Patent ID: 7625347

Claim:
A biopsy system, comprising: a) an elongate cannula which has a longitudinal axis, an open distal end with an inner transverse dimension perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, a proximal end and an inner lumen extending to and in fluid communication with the open distal end; b) a first tissue cutting element which is disposed on the open distal end of the cannula and which lies in a plane traversing the longitudinal axis of the cannula; c) an elongate stylet which is slidably disposed at least in part within the inner lumen of the cannula, which is configured for axial translation between a withdrawn position and an extended position and which has a distal end having a transverse dimension perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cannula that is greater than the inner transverse dimension of the open distal end of the elongate cannula; and d) a second tissue cutting element which has an electrosurgical cutting surface, which is disposed on the distal end of the stylet distal to the first cutting element and which lies in a plane parallel with the longitudinal axis of said cannula.