A biopsy device (100; 101; 200; 201; 300; 301; 448; 524; 618), comprising: an elongate inner cylindrical member (135; 136; 236; 304; 334; 456; 532; 637) and an elongate outer cylindrical member (105; 106; 205; 206; 306; 330; 450; 526; 623): the outer cylindrical member (105; 106; 205; 206; 306; 330; 450; 526; 623) being coaxially aligned with the inner cylindrical member (135; 136; 236; 304; 334; 456; 532; 637); the inner cylindrical member (135; 136; 236; 304; 334; 456; 532; 637) having a port (130; 104; 131; 230; 231; 309; 329; 454; 527; 621); the outer cylindrical member (105; 106; 205; 206; 306; 330; 450; 526; 623) having a cover portion capable of being aligned with the port (130; 104; 131; 230; 231; 309; 329; 454; 527; 621) and is configured to cover the port (130; 104; 131; 230; 231; 309; 329; 454; 527; 621) for insertion of a biopsy needle; and characterized in that the outer cylindrical member is rotatable with respect to the inner cylindrical member; the outer cylindrical member (105; 106; 205; 206; 306; 330; 450; 526; 623) further having a cutting edge (120; 121; 220; 221; 310; 332; 451) adjacent to the cover portion such that, as the outer cylindrical member (105; 106; 205; 206; 306; 330; 450; 526; 623) is rotated progressively about the inner cylindrical member (135; 136; 236; 304; 334; 456; 532; 637) through a specified interval, the cutting edge (120; 121; 220; 221; 310; 332; 451) passes over the port (130; 104; 131; 230; 231; 309; 329; 454; 527; 621) and covers the port (130; 104; 131; 230; 231; 309; 329; 454; 527; 621), wherein the cutting edge (121; 221; 310; 332) is shaped such that as the outer cylindrical member (106; 206; 306; 330) rotates, a progressively greater fraction of the cutting edge (121; 221; 310; 332) passes over the port (131; 231; 309; 329;), the cutting edge (121; 221; 310; 332) having at least a portion that is angled relative to the perpendicular to the direction of advance of the cutting edge (121; 221; 310; 332). the outer cylindrical member (105; 106; 205; 206; 306; 330; 450; 526; 623) being coaxially aligned with the inner cylindrical member (135; 136; 236; 304; 334; 456; 532; 637); the inner cylindrical member (135; 136; 236; 304; 334; 456; 532; 637) having a port (130; 104; 131; 230; 231; 309; 329; 454; 527; 621); the outer cylindrical member (105; 106; 205; 206; 306; 330; 450; 526; 623) having a cover portion capable of being aligned with the port (130; 104; 131; 230; 231; 309; 329; 454; 527; 621) and is configured to cover the port (130; 104; 131; 230; 231; 309; 329; 454; 527; 621) for insertion of a biopsy needle; and characterized in that the outer cylindrical member is rotatable with respect to the inner cylindrical member; the outer cylindrical member (105; 106; 205; 206; 306; 330; 450; 526; 623) further having a cutting edge (120; 121; 220; 221; 310; 332; 451) adjacent to the cover portion such that, as the outer cylindrical member (105; 106; 205; 206; 306; 330; 450; 526; 623) is rotated progressively about the inner cylindrical member (135; 136; 236; 304; 334; 456; 532; 637) through a specified interval, the cutting edge (120; 121; 220; 221; 310; 332; 451) passes over the port (130; 104; 131; 230; 231; 309; 329; 454; 527; 621) and covers the port (130; 104; 131; 230; 231; 309; 329; 454; 527; 621), wherein the cutting edge (121; 221; 310; 332) is shaped such that as the outer cylindrical member (106; 206; 306; 330) rotates, a progressively greater fraction of the cutting edge (121; 221; 310; 332) passes over the port (131; 231; 309; 329;), the cutting edge (121; 221; 310; 332) having at least a portion that is angled relative to the perpendicular to the direction of advance of the cutting edge (121; 221; 310; 332).