Importance

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Abstract

A surgical instrument comprises a manually engageable handle. A first stem section having a longitudinal axis extends from the handle. A second stem section is connected between the first stem section and a cutting tool. The cutting tool includes a rotatable shaver. The second stem section has at least a portion which is bendable. A rotatable drive shaft is connected with the shaver and extends axially through the first stem section and the second stem section. The drive shaft has a flexible portion disposed in the flexible stem section. A passage extends axially through the drive shaft for conducting tissue from a location adjacent to the cutting tool through the second stem section toward the handle. A mechanism is connected to the bendable portion of the second stem section for bending the bendable portion to change the orientation of the cutting tool relative to the axis and to the first stem section from a first orientation to a second orientation. The bendable portion of the second stem section includes mechanism for enabling bending movement of the bendable portion by the mechanism to locate the cutting tool at the same angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the first stem section at more than one location along the length of the bendable portion.

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First Claim