Automated, selectable, soft tissue excision biopsy devices and methods

1. A method comprising:

inserting a distal end of a device into tissue, the device defining a first axis of rotation and comprising a plurality of rod elements disposed radially away from the first axis of rotation, each of the plurality of rod elements being configured to rotate about its own respective second axis of rotation, each comprising a cutting edge along a curved and unattached free end portion that is biased against a respective internal surface of the distal end of the device to assume a first radius of curvature;

while rotating the plurality of rod elements about their respective second axes of rotation, deploying the plurality of rod elements from the distal end of the device, the curved and unattached free end portion of each of the plurality of rod elements being configured to assume a second radius of curvature when deployed outside of the distal end of the device, the second radius of curvature being smaller than the first radius of curvature;

cutting and parting-off a single volume of tissue using the respective cutting edges of the curved and unattached free end portions of the deployed plurality of rod elements; and

retracting the plurality of rod elements back at least partially against the respective internal surfaces of the distal end of the device; and

withdrawing the distal end of the device from the tissue, leaving the single cut and parted-off volume of the tissue isolated in place within the tissue from which the volume was cut and parted-off.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

carrying out a further procedure on the cut and parted-off volume of tissue after the distal end of the device has been withdrawn from the tissue.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cutting and parting off of the volume of tissue cuts off or denies a blood supply to the cut and parted off volume of tissue and wherein the method further comprises waiting a predetermined amount of time after the cut and parted off volume of tissue has been left in place without the blood supply and carrying out a further procedure on the cut and parted off volume of tissue after the predetermined period of time.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cutting and parting off of the volume of tissue cuts off or denies a blood supply of a patient to the cut and parted off volume of tissue and wherein the method further comprises leaving the cut and parted-off volume of tissue isolated in place to enable an immune system of the patient to at least partially clear the isolated volume of tissue.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying radio frequency (RF) to the plurality of rod elements during at least part of the cutting and parting off of the volume of tissue.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising deploying a sleeve at least partially around the cut and parted off volume of tissue and leaving the sleeved cut and parted-off volume of the tissue isolated in place within the tissue from which the volume was cut and parted-off.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the sleeve comprises a surface treatment to at least one of:

increase or decrease friction with surrounding tissue; and

elute a biologically active substance while the cut and parted-off volume of tissue is left in place.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising deploying a bag at least partially around the cut and parted off volume of tissue and leaving the bagged cut and parted-off volume of the tissue isolated in place within the tissue from which the volume was cut and parted-off.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cutting and parting off of the volume of tissue cuts off or denies a blood supply of a patient to the cut and parted off volume of tissue and wherein the method further comprises:

leaving the cut and parted-off volume of tissue isolated in place;

waiting for the cut and parted-off volume of the tissue isolated from the blood supply to decrease in size or viability;

evaluating removal of the isolated cut and parted-off volume of the tissue using at least one of imaging and non-imaging diagnostics;

removing the isolated cut and parted-off volume of tissue, if and when indicated by the evaluation.

10. A method comprising:

inserting a distal end of a device into tissue, the device defining a first axis of rotation and comprising a plurality of rod elements disposed radially away from the first axis of rotation, each of the plurality of rod elements being configured to rotate about its own respective second axis of rotation, each comprising a cutting edge along a curved and unattached free end portion that is biased against a respective internal surface of the distal end of the device to assume a first radius of curvature;

while each of the plurality of rod elements is rotating about its own respective second axis of rotation, deploying the plurality of rod elements from the distal end of the device, the curved and unattached free end portion of each of the plurality of rod elements being configured to assume a second radius of curvature when deployed outside of the distal end of the device, the second radius of curvature being smaller than the first radius of curvature;

cutting and parting-off a first volume of tissue using the respective cutting edges of the curved and unattached free end portions of the deployed plurality of rod elements; and

retracting each of the plurality of rod elements back at least partially against respective internal surfaces of the distal end of the device;

re-positioning the distal end of the device withing the tissue without removing the distal end from the tissue;

cutting and parting-off a second volume of tissue away from the first volume of tissue using respective cutting edges of the curved and unattached free end portions of the deployed plurality of rod elements within the tissue;

retracting the plurality of rod element back against the respective internal surfaces of the distal end of the device; and

withdrawing the distal end of the device from the tissue, leaving the first and second cut and parted-off volumes of the tissue isolated in place within the tissue.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

carrying out a further procedure on at least one of the first and second cut and parted-off volumes of tissue after the distal end of the device has been withdrawn from the tissue.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the cutting and parting off of the first and second cut and parted-off volumes of tissue cuts off or denies a blood supply of a patient to the first and second cut and parted-off volumes of tissue and wherein the method further comprises waiting a predetermined amount of time after at least one of the first and second cut and parted-off volumes of cut and parted off tissue has been left in place isolated from the blood supply and carrying out a further procedure on at least one of the first and second the cut and parted-off volumes of tissue after the predetermined period of time.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the cutting and parting off of the first and second cut and parted-off volumes of tissue cuts off or denies a blood supply of a patient to the first and second cut and parted off volumes of tissue and wherein the method further comprises leaving the first and second cut and parted-off volumes of tissue isolated in place, thereby enabling an immune system of the patient to at least partially clear at least one of the first and second cut and parted-off volumes of tissue.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising applying radio frequency (RF) to the plurality of rod element during at least part of the cutting and parting off of the first and second volumes of tissue.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising deploying at least one sleeve at least partially around one of the first and second cut and parted-off volumes of the tissue and leaving the at least one sleeved first and second cut and parted-off volumes of tissue isolated in place within the tissue from which the first and second cut and parted-off volumes of tissue were cut.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the at least one sleeve comprises a surface treatment to at least one of:

increase or decrease friction with surrounding tissue; and

elute a biologically active substance while the cut and parted-off volume of tissue is left in place.

17. The method of claim 10 , further comprising deploying at least one bag at least partially around the first and second cut and parted-off volumes of tissue and leaving the bagged first and second cut and parted-off volumes of tissue isolated in place within the tissue from which the first and second cut and parted-off volumes of tissue were cut and parted-off.

18. The method of claim 10 , wherein the cutting and parting off of the first and second volumes cuts off or denies a blood supply of a patient to at least one of the first and second cut and parted-off volumes of tissue and wherein the method further comprises:

leaving at least one of the first and second cut and parted-off volumes of tissue isolated in place;

waiting for at least one of the first and second cut and parted-off volumes of tissue isolated from the blood supply to decrease in size or viability;

evaluating removal of the first and second cut and parted-off volumes of tissue using at least one of imaging and non-imaging diagnostics; and

removing at least one of the first and second cut and parted-off volumes of tissue if and when indicated by the evaluation.

19. A method comprising:

inserting a distal end of a device into tissue, the device defining a first axis of rotation and comprising a plurality of rod elements disposed radially away from the first axis of rotation, each of the plurality of rod elements being configured to rotate about its own respective second axis of rotation, each comprising a cutting edge along a curved and unattached free end portion that is biased against a respective internal surface of the distal end of the device to assume a first radius of curvature;

while rotating the plurality of rod elements about their own respective second axes of rotation, deploying the plurality of rod elements from the distal end of the device, the curved and unattached free end portion of each of the plurality of rod elements being configured to assume a second radius of curvature when deployed outside of the distal end of the device, the second radius of curvature being smaller than the first radius of curvature;

cutting and parting-off a volume of tissue using the respective cutting edges of the curved and unattached free end portions of the deployed plurality of rod elements within the tissue to isolate the cut and parted off volume of tissue from a blood supply of the tissue; and

performing at least one of:

introducing a lysing agent at least one of in and around the isolated cut and parted off volume of tissue; and

introducing an implant at least one of in and around the isolated cut and parted off volume of tissue.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the lysing agent comprises one of diazolidinyl urea and alcohol.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the therapeutically beneficial implant comprises at least one of an enzyme, a virus, an acid, a radioactive material, and a nano-particle drug.

22. The method of claim 19 , further comprising delivering light to the isolated cut and parted off volume of tissue.

23. The method of claim 19 , further comprising delivering at least one of radio frequency (RF) energy, heat and cold to the isolated cut and parted off volume of tissue.

24. The method of claim 19 , further comprising removing the isolated cut and parted off volume of tissue from tissue surrounding the isolated cut and parted off volume of tissue.