Tubular cutter device and methods for cutting and removing strips of tissue from the body of a patient

1. A method for cutting a strip of tissue of width W from a tissue mass, said method comprising the steps of:

A) providing a device which comprises;

i. an elongate cutting tube that has a distal end, at least one curve and a lumen that opens through an opening in the distal end; and

ii. a protruding tip formed at the bottom of the cutting tube distal end and at least first and second lateral cutting edges formed on generally opposite edges of the distal end of the cutting tube, said first and second cutting edges being separated by a distance D that is approximately equal to the width W of the strip of tissue to be cut;

B) advancing the protruding tip of the cutting tube through tissue such that the first and second cutting edges are positioned adjacent to tissue to be cut;

C) advancing the distal end such that the cutting edges cut a strip of tissue of approximate width W and the cut strip of tissue remains substantially intact and enters through the distal end opening and into the lumen of the cutting tube.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the mass of tissue is in vivo.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the mass of tissue is in vitro.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the mass of tissue is located within the body of a human or animal subject.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the strip of tissue is removed for a diagnostic or therapeutic purpose.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein the subject suffers from glaucoma and wherein the method is carried out to remove a strip of trabecular meshwork from an eye of the subject to facilitate drainage of aqueous humor from the eye thereby lowering intraocular pressure.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein Step B comprises:

inserting the device into the anterior chamber of the eye;

positioning the distal end of the cutting tube adjacent to or within the trabecular meshwork of the eye; and

advancing the cutting tube such that the cutting edges cut a strip of approximate width W from the trabecular meshwork.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the device provided in Step A of the method further comprises a protruding tip and wherein the protruding tip is advanced through the trabecular meshwork and into Schlemm's Canal and, thereafter, the protruding tip is advanced through Schlemm's Canal as the cutting tube is advanced to cut the strip of tissue.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the device provided in Step A further comprises apparatus for severing the strip of tissue after the strip of tissue has reached a desired length and wherein the method further comprises the step of:

severing the strip of tissue after the strip of tissue has reached a desired length.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein the method is carried out to form an incision in skin, mucous membrane, an organ, a tumor or other anatomical structure.

11. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of:

C) removing the strip of tissue through the lumen of the cutting tube.

12. A method according to claim 1 wherein the lumen of the cutting tube is attached to a source of negative pressure to aspirate the strip of tissue through the lumen of the cutting tube.

13. A method according to claim 1 wherein the device provided in Step A further comprises second lumen and wherein the method further comprises:

infusing a fluid through one of said lumens; and

aspirating fluid and/or matter through the other of said lumens.