US 7,488,322 B2
High speed surgical cutting instrument
William Charles Brunnett, Jacksonville, Fla. (US); Dana A. Oliver, Jacksonville, Fla. (US); Cecil O. Lewis, Jacksonville, Fla. (US); and Kenneth M. Adams, Jacksonville, Fla. (US)
Assigned to Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, Minn. (US)
Filed on Feb. 11, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/776,835.
Prior Publication US 2005/0177168 A1, Aug. 11, 2005
Int. Cl. A61B 17/32 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 606—79 132 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A surgical cutting instrument for use with a motor having a drive mechanism, the instrument comprising:
an outer tube defining a first curved segment, a proximal region terminating at a proximal end, a distal region terminating at a distal end, and a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the lumen being defined by an inner surface of the outer tube;
an inner wire assembly received within the lumen and comprising a wire, the inner wire assembly including a proximal section and a distal section, wherein the proximal section extends proximally from the proximal end of the outer tube;
a cutting tip connected to the distal section of the inner wire assembly, wherein at least a portion of the cutting tip extends distal the distal end of the outer tube;
a coupling chuck secured to the proximal section of the inner wire assembly, wherein the coupling chuck is adapted for connection to a drive mechanism of a motor; and
a housing maintaining the proximal region of the outer tube and the coupling chuck, the housing being adapted for connection to a motor;
wherein a rotating journal bearing is established between an outer surface of the inner wire assembly and an entirety of a length of the inner surface of the outer tube distal the housing upon rotation of the inner wire assembly relative to the outer tube;
wherein upon final assembly, the wire assumes a shape of the first curved segment;
and further wherein the instrument is configured to allow rotation of the inner wire assembly relative to the outer tube at a speed in excess of 50,000 RPM without failure of the bearing.