FLEXIBLE INNER TUBULAR MEMBER AND ROTARY TISSUE CUTTING INSTRUMENT HAVING FLEXIBLE INNER TUBULAR MEMBER

摘要

A flexible inner tubular member (14) for being rotated in an outer tubular member (12) of a rotary tissue cutting instrument (10) includes an elongate inner tube (34) having a rotatably driveable proximal end, a distal end havi ng a cutting member (36) exposed from the outer tubular member to cut anatomica l tissue and a flexible region allowing the inner tubular member to rotate within the outer tubular member while conforming to the shape of the outer member. The flexible region is defined bya helical cut (39) in the inner tub e (34) defining a plurality of integrally, unitarily connected tube segments (42) angularly movable relative to one another and a spiral wrap disposed ov er the helical cut.