Surgical Tool Systems, and Methods of Use Thereof

A method of treating tissue at a surgical site comprising:

• operating a surgical cutting tool including a cutting element rotatably disposed in a housing such that the cutting element rotates in a first direction within the housing, the rotation in the first direction generating a first cutting action and a second cutting action,
• the first cutting action including a scissoring action between a first surface portion of the cutting element and an edge of a housing window of the housing to cut tissue, and
• the second cutting action being through contact of a second surface portion of the cutting element with tissue when the second surface portion is exposed through the housing window,
• wherein the first cutting action is configured to cut tissue having a first hardness and the second cutting action is configured to cut tissue having a second hardness different from the first hardness.

A method of treating tissue at a surgical site comprising:

• operating a surgical cutting tool such that a cutting element of the surgical cutting tool rotates in a first direction within a housing of the surgical cutting tool to cause a first cutting action between a cutting edge of a window of the cutting element and an edge of a housing window of the housing;
• and
• operating the surgical cutting tool such that the cutting element rotates in a second direction opposite the first direction to cause a second cutting action by a cutting surface of the cutting element, the cutting surface being spaced apart from the window,
• wherein the first cutting action is configured to cut tissue having a first hardness and the second cutting action is configured to cut tissue having a second hardness different from the first hardness.

A method of treating tissue at a surgical site comprising:

• operating a cutting element of a surgical cutting tool in a first mode within a housing of the surgical cutting tool, the operation in the first mode causing a cutting surface defined in part by a cylindrical profile of the cutting element to cut tissue when exposed through a housing window of the housing;
• and
• operating the cutting element in a second mode within the housing to cause a cutting edge defined in part by the cylindrical profile of the cutting element to cut tissue when the cutting edge passes an edge of the housing window, the cutting edge being part of a periphery of a window of the cutting element,
• wherein the first mode is configured to cut tissue having a first hardness and the second mode is configured to cut tissue having a second hardness different from the first hardness.