Surgical cutting instrument

Abstract

A surgical cutting instrument is disclosed for percutaneously debulking tissue through an access sheath commonly used in minimally invasive laparoscopic or endoscopic surgical procedures. The cutting instrument includes a inner rotary member tube having a cutting edge at the distal end thereof for cutting and slicing tissue. The distal end of the cutting member tube extends from the distal end of a stationary sheath which prevents tissue from wrapping around the inner cutting member tube. The inner cutting member tube includes a hollow passageway for suctioning and aspirating tissue and fluid through the tube and into a collection chamber or out through a vacuum or suction line attached thereto. The instrument further includes an outer safety shield having a rounded distal end for preventing the puncture of a surgical tissue bag or from unintentionally cutting tissue by the attending physician. The outer shield has a channel across the distal end through the hollow passageway therein for feeding tissue into the cutting edge and controlling the vacuum applied to the tissue. Vacuum or suction control ports are included at the proximal end of the inner cutting member tube and stationary sheath for also controlling the amount of vacuum or suction applied to the tissue. The surgical cutting instrument includes a control handle for grasping by the physician. A removable collection chamber is connected to a coupler connected to the stationary sheath for collecting tissue therein. The inner cutting member tube extends through the collection chamber to a drive motor or to a remotely positioned rotary drive mechanism. A vacuum line is attached to the collection chamber for drawing tissue and fluid through the inner cutting member tube and into the collection chamber.