Patent ID: 7510563

Claim:
A surgical instrument, comprising: a cutting member including an implement for cutting tissue and a lumen extending longitudinally from a distal end of the cutting member; an outer tubular member that receives the cutting member, the outer tubular member including a cutting window disposed proximate to a tip of the outer tubular member; and a drive coupled to the cutting member to simultaneously rotate and translate the cutting member in response to a force applied to the drive; wherein the drive comprises: an aspiration opening; and a restriction mechanism that selectively restricts fluid flow from the lumen of the cutting member to the aspiration opening such that fluid is restricted from flowing out of the surgical instrument for at least some time during operation of the surgical instrument; wherein the selective restriction is caused by the movement of the drive; wherein the restriction mechanism includes: at least a section of a drive member attached to the cutting member and having a proximally-positioned opening that communicates with the lumen of the cutting member, and an inner drive hub that includes the aspiration opening.