Biopsy probe, and combination thereof with an endoscope

Claim 1

A BIOPSY PROBE HEAD COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, AN EXTERNAL MEMBER FORMED WITH A LONGITUDINAL CYLINDRICAL BORE EXTENDING IN AXIAL DIRECTION FROM ONE END INTO SAID MEMBER AND BEING CLOSED AT THE OTHER END BY AN INTERNAL SURFACE OF REVOLUTION INTERSECTED BY A FACE INCLINED TO THE AXIS OF SAID EXTERNAL MEMBER TO FORM AT SAID OTHER END THEREOF AN INCLINED OPENING COMMUNICATION WITH SAID BORE AND AT THE INTERSECTION OF SAID FACE WITH SAID SURFACE AN ENDLESS CUTTING EDGE SPACED FROM SAID AXIS; AN INTERNAL MEMBER MOUNTED IN SAID BORE FOR ROTATION ABOUT SAID AXIS AND HAVING A CUTTING EDGE ARRANGED TO PASS SUBSTANTIALLY WITHOUT CLEARANCE SAID ENDLESS CUTTING EDGE DURING ROTATION OF SAID INTERNAL MEMBER ABOUT SAID AXIS RELATIVE TO SAID EXTERNAL MEMBER, SAID INTERNAL MEMBER BEING FORMED WITH PASSAGE MEANS TO PROVIDE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID OPENING AND SAID ONE END OF SAAID EXTERNAL MEMBER SO THAT UPON APPLICATION OF SUCTION TO SAID ONE END OF SAID EXTERNAL MEMBER, WHILE SAID OPENING IS PLACED AGAINST A TISSUE, PART OF SAID TISSUE WILL BE SUCKED THROUGH SAID OPENING INTO SAID EXTERNAL MEMBER; AND MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID INTERNAL MEMBER TO ROTATE THE SAME ABOUT SAID AXIS FOR CUTTING OFF DURING SUCH ROTATION THE PART OF SAID TISSUE SUCKED INTO SAID OPENING.