A biopsy forceps device, comprising: a control member extending from a proximal end to a distal end; a yoke coupled to a distal end of the control member, the yoke including a tissue contacting structure extending distally from a distal end of the yoke, wherein the tissue contacting structure is formed as a tissue penetrating spike; first and second jaws (106, 108) coupled to the yoke, the first and second jaws being biased toward an open configuration, in which the jaws are separated from one another to receive target tissue therebetween and being moveable to a closed configuration, in which cutting edges of the jaws are moved toward one another to cut a portion of the target tissue from surrounding tissue, the first and second jaws defining a tissue receiving space therebetween to house the cut tissue; and a capsule slidably receiving the yoke and a proximal portion of each of the first and second jaws, the first and second jaws being constrained to the closed configuration when withdrawn proximally to a first position within the capsule, and the first and second jaws being configured so that, when the first and second jaws are moved to a second position distal of the first position, distal portions of the jaws are freed from the constraint of the capsule and spread apart from one another under their natural bias to the open configuration, the tissue contacting structure being positioned so that, when the yoke and the first and second jaws are moved distally and the first and second jaws move to the open configuration, the tissue contacting structure extends distally to engage a portion of tissue between the first and second jaws to anchor the engaged portion of tissue against lateral movement as the first and second jaws contact the tissue adjacent to the engaged portion of tissue, characterized in that the control member is non-rotatably coupled to the yoke and the yoke and the first and second jaws are rotatably received within the capsule so that, rotation of the control member rotates the yoke and the first and second jaws within the capsule. a control member extending from a proximal end to a distal end; a yoke coupled to a distal end of the control member, the yoke including a tissue contacting structure extending distally from a distal end of the yoke, wherein the tissue contacting structure is formed as a tissue penetrating spike; first and second jaws (106, 108) coupled to the yoke, the first and second jaws being biased toward an open configuration, in which the jaws are separated from one another to receive target tissue therebetween and being moveable to a closed configuration, in which cutting edges of the jaws are moved toward one another to cut a portion of the target tissue from surrounding tissue, the first and second jaws defining a tissue receiving space therebetween to house the cut tissue; and a capsule slidably receiving the yoke and a proximal portion of each of the first and second jaws, the first and second jaws being constrained to the closed configuration when withdrawn proximally to a first position within the capsule, and the first and second jaws being configured so that, when the first and second jaws are moved to a second position distal of the first position, distal portions of the jaws are freed from the constraint of the capsule and spread apart from one another under their natural bias to the open configuration, the tissue contacting structure being positioned so that, when the yoke and the first and second jaws are moved distally and the first and second jaws move to the open configuration, the tissue contacting structure extends distally to engage a portion of tissue between the first and second jaws to anchor the engaged portion of tissue against lateral movement as the first and second jaws contact the tissue adjacent to the engaged portion of tissue, characterized in that the control member is non-rotatably coupled to the yoke and the yoke and the first and second jaws are rotatably received within the capsule so that, rotation of the control member rotates the yoke and the first and second jaws within the capsule.