Surgical cutting instrument

A surgical cutting instrument for use within an anatomical space comprising:

• an outer tubular assembly sized for percutaneous insertion into the anatomical space, said outer tubular assembly defining a longitudinal axis and a central bore therethrough along said axis, said outer tubular assembly including:
• a first outer tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a second outer tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end, said second outer tubular member further defining an opening adjacent said distal end sized to receive tissue therethrough;
• and
• a flexible tubular member connecting the distal end of said first outer tubular member with the proximal end of said second outer tubular member;
• a handpiece for supporting said first outer tubular member at said proximal end;
• and
• a cutting assembly slidably disposed within said central bore of said outer tubular assembly, said cutting member including:
• a tubular cutting head portion having a proximal end, a distal end, and defining a cutting edge at the distal end thereof;
• a drive portion extending axially through said central bore from the proximal end of said cutting head portion to said handpiece, said drive portion including a flexible drive member connected to said tubular cutting head portion, said flexible drive member being relatively more flexible than said cutting head portion;
• and
• connecting means within said handpiece for connecting said drive portion to a source of reciprocating motion to reciprocate said drive portion and thereby said cutting head portion within said outer tubular assembly so said cutting edge traverses said opening.