Breast surgery method and apparatus

Abstract

A surgical apparatus for cutting a tissue mass comprising an elongated housing having a distal portion, a rotatable shaft positioned in the elongated housing, and a plurality of flexible electrocautery cutting blades extending from the housing, wherein the plurality of cutting blades are radially expandable from a first position defining a first diameter to a second larger diameter and the blades are rotatable and transmit electrical energy to cut the tissue mass.

1 - 55 . (canceled) 
     
     
         56 . A surgical biopsy apparatus comprising:
 a housing having a distal portion and a longitudinal axis;   an array of cutting blades advanceable with respect to the housing, the cutting blades configured to cut tissue;   a tissue collection member for capturing the cut tissue; and   an expandable sheath advanceable over the tissue collection member, the sheath providing a radially inward directed force on the tissue collection member as the tissue collection member is retracted within the sheath.   
     
     
         57 . The surgical biopsy apparatus of  claim 56 , further comprising a medicament bag, the medicament bag configured for insertion into the sheath. 
     
     
         58 . The surgical biopsy apparatus of  claim 57 , wherein the medicament bag provides radiation therapy to a resected area of tissue. 
     
     
         59 . The surgical biopsy apparatus of  claim 56 , wherein liquid medication is supplied within the sheath to a resected area of tissue. 
     
     
         60 . The surgical biopsy apparatus of  claim 56 , further comprising a radiographic marker advanced into the sheath. 
     
     
         61 . The surgical biopsy apparatus of  claim 60 , wherein the radiographic marker is implanted in tissue by a balloon. 
     
     
         62 . The surgical biopsy apparatus of  claim 56 , wherein the sheath has a funnel shaped expandable portion. 
     
     
         63 . The apparatus of  claim 62 , wherein the tissue collection member is advanceable subsequent to advancement of the cutting blades. 
     
     
         64 . The apparatus of  claim 63 , wherein the tissue collection member is expandable by the cutting blades as it passes distally over an outer surface thereof so a distally oriented opening of the tissue collection member expands to a transverse dimension exceeding a transverse dimension of the housing. 
     
     
         65 . The apparatus of  claim 56 , wherein the tissue collection member is initially retained in the housing in a collapsed position. 
     
     
         66 . The apparatus of  claim 56 , wherein the sheath has a pleated portion. 
     
     
         67 . The apparatus of  claim 56 , further comprising a drawstring connected to the tissue collection member for closing the tissue collection member and the sheath is advanceable over the tissue collection member after the tissue collection member is closed. 
     
     
         68 . A surgical method for excising a tissue mass comprising:
 providing a housing having a distal portion and a longitudinal axis and a plurality of cutting blades and a tissue collection member in the housing;   initially advancing the cutting blades from the housing;   subsequently advancing the tissue collection member distally from the housing toward the tissue mass;   closing the tissue collection member around the tissue mass;   advancing a sheath over the tissue collection member; and   retracting the collection member to provide a radially inwardly directed force on the tissue collection member by the sheath to reduce a transverse dimension of the tissue mass.   
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 68 , further comprising the steps of withdrawing the tissue collection member from tissue once a tissue mass is placed therein and subsequently withdrawing the sheath. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 68 , further comprising the step of advancing a medicament bag into the sheath. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 68 , further comprising the step of advancing a radiographic marker into the sheath. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 68 , further comprising the step of advancing liquid medication into the sheath. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the cutting blades move to an expanded position in response to distal movement. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 68 , further comprising the step of pulling a drawstring connected to the tissue collection member to close the tissue collection member around the tissue mass.