Importance

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Abstract

An arthroscopic surgical instrument consists of an outer stationary member having a distal aperture, the wall of the outer member defining a first cutting edge at the aperture; an internal movable member disposed within the outer member, adapted to be power driven and having a second cutting edge arranged to move toward and closely past the first cutting edge in rapid, repetitive fashion to sever tissue. The instrument further includes a table extension provided at the aperture, projecting outwardly from the general contour of the body of the outer stationary member. The table extension is constructed and arranged to engage tissue against which the operator urges the instrument, in a manner to improve the repetitive cutting action. In one embodiment, the internal movable member disposed within the outer member has at least a pair of second cutting edges arranged to move sequentially toward and closely past fixed cutting edge to sever tissue at a shearing point, each second cutting edge defining one or more cutting points arranged longitudinally along the second cutting edge, and a cutting point of one second cutting edge being offset longitudinally from a cutting point of the next following second cutting edge, whereby the sequential second cutting edges have different cutting patterns.

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First Claim