Patent ID: 8388550

Claim:
A guidable cutting instrument for use in cutting a tissue specimen from a tissue mass, comprising: a cannula having a proximal portion and a distal portion, said distal portion having a curve formed therealong; a stylet having a proximal portion and a distal portion, said stylet distal portion having a specimen-receiving notch formed therein and having a curve formed therealong, said stylet received in said cannula and axially extendable therefrom such that said notch is capable of penetrating said tissue mass, said cannula being axially movable over said extended stylet for severing said tissue specimen from said mass for capture in said notch, said cannula and said stylet being structured and arranged for relative rotation between a first position wherein said cannula curve and said stylet curve are in phase and said respective curves coincide to define a curved condition for a length of said cutting instrument, and a second position wherein said cannula curve is rotated relative to said stylet curve in a manner to define a generally linear condition of said cutting instrument; and a handle structured for driving relative axial and rotational movement between said cannula and said stylet, said handle engaged with a proximal end of said cannula proximal portion for effecting said axial movement of said cannula over said extended stylet, said handle comprising a trigger, a plurality of finger grips, and a dial positioned distal of said finger grips, said dial engaged with the proximal end of said cannula for effecting said relative rotation between said cannula and said stylet.