Patent ID: 7390330

Claim:
A surgical instrument comprising: a blade; a housing in which the blade moves, the housing having a long axis; a transmission that converts rotary motion to reciprocating, linear motion, wherein the transmission is coupled to the blade such that the blade moves reciprocally in the housing, the transmission comprising: two surfaces that are a substantially fixed distance apart; a cam that rotates about a central axis, said central axis being at an angle to a plane extending between the two surfaces; and the cam having a curvilinear body, the body having a nonuniform thickness, wherein the body continuously contacts the two surfaces as the cam rotates about the central axis, such that the two surfaces remain at the substantially fixed distance apart as they move linearly in response to the cam's rotation about the central axis; a first opening in the housing through which a portion of the blade is exposed; and a cutting surface on said exposed portion of the blade, said surface configured to perform at least one of grinding, filing, and cutting of tissue.