Patent ID: 8465490

Claim:
A device for cutting spinal tissue, the device comprising: a) an elongated body having a central passageway extending along a longitudinal axis from a distal body portion to a proximal body portion having a proximal open end; b) a drive shaft supported at the proximal body portion, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body; c) a blade enclosure supported at the distal body portion and comprising an enclosure sidewall extending along an enclosure axis, wherein the blade enclosure comprises a first enclosure opening and a second enclosure opening in open communication with the central passageway of the body, and wherein at least a portion of a first perimeter of the first enclosure opening provides an enclosure cutting surface; d) a shaver blade comprising a cylindrically-shaped blade sidewall extending along a blade axis, wherein a blade opening in the blade sidewall is defined by a second perimeter with at least a portion of the second perimeter providing a tissue cutting surface, and wherein the shaver blade is rotatably positioned within the blade enclosure; e) a drive belt connecting the shaver blade to the drive shaft; and f) wherein a rotational force imparted to the drive shaft causes the drive belt to effect rotational movement the shaver blade to thereby cause the tissue cutting surface to rotatably move into a closely-spaced cutting relationship with the enclosure cutting surface to thereby cut tissue that is then movable along the central passageway of the body to the proximal open end thereof.