Method for removing material from a patient's body

1 . A method for removing tumor tissue from a patient's body, comprising the steps of:

providing an apparatus comprising an elongate member for receiving said tissue, said elongate member defining a lumen and comprising a distal end defining an aperture and a proximal end, the apparatus further comprising an elongate tissue removal member for conveying tissue through said lumen, said tissue removal member being rotatably disposed within said lumen, said tissue removal member having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the tissue removal member being recessed proximally relative to said aperture when said tissue removal member is fully disposed within said lumen;

gathering a sample of said tissue into said lumen; and

conveying with said tissue removal member at least a portion of the tissue sample proximally along said lumen.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of gathering a sample of said tissue comprises the step of advancing the elongate member through a region of the tumor tissue comprising tissue to be removed.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of positioning said elongate member at said region of said tumor tissue.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein said step of positioning said elongate member is facilitated by fluoroscopic visualization.

5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein said step of positioning said elongate member further comprises the steps of:

providing an introducer apparatus comprising a cannula defining a cannula lumen and an obturator disposed within said cannula lumen;

inserting said introducer apparatus into said patient's body such that a distal end of said cannula is positioned at said region of said tumor tissue;

withdrawing said obturator from said cannula lumen; and

inserting said elongate member into said cannula lumen.

6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein said step of inserting said introducer apparatus is facilitated by fluoroscopic visualization.

7 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising a step of injecting a fluid through said cannula lumen.

8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein said fluid is selected from the group consisting of an anesthetic, an antibiotic and a dye.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the region of tumor tissue comprising tissue to be removed is within a breast.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the region comprising tumor tissue to be removed is within a liver.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said elongate member and said tissue removal member are operatively connected to a handpiece and wherein a motor is housed within said handpiece and is operatively connected to said tissue removal device.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein a portable source of energy is housed within said handpiece.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said tissue removal member comprises a shaft having at least one helical projection.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said tissue removal member comprises an auger.

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a distal portion of said elongate member defines at least one slot extending proximally from a distal end of said elongate member.

16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a proximal end of said elongate member is operatively coupled to a receptacle structured to collect tissue removed by said tissue removal member, said elongate member defining at least one opening for transferring material from said elongate member to said receptacle.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein said receptacle is at least partially pervious to light.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein said receptacle comprises means for measuring the volume of tissue disposed within said receptacle.

19 . A method for removing tumor tissue from a patient's body, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an introducer apparatus comprising a cannula defining a cannula lumen and an obturator disposed within said cannula lumen;

inserting said introducer apparatus into a patient's body such that a distal end of said cannula is positioned at the tumor tissue;

withdrawing said obturator from said cannula lumen;

providing a tissue removal apparatus comprising an elongate member for receiving said tumor tissue, said elongate member defining a lumen and comprising a distal end defining an aperture and a proximal end, the apparatus further comprising an elongate tissue removal member for conveying tissue through said lumen, said tissue removal member being rotatably disposed within said lumen, said tissue removal member having a proximal end and a distal end;

inserting the elongate member into said cannula lumen; and

engaging the tissue removal member in order to convey the tumor tissue through the lumen of the elongate member.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising the step of advancing said elongate member through said tumor tissue, such that tumor tissue is substantially gathered into said lumen.

21 . The method of claim 20 , further comprising the step of engaging the tissue removal member with a motor during said step of advancing said elongate member.

22 . A method for removing tumor tissue from a patient's body, comprising the steps of:

providing a tissue removal apparatus comprising an elongate member for receiving said tumor tissue, said elongate member defining a lumen and comprising a distal end defining an aperture and a proximal end, the apparatus further comprising an elongate tissue removal member for conveying tissue through said lumen, said tissue removal member being rotatably disposed within said lumen, said tissue removal member having a proximal end and a distal end;

advancing the elongate member through tumor tissue of a patient's body, so that tumor tissue is at least substantially gathered into said lumen; and

conveying at least a portion of the tissue at least substantially gathered into said lumen away from the tumor.