Abstract: An angled tissue cutting instrument includes an outer member having an elongate body with a bend and a forward end, and a distal tip rotatably mounted on the forward end. The distal tip and body are rotatable relative to one another about a central longitudinal axis of the tip to variably position a cutting window of the tip in a selected directional position about the axis. Relative rotation between the distal tip and the body about the axis is prevented to lock the cutting window in a selected directional position when the outer member is maintained in a longitudinally extended position by an inner member of the instrument disposed within the outer member. An indexing tool for the angled tissue cutting instrument has a socket for receiving the distal tip to effect rotational indexing.

Abstract: A rotary surgical instrument includes an outer member having an aperture in a distal portion thereof, and an inner member for being rotatably disposed within the outer member to move a cutting element on the inner member past the aperture to cut anatomical tissue. The inner member has an aperture, and the cutting element comprises first and second rows of cutting teeth extending longitudinally along opposite sides of the inner member aperture. Each cutting tooth is convexly curved, the cutting teeth of one row curving in opposition to the cutting teeth of the other row. The rows of cutting teeth have their tips staggered.

Abstract: A rotary surgical instrument includes an outer member having an aperture in a distal portion thereof, and an inner member for being rotatably disposed within the outer member to move a cutting element on the inner member past the aperture to cut anatomical tissue. The inner member has an aperture, and the cutting element comprises first and second rows of cutting teeth extending longitudinally along opposite sides of the inner member aperture. Each cutting tooth is convexly curved, the cutting teeth of one row curving in opposition to the cutting teeth of the other row. The rows of cutting teeth have their tips staggered.

Abstract: An angled tissue cutting instrument includes an outer member having an elongate body with a bend and a forward end, and a distal tip rotatably mounted on the forward end. The distal tip and body are rotatable relative to one another about a central longitudinal axis of the tip to variably position a cutting window of the tip in a selected directional position about the axis. Relative rotation between the distal tip and the body about the axis is prevented to lock the cutting window in a selected directional position when the outer member is maintained in a longitudinally extended position by an inner member of the instrument disposed within the outer member. An indexing tool for the angled tissue cutting instrument has a socket for receiving the distal tip to effect rotational indexing.

Abstract: An angled tissue cutting instrument includes an outer member having an elongate body with a bend and a forward end, and a distal tip rotatably mounted on the forward end. The distal tip and body are rotatable relative to one another about a central longitudinal axis of the tip to variably position a cutting window of the tip in a selected directional position about the axis. Relative rotation between the distal tip and the body about the axis is prevented to lock the cutting window in a selected directional position when the outer member is maintained in a longitudinally extended position by an inner member of the instrument disposed within the outer member. An indexing tool for the angled tissue cutting instrument has a socket for receiving the distal tip to effect rotational indexing.

Abstract: An angled tissue cutting instrument includes an outer member having an elongate body with a bend and a forward end, and a distal tip rotatably mounted on the forward end. The distal tip and body are rotatable relative to one another about a central longitudinal axis of the tip to variably position a cutting window of the tip in a selected directional position about the axis. Relative rotation between the distal tip and the body about the axis is prevented to lock the cutting window in a selected directional position when the outer member is maintained in a longitudinally extended position by an inner member of the instrument disposed within the outer member. An indexing tool for the angled tissue cutting instrument has a socket for receiving the distal tip to effect rotational indexing.

Abstract: An angled rotary tissue cutting instrument includes an outer member or blade, having a rigid outer tube with proximal and distal portions connected by a bend, and an inner member or blade rotatably disposed within the outer member and including an inner tube of integral one-piece construction having a spiral cut formed therein between proximal and distal ends thereof to define a flexible region adjacent the bend, and at least one layer of a spirally wound strip of material superimposed over the spiral cut portion of the inner tube. The spiral cut preferably extends to a cutting tip at the distal end of the inner tube so that the inner member can be bent closer to the distal end thereof to access difficult to reach areas of the head and neck, and other parts of the body.