Surgical instrument with distal bearing assembly

摘要

A surgical cutting instrument comprises an outer tubular member having a proximal section, an intermediate section and a central lumen. An inner tubular member is rotatably received within the central lumen and includes a distal end forming a cutting member extending distally beyond, and exposed relative to, the distal section of the outer tubular member. A bearing assembly is coupled to the outer tubular member and the inner tubular member.

主权项

1. A surgical instrument comprising:
an outer tubular member having a proximal section, a distal section, and a central lumen; an inner tubular member rotatably received within the central lumen, a distal end of the inner tubular member forming a cutting member extending distally beyond, and exposed relative to, the distal section; and a bearing assembly coupled to the distal section of the outer tubular member and the inner tubular member so as to allow rotation of the inner tubular member relative to the outer tubular member about a central axis of the distal section, the bearing assembly further including a plurality of balls positioned within a race in the inner tubular member to limit axial movement of the cutting member in a direction parallel to the central axis.