Instrument for surgically cutting tissue

Claim 1

A tissue punch for surgically cutting tissue, comprising an outer shaft (4) overlying an inner shaft (3), said outer and inner shafts having respective proximal and distal ends, said inner shaft (3) having an opening (2) with a first cutting edge (5) at a distal end region thereof, said outer shaft (4) having a second cutting edge (6) which is located at a distal end region thereof and which faces and collaborates with said first cutting edge (5), actuation means for causing relative axial movement between said inner and outer shafts, whereby during operation of said actuation means tissue which extends through the said opening (2) into the inner shaft (3) is separated by said first and second cutting edges (5, 6) moving against each other, said inner shaft being rigid, being straight in a proximal region thereof, and being axially curved in a distal region thereof, and said outer shaft (4) being flexible at least in the curved region of the inner shaft said outer shaft (4) having opposing laterally opening recesses (19, 20) in opposing faces thereof, said opposing recesses lying along radiuses of the curved region of the inner shaft, said inner shaft (3) having an axial inner bore which forms a free lumen (7) connected with the opening (2), and further comprising a connection nozzle (9) having an axial inner bore and being connected to the proximal end of the inner shaft (3), whereby the free lumen (7) is in alignment with the axial inner bore of the connection nozzle (9).