SURGICAL INSTRUMENT FOR CUTTING HARD TISSUE AND METHOD OF USE

摘要

A surgical device (10) capable of cutting and removing medium to hard body tissue such as cartilage and bone from a joint region or similarly restricted interior space within the body is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a stationary carrier sized for insertion into a joint or similar restricted interior space within the body and having a first and second end. The carrier (30) is provided an apical aperture at the end to be inserted into the joint. A cutter (40) is axially disposed within the carrier (30) and is provided with at least one cutting surface (41) at one end that protrudes from the aperture of the carrier (30). The cutter (40) is further provided an axial conduit (44) that terminates in at least one opening on or proximate to the cutting surface of the cutter (40). The cutter (40) is driven by a motor that moves the cutter (40) in a linearly reciprocating fashion that abrades away tissue depending on the configuration of the cutting surface. The cutter (40) is further provided with a vacuum source that is capable of creating suction at the opening of the axial conduit to draw tissue into the conduit opening and carry it away from the treatment site for disposal.