An excisional biopsy device includes a tubular member having a window near
a distal tip thereof; a cutting tool, a distal end of the cutting tool
being attached near the distal tip of the tubular member, at least a
distal portion of the cutting tool being configured to selectively bow
out of the window and to retract within the window; and a tissue
collection device externally attached at least to the tubular member, the
tissue collection device collecting tissue excised by the cutting tool as
the biopsy device is rotated and the cutting tool is bowed. An excision
al biopsy method for soft tissue includes the steps of inserting a
generally tubular member into the tissue, the tubular member including a
cutting tool adapted to selectively bow away from the tubular member and
an external tissue collection device near a distal tip of the tubular
member; rotating the tubular member; selectively varying a degree of
bowing of the cutting tool; collecting tissue severed by the cutting tool
in the tissue collection device; and retracting the tubular member from
the soft tissue. The tubular member may include an imaging transducer and
the method may include the step of displaying information received from
the transducer on a display device and the step of varying the degree of
bowing of the cutting tool based upon the displayed information from the
imaging transducer. Alternatively, the imaging transducer may be disposed
within a removable transducer core adapted to fit within the tubular
member.