Patent ID: 7722548

Claim:
A biopsy device comprising a tissue sampler, the tissue sampler having a generally longitudinal shape with a longitudinal axis defined by a direction of insertion of the tissue sampler into tissue to be sampled, the tissue sampler comprising a pair of first and second blades the blades each having a substantially planar surface, said two planar surfaces being oppositely disposed and parallel to one another and spaced apart from one another in a direction perpendicular to said planar surfaces, the blades having front, spaced edges to cut the sampled tissue as the device is inserted into the tissue, one blade being independently actuatable with respect to the other along said longitudinal axis, the two blades and the space between the blades defining a tissue receiving space to receive tissue to be sampled, said tissue receiving space having two oppositely disposed substantially planar, parallel sides defined by said blades, the tissue sampler further comprising a cutter to cut the sample from the tissue after the device has been inserted.