Patent ID: 6569176
Filing Date: 2003-05-27
Classification: A61B,A61N

Abstract:
A medical apparatus comprising:a cylinder extending along and rotatable around a first axis defined between a proximal end and a distal end, the cylinder having an interior surface and an exterior surface; a plurality of cutting arms, each arm having an inner surface and an outer surface, the surfaces extending between a forward edge and a trailing edge, wherein at least a portion of the forward edge defines a cutting edge and wherein the cutting edge extends past the distal end of the cylinder to cut tissue; wherein the arms are pivotally connected to the cylinder substantially at its distal end, the arms pivoting between an open position and a closed position, the inner surface of each arm adjacent and substantially overlapping the exterior surface of the cylinder in the open position, and wherein at least a portion the inner surface of each arm extends beyond the distal end of the cylinder and is adjacent tissue in the closed position; and wherein each arm has a pivoting end and a far end, the forward edge and the trailing edge extending between the pivoting end and the far end, each of the arms pivoting substantially around the pivoting end.