A biopsy needle assembly for excising a tissue specimen from a target tissue includes a mandrel with a core bed having an inner surface forming a projection for engaging the tissue specimen. One or more projections are located between the edges of the core bed. The projections are formed from the inner surface or extend from the inner surface. The mandrel moves within a cannula whereby the core bed is extended beyond the tip of the cannula into a target tissue. The projection engages the target tissue holding the tissues in place as the cannula is advanced over the core bed cutting the tissue and separating the tissue specimen within the core bed from the surrounding tissue.
