Patent ID: 8114105

Claim:
An instrument for remotely cutting tissue comprising: a shaft having a distal end; a surface at said distal end; said shaft having one or more paths for providing suction along said shaft to said distal end to engage tissue, said surface having one or more inlets for said suction to enable tissue when located adjacent said distal end to engage said surface; a blade having an edge movable with respect to said engaged tissue to cut at least an upper tissue layer from said engaged tissue against said surface, in which said blade is movable with respect to said shaft, and said suction engages tissue against said surface both before and after extension of said blade; and wherein said one or more inlets extend along said surface, and said blade is disposed in a distal housing for cutting tissue present in a cavity when engaged by said suction against said surface, wherein the tissue is retainable in said cavity of said distal housing after extension of said blade sufficiently to cut said tissue.