Patent ID: 7766843

Claim:
A biopsy method comprising the steps of: providing an outer cannular cutter; providing an inner cannula having a side sample port; covering the side sample port with the outer cannular cutter; inserting a distal portion of the inner cannula with the covered sample port into tissue to be sampled; partially, but not fully uncovering the sample port by retracting the outer cannular cutter relative to the inner cannula while the distal portion of the inner cannula is inserted in tissue, wherein the longitudinal position of the inner cannula is substantially fixed during the act of partially, but not fully uncovering the sample port; and taking a first biopsy sample through the sample port, wherein the longitudinal position of the inner cannula is substantially fixed during the act of taking a first biopsy sample; drawing at least a portion of the tissue sample through the inner cannula; and taking a second biopsy sample without removing the outer cannular cutter or the inner cannula from the tissue being sampled.