SURGICAL INSTRUMENT FOR MATERIAL REMOVAL

摘要

A surgical instrument with an elongate drive shaft (70) rotatably received through and in direct bearing engagement with the smooth bore of an outer tube (22). A rigid connector elbow (30) with the legs (32, 34) at a predetermined angle provides for an angular orientation of a cutter shaft (52) relative to the drive shaft with the shafts in driving engagement through meshing gear teeth (68, 80) provided on the adjacent ends of the shafts and within the peripheral confines of the shafts. The forward end of the cutter shaft has a laterally directed opening (64) formed therein provided with cutter edges which cooperate with a cutter window (50) defined laterally within the outer cutter sheath.