Surgical instrument

Claim 2

a hand-held surgical instrument for removing body tissue comprising a cylindrical sheath and a 'helical cutter rotatable with said sheath, the distal end of the sheath having a pair of spaced, longitudinally-extending tabs each having one edge ground to form a cutting edge for cooperation with the end of the rotating helical cutter, the helical cutter extending through the sheath in closely- spaced relationship and having a continuous helical groove for the passage of cut tissue, and means for applying suction at the proximal end of the sheath to draw cut tissue along the length of the cutter.

Claim 3

A hand held surgical instrument for removing tissue from a human body which comprises a. a suction housing member having a port therein to receive a suction line, said suction housing being open at opposite longitudinal ends, b. a cylindrical sheath member having its proximate end received in external sealing relationship with one open end of said suction housing member, (1) said cylindrical sheath member being open at both ends and terminating at its distal end in a pair of longitudinally extending, diametrically opposed tabs, (a) one longitudinally extending edge of each of said tabs being ground to provide a cutting edge, c. a cutter housing member being inserted into the other open end of said suction housing member, d. a belical cutter received within said cutter housing member and supported thereby, (1) said helical cutter extending within said cylindrical sheath member in closely spaced relationship and said helical cutter cooperating with said cutting edge on each of said tabs to sever tissue inserted between said tabs upon rotation of said helical cutter, (2) said helical cutter having a helical groove extending for substantially the entire length thereof with said groove functioning as a conduit for severed tissue, (3) said cylindrical sheath member having an open distal end whereby body tissue may be inserted axially between said diametrically opposed tabs to be severed by said helical cutter in effectinq an axial boring cut, e. motor means to turn said helical cutter at a rotational speed of at least 1000 rpm, f. means for coupling said motor means to said helical cutter, g. and vacuum means connected to said port in said suction housing to remove severed tissue.

Claim 4

A hand held surgical instrument for removing tissue from a human body which comprises a. a suction housing member having a port therein to receive a suction line, said suction housing being open at opposite longitudinal ends, b. a cylindrical sheath member having its proximate end received in external sealing relationship with one open end of said suction housing member, (1) said cylindrical sheath member being open at both ends and terminating at its distal end in a pair of longitudinally extending, diametrically opposed tabs, (a) one longitudinally extending edge of each of said tabs being ground to provide a cutting edge, c. a cutter housing member being inserted into the other open end of said suction housing member, d. a belical cutter received within said cutter housing member and supported thereby, (1) said helical cutter extending within said cylindrical sheath member in closely spaced relationship and said helical cutter cooperating with said cutting edge on each of said tabs to sever tissue inserted between said tabs upon rotation of said helical cutter, (2) said helical cutter having a helical groove extending for substantially the entire length thereof with said groove functioning as a conduit for severed tissue, (3) said cylindrical sheath member having an open distal end whereby body tissue may be inserted axially between said diametrically opposed tabs to be severed by said helical cutter in effectinq an axial boring cut, e. motor means to turn said helical cutter at a rotational speed of at least 1000 rpm, f. means for coupling said motor means to said helical cutter, g. and vacuum means connected to said port in said suction housing to remove severed tissue.

Claim 5

3 . A hand held surgical instrument as defined in Claim 1 or 2 . wherein each of said tab members is undercut to provide a protective stop shoulder for said helical cutter.

Claim 6

A hand held surgical instrument as defined in claim 3 wherein said means for coupling said motor means to said helical cutter includes a spring member to urge said helical cutter toward said protective stop shoulder.

Claim 7

Dear Sirs, Application No. 86300394.3 Precision Surgical Instruments Inc. I am forwarding herewith a certified copy of the U.S. Application Serial No. 694,012 in support of the claim to priority in this application. At the same time we wish to draw attention to a typographical error in claim 1. In line 3 of the claim "rotatable with said sheath" should read "rotatable within said sheath".. I regret this error and hope that it may be corrected at the appropriate time.