Tissue resecting instrument including an outflow control seal

An end effector assembly of a tissue resecting instrument, the end effector assembly comprising:

• a housing;
• a first shaft extending from the housing and configured to rotate and reciprocate relative to the housing to cut tissue;
• and
• an inner core drive assembly disposed at least partially within the housing, the inner core drive assembly operably coupled to the first shaft and configured such that a rotational input provided to the inner core drive assembly effects the rotation and reciprocation of the first shaft relative to the housing, the inner core drive assembly including:
• a proximal portion translationally fixed and rotatably coupled to the housing, the proximal portion configured to receive the rotational input and to rotate relative to the housing in response thereto;
• and
• a distal portion translationally and rotatably coupled to the housing and operably coupled to the proximal portion such that the rotation of the proximal portion relative to the housing effects rotation and reciprocation of the distal portion relative to the housing to thereby rotate and reciprocate the first shaft relative to the housing;
• and
• a seal member disposed on the distal portion and slidably received within the proximal portion, wherein in at least one first translational position of the distal portion relative to the proximal portion, the seal member establishes a seal about an inner surface of the proximal portion to inhibit fluid flow therebetween and wherein, in at least one second position of the distal portion relative to the proximal portion, the seal member is displaced to permit fluid flow between the proximal and distal portions.

A tissue resecting instrument, comprising:

• a handpiece assembly including a drive rotor and an outflow conduit;
• and
• an end effector assembly configured to releasably engage the handpiece assembly, the end effector assembly comprising:
• a housing;
• a first shaft extending from the housing and configured to rotate and reciprocate relative to the housing to cut tissue;
• and
• an inner core drive assembly disposed at least partially within the housing, the inner core drive assembly operably coupled to the first shaft and configured such that a rotational input provided from the drive rotor to the inner core drive assembly effects the rotation and reciprocation of the first shaft relative to the housing, the inner core drive assembly including:
• a proximal portion translationally fixed and rotatably coupled to the housing, the proximal portion configured to receive the rotational input and to rotate relative to the housing in response thereto;
• and
• a distal portion translationally and rotatably coupled to the housing and operably coupled to the proximal portion such that the rotation of the proximal portion relative to the housing effects rotation and reciprocation of the distal portion relative to the housing to thereby rotate and reciprocate the first shaft relative to the housing;
• and
• a seal member disposed on the distal portion and slidably received within the proximal portion, wherein in at least one first translational position of the distal portion relative to the proximal portion, the seal member establishes a seal about an inner surface of the proximal portion to inhibit fluid flow from the end effector assembly to the outflow conduit of the handpiece assembly and wherein, in at least one second position of the distal portion relative to the proximal portion, the seal member is displaced to permit fluid flow from the end effector assembly to the outflow conduit of the handpiece assembly.