Patent ID: 7862517

Claim:
A method useful in imaging breast tissue, the method comprising the steps of: providing a sleeve having an internal lumen, an open distal end, and a tissue sample notch; providing an obturator having a distal bladed portion, wherein the obturator is removably insertable within the internal lumen of the sleeve to have the bladed portion extend from the open distal end of the sleeve and to have the sample notch of the sleeve closed by the obturator; inserting the obturator into the sleeve; inserting the sleeve and obturator into tissue to be sampled, with the obturator positioned to close the sample notch in the sleeve and with the bladed portion of the obturator extending from the open distal end of the sleeve; and at least partially opening the sample notch by moving the obturator relative to the sleeve; wherein the step of at least partially opening the sample notch is performed without withdrawing the distal bladed portion of the obturator from the open distal end of the sleeve.