tip disclosed in the above referenced co-pending application Ser. No. 11/014,413 has been found to be suitable for penetrating tissue, particularly breast tissue. Alternatively, the distal tip  20  may have an arcuate RF electrode such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,261,241 and 6,471,700, (all of which have been assigned to the present assignee) that facilitate advancement of the probe through tissue. 
       FIGS. 3A-18B  show tissue cutting member  16  having features of the invention including a distal tubular portion  26 . Preferably the tubular distal portion has a diameter of between about 0.1 inches and 0.2 inches. The distal tubular portion  26  has a distal tip  28  with an outer tissue cutting edge  30  and an inner tissue receiving aperture  32  and a longitudinal axis  34 . The distal tubular portion  26  also includes a longitudinally oriented opening  36  that has an open distal end  38  which opens to the inner tissue receiving aperture  32  and which has a closed proximal end  40 . Preferably the longitudinally oriented opening  36  has a length of about 0.1 inches to about 0.3 inches Additionally, a wall  42  of the tubular distal portion  26  has at least a second opening  44  (shown having a rectangular shape in  FIGS. 3A-3F ) which is circumferentially spaced from the longitudinally oriented opening  36  about the longitudinal axis  34 . 
     Preferably the distal tip  28  of the distal tubular portion  26  has a beveled front face  46  with a leading edge  48  and a trailing edge  50 . The longitudinally oriented opening  36  in distal tubular portion  26  opens to the trailing edge  50  of the beveled front face  46 . 
     The distal tubular portion  26  preferably includes a flared distal section  52  which has a proximal end  54  and a distal end  56  and a cylindrically shaped proximal section  58  which has a proximal end  60  and a distal end  62 . The distal tubular portion  26  may have a junction  64  where the proximal end  54  of the flared distal section  52  meets the distal end  62  of the cylindrically shaped proximal section  58 . Preferably the flared distal section flares outward about 1° to 3° degrees from the cylindrically shaped proximal section. The open distal end  38  of the longitudinally oriented opening  36  facilitates the flaring of the flared distal section  52  as shown by line  66 . The flared distal section  52  ensures that the outer tissue cutting edge  30  of the distal tubular portion  26  engages the inner tissue cutting edge  24  of the tissue receiving aperture  22 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , to provide scissor-like cutting motion for separating a tissue specimen from supporting tissue at the target biopsy site. 
     The longitudinally oriented opening  36  preferably has an enlarged essentially circular shape  68  at the closed proximal end  40  of the longitudinally oriented opening  36 . The closed proximal end  40  of the longitudinally oriented opening  36  can be located entirely within the flared distal section  52  (not shown), entirely within in the cylindrically shaped proximal section  58  as shown in  FIGS. 9A-14B  and  17 A- 18 B, or at least partially in the distal end  62  of the cylindrically shaped proximal section  58  as shown in  FIGS. 3A-8B  and  15 A- 16 B. 
     The second opening  44  (shown with a rectangular shape in  FIGS. 3A-3F ) in the wall  42  of the tubular distal portion  26  allows for a vacuum to be maintained within the probe component  10 . Preferably the distal tubular portion  26  has a plurality of openings. The openings of the distal tubular portion are circumferentially disposed at an angle about the longitudinal axis  34  and the centers of these openings are preferably circumferentially located at about 90°, 135°, or 180° from a midpoint of the longitudinally oriented opening  36 . Preferably a third opening  70  (shown with a rectangular shape in  FIGS. 3A-3F ) is provided in the wall  42  of the distal tubular portion  26  circumferentially spaced from the longitudinally oriented opening  36  and essentially opposite of the second opening  44 . The second opening  44  may have a variety of shapes for example, a rectangular shape, a circular shape, or an elongated shape such as an oval or elongated slot. Preferably when the second opening  44  is an elongated slot, the opening has a length of between about 0.1 inches and 0.4 inches. The second opening  44  and the third opening  70  preferably have the same shape, however, one or more of the openings may be of one shape and one or more of the other openings may be of another shape. 
     In one embodiment of the device having features of the invention, shown in  FIGS. 3A-3E , the second and third openings  44  and  70  of the distal tubular portion  26  are circumferential rectangular openings. In this embodiment the longitudinal midlines of the second opening  44  and the third opening  70  lie in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  34  and are located in the flared distal section  52  of the distal tubular portion  26 . The closed proximal end  40  of the longitudinally oriented opening  36  is at the proximal end  54  of the flared distal section  52 . 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  show a cutting member  16  which embodies features of the invention wherein the second opening  44   a  and third opening  70   a  of the distal tubular portion  26  are circular openings and are located in the flared distal section  52 . The closed proximal end  40  of the longitudinally oriented opening  36  is located at least partially in the distal end  62  of the cylindrically shaped proximal section  58 . 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  show a distal tubular portion  26  of the tissue cutting member  16  wherein the second opening  44   b  and third opening  70   b  are circular openings located at least partially in the distal end  62  of the cylindrically shaped proximal portion  58 . The closed proximal end  40  of the longitudinally oriented opening  36  is located at the proximal end  54  of the flared distal section  52 . 
     The distal tubular portion  26  in  FIGS. 5A and 5B  also includes a fourth opening  72  which is an elongated longitudinally oriented slot with a closed proximal end  74  and a closed distal end  76 . The fourth opening  72  is opposite to the longitudinally oriented opening  36 . The closed proximal end  74  of the opening  72  is located at the proximal end  54  of the flared distal section  52 . The closed distal end  76  of the fourth opening  72  is located in the flared distal section  52 . 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  show a tissue cutting member  10  wherein the distal tubular portion  26  has a second opening  44   c  and a third opening  70   c  which are located at least partially in the distal end  62  of the cylindrically shaped section  58 .  FIGS. 6A and 6B  also include a fourth opening  72   a  which is an elongated longitudinally oriented slot with a closed proximal end  74   a  and a closed distal end  76   a . The closed proximal end  74   a  of the fourth opening  72   a  is in the cylindrically shaped proximal section  58  and the closed distal end  76   a  of the fourth opening  72   a  is in the flared distal section  52 . 
     In the embodiment of the device having features of the invention shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the second opening  44   d  and the third opening  70   d  of the distal tubular portion  26  have a rectangular shape and are oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  34 . The closed proximal end  40  of the longitudinally oriented opening  36  and the second  44   d  and third  70   d  openings are located at least partially in the distal end  62  of the cylindrically shaped proximal section  58 . 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  also include fourth opening  72   b  which is an elongated longitudinally oriented slot with a closed proximal end  74   b  and a closed distal end  76   b . The closed proximal end  74   b  of the fourth opening  72   b  is located at the proximal end  54  of the flared distal section  52 . The closed distal end  76   b  of the fourth opening  72   b  is located in the flared distal section  52 . 
       FIGS. 8A and 8B  show a distal tubular portion  26  of the tissue cutting member  16  which has a second opening  44   e  and a third opening  70   e  which have a rectangular shape and are oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  34 . The second  44   e  and third  70   e  openings are located at least partially in the distal end  62  of the cylindrically shaped proximal section  58 .  FIGS. 8A and 8B  also include a fourth opening  72   c  which is an elongated longitudinally oriented slot with a closed proximal end  74   c  and a closed distal end  76   c . The closed proximal end  74   c  of the fourth opening  72   c  is located in the cylindrically shaped proximal section  58  and the closed distal end  76   c  of the fourth opening  72   c  is located in the flared distal section  52 . In this embodiment the closed proximal end  40  of the longitudinally oriented opening  36  is located at least partially in the distal end  62  of the cylindrically shaped proximal section  58 . 
     In the embodiment of the device having features of the invention shown in  FIGS. 9A and 9B , the second opening  44   f  of the tubular distal portion  26  is an elongated longitudinally oriented slot with a closed proximal end  78  and a closed distal end  80 . The closed proximal end  78  is located in the cylindrically shaped proximal section  58 . The closed distal end  80  of the second opening  44   f  is located in the flared distal section  52 . The third opening  70   f  is has the same shape as the second opening  44   f  and the same orientation with respect to the flared distal section  52  and the cylindrically shaped proximal section  58 . In this embodiment the closed proximal end  40  of the longitudinally oriented opening  36  is located in the cylindrically shaped proximal section  58 . 
       FIGS. 10A and 10B  show a distal tubular portion  26  of the tissue cutting member wherein the closed proximal end  40  of the longitudinally oriented opening  36  is in the cylindrically shaped proximal section  54  of the distal tubular portion  26 . The distal tubular portion  26  has a second opening  44   g  which is an elongated longitudinally oriented slot with a closed distal end  80   a  and a closed proximal end  78   a  and an enlarged essentially circular shape  82  at the proximal end  78   a  thereof. The closed proximal end  78   a  of the second  44   g  opening is located in the cylindrically shaped proximal section  58  and the closed distal end  80   a  of second opening is located in the flared distal section  52 . The third opening  70   g  of the distal tubular portion  26  has the same shape as the second opening  44   g  and has the same orientation. 
       FIGS. 11A and 11B  show a distal tubular portion  26  of the tissue cutting member  16  wherein the distal tubular portion  26  has a second opening  44   h  which is an elongated longitudinally oriented slot with a closed proximal end  78   b  and a closed distal end  80   b . The second opening also had an enlarged essentially circular shape  84  located between the proximal  78   b  and distal  80   b  ends. The closed proximal end  78   b  of the elongated shape is in the cylindrically shaped proximal section  58  and the closed distal end  80   b  of the elongated shape is in the distal flared section  52 . The enlarged essentially circular shape  84  of the second opening  44   h  is at least partially in the distal end  62  of the cylindrically shaped proximal section  58 . The third opening  70   h  is the same shape as the second opening  44   h  and has the same orientation as the second opening  44   h . In this embodiment the closed proximal end  40  of the longitudinally oriented opening  36  is in the cylindrically shaped proximal section  58  of the distal tubular portion  26 . 
       FIGS. 12A and 12B  show a distal tubular portion of the tissue cutting member  26  wherein the closed proximal end  40  of the longitudinally oriented opening  36  is in the cylindrically shaped proximal section  58  of the distal tubular portion  26 . The second opening  44   i  is an elongated longitudinally oriented slot with a closed proximal end  78   c  and a closed distal end  80   c . The closed proximal end  78   c  of the first opening  44   i  is located at the proximal end  54  of the flared distal section  52 . The closed distal end  80   c  of the second opening  44   i  is located in the flared distal section  52 . The third opening  70   i  has the same shape and orientation as the second opening  44   i.    
       FIGS. 13A and 13B  show a distal tubular portion  26  of the tissue cutting member  16 , which has a second opening  44   j  which is an elongated longitudinally oriented slot with a closed distal  80   d  end and closed proximal end  78   d . The closed proximal end  78   d  has an enlarged essentially circular shape  86 . The closed distal end  80   d  of the second opening  44   j  is located in the flared distal section  52  and the closed proximal end  78   d  is located at least partially in the distal end  62  of the cylindrically shaped proximal section  58 . The third opening  70   j  has the same shape and orientation as the second opening  44   j . In this embodiment the closed proximal end  40  of the longitudinally oriented opening  36  is in the cylindrically shaped proximal section  58  of the distal tubular portion  26 . 
       FIGS. 14A and 14B  show a distal tubular portion  26  of the tissue cutting member  16  which has a second opening  44   k  which is an elongated longitudinally oriented slot with a closed proximal end  78   e  and a closed distal end  80   e . The closed proximal end  78   e  of the elongated slot has an enlarged essentially circular shape  88  which extends toward the longitudinally oriented opening  36 . In this embodiment the closed proximal end  40  of the longitudinally oriented opening  36  is in the cylindrically shaped proximal section  58  of the distal tubular portion  26 . 
       FIGS. 15A and 15B  show a distal tubular portion  26  of the tissue cutting member  16  wherein closed proximal end  40  of the longitudinally oriented opening  36  is located at least partially in the distal end  62  of the cylindrically shaped proximal section  58 . In this embodiment the device has a second opening  44   l  which is an elongated longitudinally oriented slot. The second opening  44   l  a closed proximal end  78   f  and a closed distal end  80   f . The closed distal end  80   f  of the second opening  44   l  is in the flared distal section  52  of the distal tubular portion  26 . The closed proximal end  78   f  of the second opening  44   l  is in the cylindrically shaped proximal section  58 . The third opening  70   l  has the same shape and orientation as the second opening  44   l.    
     Additionally-the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 15A and 15B  includes a fourth opening  72   d  a fifth opening  90 . The fourth opening  72   d  is an elongated longitudinally oriented slot and has a closed proximal end  74   d  and a closed distal end  76   d . The closed proximal end  74   d  of the fourth opening  72   d  is located at the proximal end  54  of the flared distal section  52 . The closed distal end  76   d  of the fourth opening  72   d  is located in the flared distal section  52 . The-fourth opening  72   d  and the fifth opening  90  have lengths which are longer than the length of the second opening  44   l  and the third opening  70   l.    
       FIGS. 16A and 16B  show a distal tubular portion  26  of the tissue cutting member  16  which has a second opening  44   m , a third opening  70   m , a fourth opening  72   e , and a fifth opening  90   a . The second opening  44   m  is an elongated longitudinally oriented slot with a closed proximal  78   g  end and a closed distal end  80   g . The closed proximal end  78   g  of the second opening  44   m  has an enlarged essentially circular shape  92  which is located at least partially in the distal end  62  of the cylindrically shaped proximal section  58 . The closed distal end  80   g  of the second opening  44   m  is located in the flared distal section  52 . The third opening  70   m  has the same shape and orientation as the second opening  44   m . In this embodiment the closed proximal end  40  of the longitudinally oriented opening  36  is located at least partially in the distal end  62  of the cylindrically shaped proximal section  58 . 
     The embodiment in  FIGS. 16A and 16B  also includes a fourth opening  72   e  and a fifth opening  90   a . The fourth opening  72   e  is an elongated longitudinally oriented slot with a closed proximal end  74   e  and a closed distal end  76   e . The closed proximal end  74   e  of the fourth opening  72   e  has an enlarged essentially circular shape  94  which is located at least partially in the distal end  62  of the cylindrically shaped proximal section  58 . The closed distal end  76   e  of the fourth opening  72   e  is located in the flared distal section  52 . The fourth opening  72   e  and the fifth opening  90   a  have a length which is longer than the length of the second opening  44   m  and the third opening  70   m.    
       FIGS. 17A and 17B  show a tubular distal portion  26  of the tissue cutting member  16  wherein the closed proximal end  40  of the longitudinally oriented opening  36  is located in the cylindrically shaped proximal section  58 . This embodiment includes a second opening  44   n  and a third opening  70   n . The second opening  44   n  is an elongated longitudinally oriented slot with a closed proximal end  78   h  and a closed distal end  80   h . The closed proximal end  78   h  of the second opening  44   n  is located in the cylindrically shaped proximal section  58 . The closed distal end  80   h  of the second opening  44   n  is located in the flared distal section  52 . The third opening  70   m  has the same shape and orientation as the second opening  44   n.    
     The embodiment in  FIGS. 17A and 17B  also has a fourth opening  72   f  and fifth opening  90   b . The fourth opening  72   f  is an elongated longitudinally oriented slot with a closed proximal end  74   f  and a closed distal end  76   f . The closed distal end  76   f  of the fourth opening  72   f  is located in the flared distal section  52 . The closed proximal end  76   f  of the fourth opening  72   f  is located at the junction  64  between the flared distal section  52  and the cylindrically shaped proximal section  58 . The fifth opening  90   b  has the same shape and orientation as the fourth opening  72   f.    
     The embodiment of the device shown in  FIGS. 18A and 18B  has a second opening  44   o  which is an elongated longitudinally oriented slot with a closed distal end  80   i  and a closed proximal end  78   i . The closed proximal end  78   i  of the second opening  44   o  has an enlarged essentially circular shape located in the cylindrically shaped proximal section  58 . The closed distal end  80   i  of the second opening  44   o  is located in the flared distal section  52 . The third opening  70   o  has the same shape and orientation as the second opening  44   o.    
     The embodiment in  FIGS. 18A and 18B  also include a fourth opening  72   g  and a fifth opening  90   c . The fourth opening  72   g  is an elongated longitudinally oriented slot with a closed proximal end  74   g  and a closed distal end  76   g . The closed proximal end  74   g  of the fourth opening  72   g  is located at the proximal end  54  of the flared distal section  52 . The closed distal end  76   g  of the fourth opening  72   g  is located in the flared distal section  52 . The fifth opening  90   c  has the same shape and orientation as the fourth opening  72   g . In this embodiment the closed proximal end  40  of the longitudinally oriented opening  36  is in the cylindrically shaped proximal section  54  of the distal tubular portion  26 . 
     The tissue cutting members shown in  17 A and  17 B and  18 A and  18 B may have an additional opening  96  shown in phantom in  FIG. 18A . 
     The tubular portion  28  of the tissue cutting member  16  is preferably formed of surgical grade stainless steel. However, other high strength materials such as MP35N, other cobalt-chromium alloys, NiTi alloys, ceramics, glasses, and high strength polymeric materials or combinations thereof may be suitable. Further details of the tissue cutting member  16  may be found in the above mentioned application Ser. No. 11/014,413, filed on Dec. 16, 2004. 
     While particular forms of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, it will be apparent that various modifications and improvements can be made to the invention. For example, while the various embodiments of the invention have been described herein in terms of a biopsy device, it should be apparent that the devices and methods of utilizing the device may be employed to remove tissue for purposes other than for biopsy, i.e. for treatment or other diagnoses. Moreover, individual features of embodiments of the invention may be shown in some drawings and not in others, but those skilled in the art will recognize that individual features of one embodiment of the invention can be combined with any or all the features of another embodiment. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the specific embodiments illustrated. It is therefore intended that this invention to be defined by the scope of the appended claims as broadly as the prior art will permit. 
     Terms such a “element”, “member”, “device”, “section”, “component”, “portion”, “section”, “means”, “step” and words of similar import, when used herein shall not be construed as invoking the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112(6) unless the following claims expressly use the terms “means” or “step” followed by a particular function without specific structure or action. All patents and patent applications referred to above are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.