Patent ID: 8574253

Claim:
A uterine fibroid tissue removal device, comprising: an elongate outer tubular member having an outside diameter of no more than about 3.5 mm, the outer tubular member including a tissue receiving side window configured to receive uterine fibroid tissue to be severed from a uterus wall; an inner tubular member positioned within the outer tubular member, the inner tubular member comprising a proximal end, an open distal end, and a tissue aspiration lumen extending therebetween; a translational drive configured to oscillate the inner tubular member translationally along a longitudinal axis of the inner tubular member, such that the open distal end of the inner tubular member oscillates translationally across the tissue receiving side window of the outer tubular member to thereby sever uterine fibroid tissue extending therethrough; and a rotational drive that rotates the inner tubular member at a rate of at least 5000 revolutions per minute about the longitudinal axis of the inner tubular member while the inner tubular member oscillates translationally across the tissue receiving side window, such that the device is capable of removing uterine fibroid tissue severed by the inner tubular member at a rate of at least about 1.8 gm/min.