Importance

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Abstract

A rotatable surgical tool is disclosed for cutting and removing tissue from a patient. The tool includes an outer tubular member having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. An inner tubular member has a distal end portion and a proximal end portion with the distal end portion of the inner tubular member having a cutter. The inner tubular member is rotatably disposed within the outer tubular member enabling the cutter to shear tissue disposed in the vicinity of the distal end portions upon rotation of the inner tubular member relative to the outer tubular member. A flexible transmission interconnects the distal end portion and the proximal end portion of the inner tubular member for transmitting rotational movement from a rotary power source to the cutter. The outer tubular member is constructed of a deformable material enabling the outer tubular member to be selectively bent, during fabrication of the tool, in a region adjacent the flexible transmission for facilitating the positioning of the cutter proximate the tissue of the patient. A vacuum source may be provided to be in fluid communication with the proximal end of the inner tubular member for removing tissue severed by the cutter.

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First Claim