Abstract: Surgical instruments which have multiple functions used in performing endoscopic surgeries, including arthroscopic surgery. The surgical instrument includes a mechanical cutting portion, such as a rotary blade or burr, and an electronic cutting and/or cauterizing portion comprising an electronic surgical device which operates in bipolar mode. This solves the problem of having to constantly remove and insert various surgical instruments into the surgery site in order to remove different kinds of tissues and at different rates and in different manners. A rotary burr works best to remove hard tissues, such as bone, while the bipolar device can be used to cut or ablate soft tissues and/or cauterize tissue, including blood vessels. Alternatively, the mechanical cutting portion may include a rotary blade, which works best for removing soft tissues.

Abstract: An instrument capable of selectively cutting or cauterizing tissue includes a handle and an elongated electrically conductive probe with a longitudinally extending lumen communicating with the handle. The distal end of the probe has an aperture formed therethrough between the lumen and the exterior of the probe. An elongated drive shaft is disposed within the lumen for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft. A cutting tool is positioned on the shaft opposite the aperture. An electrically insulative layer is disposed on the exterior of the probe extending from the proximal end of the probe to the periphery of a preselected region on the distal end of the probe. The preselected region is selectively couplable to a power source to permit cauterization. An alternate embodiment employs an electrically insulative probe and an embedded electrically conductive pathway coupled to the preselected region.