Abstract: A surgical apparatus for cutting and storing sections of body tissue is provided comprising a housing having a handle assembly, an elongated outer tube extending from the handle assembly, and a cutting tube positioned within the outer tube and movable in response to actuation of the handle assembly between a retracted position and a distal position to cut body tissue. The cutting tube has a chamber formed therein for storing the cut tissue sections. A removable plug assembly is mounted on the proximal end of the cutting tube. A release lever is engagable with the trigger and is movable from a blocking position to a release position to release the trigger and allow the cutting tube to be removed from the outer tube. An anvil is positioned at a distal end of the outer tube for forcing each cut tissue section proximally into the chamber of the cutting tube as the cutting tube is advanced to cut the body tissue. A locking member is engagable with a rotation knob to prevent rotation of the knob.

Abstract: A fluid jet surgical cutting instrument having a pressure generating mechanism disposed within the housing of the instrument. The pressure generating mechanism includes a piston member which is reciprocatingly movable within the housing by alternately supplying gas to the distal end of the piston and the proximal end of the piston. The gas is supplied in an alternating manner through the provision of a novel actuator mechanism which includes a plurality of passageways which permits charging of gas to the pressure amplifying mechanism as well as venting of gas from the pressure amplifying mechanism to permit reciprocating movement.