Patent ID: 11918246
Assignee: GYRUS ACMI, INC.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 12:
13. A method for operating a surgical device, the method comprising:
providing an elongated, hollow outer shaft;
actuating a proximal portion of an elongated inner shaft that is at least partially disposed within the outer shaft to impart movement to the inner shaft, the inner shaft including a flexible inner shaft portion that is more flexible than at least one of a more proximal or more distal portion of the inner shaft;
moving, via the inner shaft, a cutting element located at a distal portion of the inner shaft, the outer shaft configured to expose the cutting element as the inner shaft moves; and
positioning, via a plurality of bearings located between the inner shaft and the outer shaft along a length of the inner shaft, the flexible inner shaft portion to be substantially coaxial with the outer shaft as the inner shaft moves,
the plurality of bearings including a proximal bearing located proximate a proximal portion of the flexible inner shaft portion,
the proximal bearing having a proximal bearing thickness measured radially outward from the inner shaft to the outer shaft,
the plurality of bearings including a distal bearing located proximate a distal portion of the flexible inner shaft portion,
the distal bearing having a distal bearing thickness measured radially outward from the inner shaft to the outer shaft,
the plurality of bearings including an intermediate bearing located between the proximal bearing and the distal bearing,
the intermediate bearing having an intermediate bearing thickness measured radially outward from the inner shaft to the outer shaft,
the intermediate bearing thickness being less than the proximal bearing thickness and less than the distal bearing thickness.