Patent ID: 8568334

Claim:
A biopsy apparatus for percutaneous removal of a specimen from a tissue mass, the biopsy apparatus comprising: a cannula defining a lumen and a longitudinal axis, the cannula having a proximal end, a distal end terminating in a beveled edge, and a helical excising finger extending from the distal end beyond the beveled edge; and an actuator operably coupled to the cannula and configured to axially move, without rotating, the cannula from an inserting position to an excising position, and to rotate the excising finger about the longitudinal axis when the cannula is in the excising position; wherein the helical excising finger comprises a lateral excising edge configured to at least partially sever the specimen from the tissue mass as the cannula is rotated by the actuator; and wherein the helical excising finger comprises a distal excising tip configured to, as the cannula is rotated by the actuator, lead the excising edge through the tissue mass and to aid in at least partially severing the specimen from the tissue mass.