Patent ID: 7229440

Claim:
A tissue cutting device, comprising: a probe having a length generally defining a probe axis, the probe defining at least one cutting loop exit at an exit angle relative to the probe axis, the exit being at a distal region of the probe; a cutting loop with shape memory having a preconfigured shape, the cutting loop being selectively in one of a penetrating configuration configured for the cutting device to penetrate tissue and a cutting configuration configured for the cutting loop to cut tissue, the cutting loop being generally parallel to the probe axis and generally within a profile of the probe and generally disposed outside of the probe in the penetrating configuration, and when in the cutting configuration, the cutting loop extends through the cutting loop exit and generally returns to the preconfigured shape and generally defines a cutting configuration plane, the cutting loop being at a cutting angle relative to the probe axis generally defined by the exit angle and the probe axis being non-parallel to the cutting configuration plane; and a cutting loop securing mechanism configured to selectively secure the cutting loop in the penetrating configuration and to release the cutting loop into the cutting configuration, the cutting loop securing mechanism being one of slidably disposed relative to the probe and a groove defined in the probe proximal to the cutting loop exit.