Surgical device with surgical element removably connected to drive element

A rotatable surgical device comprising:

• a stationary element having an opening disposed in a distal region thereof for admitting tissue;
• a rotatable drive element disposed within said stationary element, said drive element having a proximal end configured to be coupled to a source for rotating the drive element with respect to said stationary element about an axis of rotation, and a distal end having an axially extending surface;
• a handpiece for rotating said drive element;
• and
• a surgical element disposed within said stationary element for cutting tissue that is admitted through said opening, said surgical element having a proximal portion removably connectable to said distal end of said drive element for transmitting driving torque from said drive element to said surgical element while allowing said surgical element at least one degree of freedom of motion relative to said drive element, said proximal portion having an axially extending surface that is engaged by the axially extending surface of said drive element during rotation thereof;
• said distal region of said stationary element being at least partially closed distally of said opening to provide an abutment against which said drive element urges said surgical element during rotation to maintain said drive element and surgical element in torque-transmitting relation, said distal region being configured to maintain an amount by which said axially extending surfaces engage each other substantially constant throughout the rotation of the drive element.

A rotatable surgical device comprising

• a stationary element having an opening disposed in a distal region thereof for admitting tissue;
• a drive element disposed within said stationary element, said drive element being rotatable with respect to said stationary element about an axis of rotation and having a plurality of spaced tabs each of which includes a pair of axially extending edges that terminate at a surface disposed transversely to said edges;
• and
• a surgical element disposed within said stationary element for cutting tissue that is admitted through said opening, said surgical element having a portion removable connectable to said drive element for transmitting driving torque from said drive element to said surgical element while allowing said surgical element at least one degree of freedom of motion relative to said drive element, said portion having a plurality of spaced tabs configured to be disposed between said spaced tabs of said drive element, each of said spaced tabs of said portion including a pair of axially extending edges that terminate at a surface disposed transversely to said axially extending edges of said portion and that engage said axially extending edges of said spaced tabs of said drive element;
• said distal region of said stationary element being at least partially closed distally of said opening to provide an abutment against which said drive element urges said surgical element during rotation to maintain said drive element and said surgical element in torque-transmitting relation, said distal region being configured to maintain one of said axially extending edges of each of said spaced tabs of said drive element in engagement with one of said axially extending edges of each of said spaced tabs of said surgical element throughout the rotation of the drive element.