Patent attributes
A surgical instrument (1) for the removal of tissue comprises an outer tube (2) having an opening (22) for the removal of tissue, fashioned in a distal region, preferentially in the vicinity of the distal end of the outer tube (2). It further comprises an inner tube (3) disposed in the outer tube (2) and having a rigid proximal region for transferring forces or momenta acting on this proximal region to a distal region of the inner tube (3), preferentially to the distal end of the inner tube (3). The instrument further comprises a cutting tool (4) disposed at the distal region of the inner tube (3), preferentially at the distal end of the inner tube (3), for facilitating cutting of tissue which is subjected to the action of the cutting tool (4) in the vicinity of the opening (22) in the distal region of the outer tube (2), wherein the inner tube (3) has a flexible region (31) located between its rigid proximal region and the cutting tool (4). The inner tube (3) has a slit (5, 5a) in its wall in the flexible region (31) which, as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the inner tube (3) winds in a helical fashion about the longitudinal axis (L) of the inner tube (3) and meanders back and forth with respect to this helical line (52, 52a).
