Flexible surgical instruments with suction

摘要

A surgical instrument (10) includes a rigid stem section (12) defining a longitudinal axis (32) of the surgical instrument. The rigid stem section (12) has a central passage (86) for aspirating human tissue through the rigid stem section. A flexible stem section (14) extends from the rigid stem section (12). The flexible stem section (14) has a central passage (86) for aspirating human tissue through the flexible stem section. The flexible stem (14) section has a distal end portion (68) defining a suction opening (74) of the surgical instrument (10). The suction opening (74) communicates with the central passage (86) of the flexible stem section (14). The flexible stem section (14) comprises a bendable outer tubular member (60) and a bendable inner tubular member (90) slidable within the outer tubular member. The outer tubular member (60) has a neutral axis of bending (66). The inner tubular member (90) has a neutral axis of bending (102) spaced apart from the neutral axis of bending (66) of the outer tubular member (60). The flexible stem section (14) is movable between a plurality of orientations relative to the axis (32) in response to relative sliding movement between the inner and outer tubular members (90, 60).