Tissue separation method

Abstract

Medical devices that have a novel mechanical trap(s) on the distal end of a shaft that is used for the removal of material from the body. Further an expandable channel is included to entrap the material that aid with removal or obliteration of tissue or foreign bodies is disclosed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for separating a tissue section from a body comprising: 
 placing a tissue separation device adjacent to a target tissue section;    moving an open outer end of the tissue separation device from a first position, along a radially-expanding and then radially-contracting path thereby, and to a second position, thereby creating a separated tissue section having a radially-expanding and then radially-contracting profile created by the path of the open outer end of the device.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the placing step is carried out through a hollow tube.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the placing step is carried out with the aid of a localization device that has been placed in the body to help localize the target tissue section.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising removing the separated tissue section from the body.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4  further comprising radially squeezing the separated tissue section prior to the removing step.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the placing step is carried out percutaneously.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising energizing the tissue separation device to aid separation of the tissue section.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7  wherein the energizing step is carried out using at least one of the following sources of energy: electrical, radiofrequency, vibrational and ultrasonic.  
     
     
         9 . A method for removing a tissue section from a body comprising: 
 percutaneously placing a tissue separation device adjacent to a target tissue section using a hollow introducer tube;    moving an open outer end of the tissue separation device from a first position within the introducer tube, along a radially-expanding and then radially-contracting path, and to a second position, thereby creating a separated tissue section having a radially-expanding and then radially-contracting profile created by the path of the open outer end of the device    removing the separated tissue section, housed within the tissue separation device, from the body.    
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9  further comprising using the tissue separation device to radially squeeze the separated tissue section prior to the removing step.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9  further comprising energizing the tissue separation device to aid separation of the tissue section.