Abstract: A surgical instrument shaft assembly comprising a cannulated outer shaft having an outer shaft flexible section, and a cannulated inner shaft having an inner shaft flexible section. The outer shaft flexible section and the inner shaft flexible section each comprises a respective plurality of segmented floating links. The inner shaft is configured and dimensioned to be inserted into the outer shaft in an operating position in which at least a portion of the inner shaft flexible section is surrounded by at least a portion of the outer shaft flexible section, such that the inner shaft flexible section and the outer shaft flexible section can flex in unison, and the inner shaft is rotatable within the outer shaft. The instrument shaft may be used with a surgical tissue shaver. Methods of use are also provided.

Abstract: A surgical tissue shaver having: a shaft having a tubular body defining a cannula; and a cutter head at a distal shaft end and extending along a longitudinal axis. The cutter head has a cutter opening in fluid communication with the cannula, and at least a portion of the cutter opening extending along the longitudinal axis is defined between a first row of teeth and a second row of teeth opposite the first row of teeth with respect to the longitudinal axis. At least one tooth of the first row of teeth is defined by a respective proximal tooth surface and a respective distal tooth surface that intersect at a respective tooth edge, and wherein the respective tooth edge is oriented at a respective angle of less than 90° relative to the longitudinal axis. Methods of forming a tissue shaver are also provided.

Abstract: A reaming instrument includes a reamer head having a cutting face rotatable about a cutting face axis and a drive shaft operably connected to the cutting face at a point spaced radially outwardly from the cutting face axis.

Abstract: An instrument for collecting tissue from a body cavity includes a hollow tubular body having a tubular wall. The hollow tubular body can collect material from a body cavity in a coring mode or an aspiration mode. The tubular wall defines a passage that extends from a proximal end portion of the tubular body to a distal end portion of the tubular body. A middle section of the tubular body includes an articulating section that allows the middle section to articulate relative to the proximal end portion. The distal end portion includes at least one suction port extending from an outer wall surface to an inner wall surface of the tubular wall. The suction port provides a path of fluid communication between the outer wall surface and the passage for drawing in tissue from a body cavity when the tubular body is connected to a source of negative pressure.

Abstract: An instrument for collecting tissue from a body cavity includes a hollow tubular body having a tubular wall. The hollow tubular body can collect material from a body cavity in a coring mode or an aspiration mode. The tubular wall defines a passage that extends from a proximal end portion of the tubular body to a distal end portion of the tubular body. A middle section of the tubular body includes an articulating section that allows the middle section to articulate relative to the proximal end portion. The distal end portion includes at least one suction port extending from an outer wall surface to an inner wall surface of the tubular wall. The suction port provides a path of fluid communication between the outer wall surface and the passage for drawing in tissue from a body cavity when the tubular body is connected to a source of negative pressure.

Abstract: A reaming instrument includes a reamer head having a cutting face rotatable about a cutting face axis and a drive shaft operably connected to the cutting face at a point spaced radially outwardly from the cutting face axis.

Abstract: An instrument for navigating a surgical device includes a hollow shaft having a longitudinal axis and a distal end. The distal end of the hollow shaft includes a flexible section, a handle and an articulation surface positioned adjacent the handle. The handle is polyaxially displaceable against the articulation surface and relative to the longitudinal axis of the hollow shaft. At least one tensioning element extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hollow shaft. The at least one tensioning element is operable to bend the flexible section in response to polyaxial displacement of the handle relative to the longitudinal axis of the hollow shaft.

Abstract: An instrument for collecting tissue from a body cavity includes a hollow tubular body having a tubular wall. The hollow tubular body can collect material from a body cavity in a coring mode or an aspiration mode. The tubular wall defines a passage that extends from a proximal end portion of the tubular body to a distal end portion of the tubular body. A middle section of the tubular body includes an articulating section that allows the middle section to articulate relative to the proximal end portion. The distal end portion includes at least one suction port extending from an outer wall surface to an inner wall surface of the tubular wall. The suction port provides a path of fluid communication between the outer wall surface and the passage for drawing in tissue from a body cavity when the tubular body is connected to a source of negative pressure.

Abstract: A reaming instrument, in accordance with one embodiment, includes a rotatable cutting head and a cutting face on a distal end of the cutting head. At least one radially displaceable cutting element has a cutting edge projecting in a distal direction from the cutting face. An adjustment element is operable to displace the cutting element toward a fully retracted state, or toward a fully expanded state. In another embodiment, a method of modifying a bone surface includes displacing at least one cutting element on a reamer instrument to a fully retracted state, inserting the instrument into a human or animal, operating an adjustment element to displace the cutting element toward an expanded state, and activating the cutting head to begin cutting the bone.

Abstract: A planing instrument, in accordance with one embodiment, includes a rotatable cutting head and a cutting face on a distal end of the cutting head. At least one radially displaceable cutting element has a cutting edge projecting in a distal direction from the cutting face. An adjustment element is operable to displace the cutting element toward a fully retracted state, or toward a fully expanded state. In another embodiment, a method of modifying a bone surface includes displacing at least one cutting element on a planing instrument to a fully retracted state, inserting the instrument into a human or animal, operating an adjustment element to displace the cutting element toward an expanded state, and activating the cutting head to begin planing the bone.

Abstract: A reaming instrument, in accordance with one embodiment, includes a rotatable cutting head and a cutting face on a distal end of the cutting head. At least one radially displaceable cutting element has a cutting edge projecting in a distal direction from the cutting face. An adjustment element is operable to displace the cutting element toward a fully retracted state, or toward a fully expanded state. In another embodiment, a method of modifying a bone surface includes displacing at least one cutting element on a reamer instrument to a fully retracted state, inserting the instrument into a human or animal, operating an adjustment element to displace the cutting element toward an expanded state, and activating the cutting head to begin cutting the bone.

Abstract: A reaming instrument, in accordance with one embodiment, includes a rotatable cutting head and a cutting face on a distal end of the cutting head. At least one radially displaceable cutting element has a cutting edge projecting in a distal direction from the cutting face. An adjustment element is operable to displace the cutting element toward a fully retracted state, or toward a fully expanded state. In another embodiment, a method of modifying a bone surface includes displacing at least one cutting element on a reamer instrument to a fully retracted state, inserting the instrument into a human or animal, operating an adjustment element to displace the cutting element toward an expanded state, and activating the cutting head to begin cutting the bone.

Abstract: An instrument for navigating a surgical device includes a hollow shaft having a longitudinal axis and a distal end. The distal end of the hollow shaft includes a flexible section, a handle and an articulation surface positioned adjacent the handle. The handle is polyaxially displaceable against the articulation surface and relative to the longitudinal axis of the hollow shaft. At least one tensioning element extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hollow shaft. The at least one tensioning element is operable to bend the flexible section in response to polyaxial displacement of the handle relative to the longitudinal axis of the hollow shaft.

Abstract: A planing instrument, in accordance with one embodiment, includes a rotatable cutting head and a cutting face on a distal end of the cutting head. At least one radially displaceable cutting element has a cutting edge projecting in a distal direction from the cutting face. An adjustment element is operable to displace the cutting element toward a fully retracted state, or toward a fully expanded state. In another embodiment, a method of modifying a bone surface includes displacing at least one cutting element on a planing instrument to a fully retracted state, inserting the instrument into a human or animal, operating an adjustment element to displace the cutting element toward an expanded state, and activating the cutting head to begin planing the bone.

Abstract: A reaming instrument, in accordance with one embodiment, includes a rotatable cutting head and a cutting face on a distal end of the cutting head. At least one radially displaceable cutting element has a cutting edge projecting in a distal direction from the cutting face. An adjustment element is operable to displace the cutting element toward a fully retracted state, or toward a fully expanded state. In another embodiment, a method of modifying a bone surface includes displacing at least one cutting element on a reamer instrument to a fully retracted state, inserting the instrument into a human or animal, operating an adjustment element to displace the cutting element toward an expanded state, and activating the cutting head to begin cutting the bone.

Abstract: A flexible cannulated drive shaft having a plurality of interlocking sections having multi-angled dovetails cut into the drive shaft. Each dovetail design is made up of substantially triangular-shaped pins and substantially triangular-shaped sockets that alternate around the circumference of each interlocking section. The pins of one interlocking section moveably engage the sockets of a second interlocking section and vice versa. Furthermore, the substantially triangular-shaped pins and substantially triangular-shaped sockets stay locked together whether the drive shaft is being rotated clockwise or counterclockwise. Angled surfaces add greater stability to the drive shaft and prevent the interlocking sections from coming apart.

Abstract: A flexible cannulated drive shaft (1) having a plurality of interlocking sections (6) having multi-angled dovetails cut into the drive shaft. Each dovetail design is made up of substantially triangular-shaped pins (7) and substantially triangular-shaped sockets (8) that alternate around the circumference of each interlocking section. The pins of one interlocking section moveably engage the sockets of a second interlocking section and vice versa. Furthermore, the substantially triangular-shaped pins and substantially triangular-shaped sockets stay locked together whether the drive shaft is being rotated clockwise or counterclockwise. Angled surfaces (21, 22) add greater stability to the drive shaft and prevent the interlocking sections from coming apart.