Patent ID: 7044956

Claim:
A method of cutting breast tissue using RF energy, comprising the steps of: providing a device having an elongate RF cutting element and a tissue collection element, the elongate RF cutting element having a cutting side, the elongate cutting element including a portion of non RF-transmissive material disposed away from the cutting side, the portion of non RF-transmissive material being separate from and forming no part of the tissue collection element, the RF cutting element being movable between a bowed position and a straightened position; introducing the device into a patient's breast; activating the RF cutting element; moving the RF cutting element to the bowed position; retracting tissue away from the cutting side of the RF cutting element while the RF element is in the bowed position by pushing the tissue over the portion of non RF-transmissive material; and rotating the device to cut a portion of breast tissue with the cutting side of the RF cutting element.