Cervical biopsy instrument

Claim 1

A biopsy punch comprising: an elongated housing having a distal end and a proximal end; handle means on said housing for grasping said housing; an elongated shaft having a configuration for slidable movement through said housing, said shaft having a distal end and a proximal end; a notch in said housing at the distal end thereof for receiving a portion of tissue desired for a biopsy specimen therein; an aperture at the distal end of said housing; a cylindrical cutting blade having a proximal and distal ends at the distal edge of said shaft; means for attaching said cylindrical cutting blade to the distal end of said shaft, said means comprising: an annular shoulder at the distal end of said shaft, said shoulder being of a reduced configuration relative to said shaft to provide a base for said proximal end of said cylindrical cutting blade; and a mounting tip extending from said shoulder, said mounting tip extending through said cylindrical cutting blade for a contiguous fit therewith, whereby to position said cutting blade at said distal edge of said shaft; means at the proximal end of said shaft for applying pressure thereon causing slidable movement of said shaft with cutting blade through said housing, said distal end of said cutting blade capturing a portion of tissue protruding into said notch during said sliding movement and presenting the same at said aperture located at said distal end of said housing.