Patent ID: 7517322

Claim:
A method of performing a biopsy of a lesion near to a patient's skin, comprising: translating a cutter tube distally in a cutter lumen to a distal-most position blocking a side aperture proximate to a distal end of the cutter lumen, wherein the side aperture is formed in a cannula defining the cutter lumen, wherein the cutter lumen is part of a probe assembly having a distal end; inserting the distal end of the probe assembly through the patient's skin with the side aperture aligned with the lesion, wherein the act of inserting the distal end of the probe assembly comprises inserting the distal end of the probe assembly through the patient's skin to a point where a distal portion of the side aperture is positioned distal to an outer surface of the patient's skin while a proximal portion of the side aperture is positioned proximal to the outer surface of the patient's skin, wherein the act of inserting the distal end of the probe assembly is ceased while the proximal portion of the side aperture is still positioned proximal to the outer surface of the patient's skin; retracting the cutter tube proximally to a position between the distal and proximal ends of the side aperture and distal to the outer surface of the patient's skin, wherein the proximal portion of the side aperture remains positioned proximal to the outer surface of the patient's skin during the act of retracting the cutter tube, wherein the distal end of the probe assembly maintains a consistent position relative to the skin of the patient during the act of retracting the cutter tube; prolapsing tissue into the side aperture, wherein the proximal portion of the side aperture remains positioned proximal to the outer surface of the patient's skin during the act of prolapsing the tissue, wherein the distal end of the probe assembly maintains a consistent position relative to the skin of the patient during the act of prolapsing tissue; and translating the cutter tube distally to cut a tissue sample, wherein the proximal portion of the side aperture remains positioned proximal to the outer surface of the patient's skin during the act of translating the cutter tube, wherein the distal end of the probe assembly maintains a consistent position relative to the skin of the patient during the act of translating the cutter tube.