Abstract: An arthroscopic cutting probe includes an outer sleeve having a longitudinal bore and an outer cutting window at its distal end. The outer sleeve has a metal body electrically insulated over its exterior except for a portion at least partially surrounding the outer cutting window which comprises an active electrode. An inner sleeve is rotationally disposed in a bore of the outer sleeve, and the inner sleeve has a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal passageway having an electrically conductive inner surface which comprises a return electrode. A dielectric cutting member is attached to the distal end of the inner sleeve and has a central passage extending from an inner cutting window at its distal end to an opening at its proximal end.

Abstract: An arthroscopic or other surgical system includes a handpiece and a probe. The handpiece carries a motor drive, and the probe has a proximal hub and an elongate shaft which extends about a longitudinal axis to a working end of the probe. The hub is configured for detachably coupling to the handpiece, and the motor drive is configured to couple to a rotating drive coupling in the hub when the hub is coupled to the handpiece. A first magnetic component is carried by the hub, and a second magnetic component is coupled to rotate with the rotating drive coupling.

Abstract: A tissue treatment device has a shaft assembly including an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve. The inner sleeve is co-axially and rotatably received in an axial passageway in the outer sleeve. A dielectric housing has an outer cutting window forming a distal portion of the outer sleeve, and a distal portion of the inner sleeve forms an RF electrode and has an inner cutting window formed therein. The outer and inner cutting windows have outer and inner cutting edges disposed to close together as the inner sleeve is rotated relative to the outer sleeve.

Abstract: An arthroscopic cutting probe includes a shaft assembly having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis. A distal cutting member is rotatably attached at the distal end of the shaft assembly, and at least a portion of an exterior surface of the distal cutting member is electrically insulated. One or more burr elements extend radially outwardly from the electrically insulated portion of the exterior surface of the distal cutting member, wherein the burr element is electrically conductive to form an active electrode.

Abstract: An arthroscopic cutting probe includes an elongated shaft assembly having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween. A working end at the distal end of the elongated shaft assembly includes a first active electrode and a second active electrode The shaft assembly is rotates the first electrode relative to the second electrode about the longitudinal axis, and a return electrode is carried on the shaft assembly proximal of the working end. The first and second active electrodes are electrically coupled to each other and electrically isolated from the return electrode.

Abstract: An arthroscopic or other surgical system includes a handpiece and a probe. The handpiece carries a motor drive, and the probe has a proximal hub and an elongate shaft which extends about a longitudinal axis to a working end of the probe. The hub is configured for detachably coupling to the handpiece, and the motor drive is configured to couple to a rotating drive coupling in the hub when the hub is coupled to the handpiece. A first magnetic component is carried by the hub, and a second magnetic component is coupled to rotate with the rotating drive coupling.

Abstract: An arthroscopic or other surgical system includes a handpiece and a probe. The handpiece carries a motor drive, and the probe has a proximal hub and an elongate shaft which extends about a longitudinal axis to a working end of the probe. The hub is configured for detachably coupling to the handpiece, and the motor drive is configured to couple to a rotating drive coupling in the hub when the hub is coupled to the handpiece. A first magnetic component is carried by the hub, and a second magnetic component is coupled to rotate with the rotating drive coupling.

Abstract: An arthroscopic cutting probe includes a shaft assembly having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis. A distal cutting member is rotatably attached at the distal end of the shaft assembly, and at least a portion of an exterior surface of the distal cutting member is electrically insulated. One or more burr elements extend radially outwardly from the electrically insulated portion of the exterior surface of the distal cutting member, wherein the burr element is electrically conductive to form an active electrode.

Abstract: An arthroscopic cutting probe includes a shaft assembly having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis. A distal cutting member is rotatably attached at the distal end of the shaft assembly, and at least a portion of an exterior surface of the distal cutting member is electrically insulated. One or more burr elements extend radially outwardly from the electrically insulated portion of the exterior surface of the distal cutting member, wherein the burr element is electrically conductive to form an active electrode.

Abstract: An electrosurgical probe can be detachably secured to a handpiece having a motor drive unit and an RF current contact. The electrosurgical probe includes an elongate shaft having a longitudinal axis, a distal dielectric tip, and a proximal hub which is detachably securable to the handpiece. A hook electrode is reciprocatably mounted in the distal dielectric tip, and an RF connector on the hub is couplable to the RF current contact in the handpiece when the hub is secured to the handpiece. A drive mechanism in the hub mechanically couples to the hook electrode, and drive mechanism engages a rotational component in the motor drive unit when the hub is secured to the handpiece. The drive mechanism converts rotational motion from the rotational component into axial reciprocation and transmits the axial reciprocation to the hook electrode to axially displace the hook electrode between a non-extended position and an extended position relative to the dielectric tip.

Abstract: An arthroscopic cutting probe includes a shaft assembly having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis. A distal cutting member is rotatably attached at the distal end of the shaft assembly, and at least a portion of an exterior surface of the distal cutting member is electrically insulated. One or more burr elements extend radially outwardly from the electrically insulated portion of the exterior surface of the distal cutting member, wherein the burr element is electrically conductive to form an active electrode.

Abstract: An arthroscopic cutting probe includes an outer sleeve having a longitudinal bore and an outer cutting window at its distal end. The outer sleeve has a metal body electrically insulated over its exterior except for a portion at least partially surrounding the outer cutting window which comprises an active electrode. An inner sleeve is rotationally disposed in a bore of the outer sleeve, and the inner sleeve has a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal passageway having an electrically conductive inner surface which comprises a return electrode. A dielectric cutting member is attached to the distal end of the inner sleeve and has a central passage extending from an inner cutting window at its distal end to an opening at its proximal end.

Abstract: An arthroscopic cutting probe includes an elongated shaft assembly having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween. A working end at the distal end of the elongated shaft assembly includes a first active electrode and a second active electrode The shaft assembly is rotates the first electrode relative to the second electrode about the longitudinal axis, and a return electrode is carried on the shaft assembly proximal of the working end. The first and second active electrodes are electrically coupled to each other and electrically isolated from the return electrode.

Abstract: A tissue treatment device has a shaft assembly including an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve. The inner sleeve is co-axially and rotatably received in an axial passageway in the outer sleeve. A dielectric housing has an outer cutting window forming a distal portion of the outer sleeve, and a distal portion of the inner sleeve forms an RF electrode and has an inner cutting window formed therein. The outer and inner cutting windows have outer and inner cutting edges disposed to close together as the inner sleeve is rotated relative to the outer sleeve.

Abstract: An arthroscopic or other surgical system includes a handpiece and a probe. The handpiece carries a motor drive, and the probe has a proximal hub and an elongate shaft which extends about a longitudinal axis to a working end of the probe. The hub is configured for detachably coupling to the handpiece, and the motor drive is configured to couple to a rotating drive coupling in the hub when the hub is coupled to the handpiece. A first magnetic component is carried by the hub, and a second magnetic component is coupled to rotate with the rotating drive coupling.

Abstract: An electrosurgical probe can be detachably secured to a handpiece having a motor drive unit and an RF current contact. The electrosurgical probe includes an elongate shaft having a longitudinal axis, a distal dielectric tip, and a proximal hub which is detachably securable to the handpiece. A hook electrode is reciprocatably mounted in the distal dielectric tip, and an RF connector on the hub is couplable to the RF current contact in the handpiece when the hub is secured to the handpiece. A drive mechanism in the hub mechanically couples to the hook electrode, and drive mechanism engages a rotational component in the motor drive unit when the hub is secured to the handpiece. The drive mechanism converts rotational motion from the rotational component into axial reciprocation and transmits the axial reciprocation to the hook electrode to axially displace the hook electrode between a non-extended position and an extended position relative to the dielectric tip.