A drive shaft (1, 3) for use with a rotation device (10, 20) includes an outer layer (11, 31) and an inner layer (12, 32). The outer layer is a tubular structure, and the inner layer is accommodated in a space defined by the outer layer and defines a central lumen (13, 33) for receiving therein an external mechanism. The outer layer is rotatable about the central lumen, and the inner layer is rollable relative to both the outer layer and the external mechanism and thus allows rolling friction to occur between the drive shaft and the external mechanism. Such a structure of the drive shaft can reduce friction between the drive shaft and a guidewire as well as loss due to such friction, avoiding failure of the guidewire due to excessive friction between the guidewire and the drive shaft. Therefore, it is ensured that the drive shaft is suitable for use with guidewires commonly used in clinical practice, resulting in improved surgical operability and lower surgical cost. Also disclosed is a rotation device including an instrument (2, 4) and the drive shaft. The instrument is disposed at one end of the drive shaft and is coupled to the outer layer of the drive shaft so as to be able to be driven by the outer layer to rotate.

A method of removing embolic material from a vessel with mechanical and aspiration assistance. The method comprises the steps of providing an aspiration catheter having a central lumen and a distal end, advancing the distal end of the aspiration catheter to obstructive material in a vessel, applying vacuum to the central lumen to draw clot into the central lumen, introducing a thrombus engagement tool into the central lumen, and manually manipulating the tip to engage clot between the tip and an inside wall of the central lumen.

A disposable attachment of the handheld surgical instrument having a distal section extending from the handpiece is provided. The disposable attachment has a proximal tube extending from the disposable attachment. The distal section includes an outer tube and a flexible shaft disposed within the outer tube. The flexible shaft couples with the proximal tube via a proximal coupler at a proximal end of the flexible shaft. The distal section also has an irrigation hypotube, a cooling orifice, and a cutting implement. The irrigation hypotube is disposed on an outer surface of the outer tube and the cooling orifice is disposed at a distal end of the distal section. The cutting implement is disposed at a distal end of the distal section opposite the handpiece.

An end effector assembly of a tissue-resecting device includes an outer shaft defining a window, a drive wire extending through the outer shaft, and a distal cutting tip disposed within the outer shaft. The drive wire includes a cylindrical body and a distal end portion defining a semi-cylindrical configuration including a semi-cylindrical bottom surface and a planar top surface having a semi-cylindrical cut-out defined therein. The distal cutting tip at least partially overlaps the window and has a semi-cylindrical lumen defined by a semi-cylindrical bottom surface and an open top. The distal end portion of the drive wire is at least partially received and within the semi-cylindrical lumen with the semi-cylindrical surfaces substantially mating. The drive wire is configured to drive rotation or oscillation of the distal cutting tip relative to the outer shaft.

A thrombus engagement tool having a flexible shaft, a clot engagement tip, and a handle. The engagement tip may include one or more radially outwardly extending structures such as a helical thread. The helical thread can be advanced through a catheter to engage a clot. The handle may be configured to be rotated by hand. When the handle is rotated, the helical thread of the engagement tip can rotate in the same direction thereby allowing the helical threat to engage the clot. The helical thread can wrap around the flexible shaft at least about one, two, or four or more full revolutions, but in some cases no more than about ten or no more than about six revolutions.

An endoscopic surgical instrument includes a main body assembly, and a cannula having a lumen and formed with a slot. An inner tube, which houses a spring-biased retractable cutting blade assembly having a cutting blade, is mounted on one end of the main body assembly and extends axially therefrom. The tube is receivable within the lumen of the cannula, and may be particularly oriented within the cannula lumen such that the cutting blade may be caused to project from both the tube and the cannula slot. The inner tube has a bore in which the distal end of an endoscope may be received. The instrument may be locked in one position to allow the endoscope to engage the blade assembly and cause the cutting blade to project from the cannula slot during a tissue cutting procedure, or may be locked in another position wherein the cutting blade remains retracted.

A device for use with a debridement system is disclosed. The device includes an outer tubular shaft having an inner surface defining a lumen along an axis, the inner surface having an inner surface diameter. An inner tubular shaft is disposed within the lumen and rotatable within the outer tubular shaft. The inner tubular shaft includes an outer surface having an outer surface diameter less than the inner surface diameter. The inner surface of the outer tubular shaft with the outer surface of the inner tubular shaft forms a channel along the axis to receive fluid from the fluid source. The rotor is disposed in the channel and includes an axially extending helicoid blade coupled to the inner tubular shaft. The blade rotates within and with respect to the outer tubular shaft and exerts an axial thrust on the fluid in the channel with respect to the outer tubular shaft.

A surgical instrument including an articulating region. An outer tube and an inner tube are axially fixed to one another distal to the articulating region and axially movable relative to one another proximal to the articulating region. Relative movement of the inner and outer tubes provides for articulation of the articulating tube assembly to a curved configuration. A working tool may be removably directed through a central cannula defined by the inner tube. The working tool may include a shaft having a flexible region configured to be arranged within the articulating region. The shaft may rotate within the inner tube with the articulating tube assembly in the curved configuration. The working tool may include a housing hub configured to be coupled with a handle to removably position the flexible region within the articulating region. Multiple working tools may be interchangeably directed through the central cannula.

A surgical instrument includes a first member defining an axis and including a cutting surface. A second member includes a cutting surface that is rotatable relative to the first member. A third member includes an outer surface. The cutting surface of the second member is rotatable relative to the outer surface to transfer the cut tissue along the axis. Systems and methods are disclosed.

A medical device for performing a hysterectomy is provided. The medical device has a tissue incision assembly that includes a first cup nested within a second cup. The tissue incision assembly also includes a spacer assembly between the first cup and the second cup in order to maintain a spacing between the first and second cups. The tissue incision assembly also has a cutting implement that has a portion extending between, and movable with respect to, the first and second cups. The cutting implement can provide a circular cut guided via the spacing between the first and second cups.