Micro-resecting and evoked potential monitoring system and method

A surgical micro-resecting system comprising:

• a micro-resecting instrument including:
• an outer tubular member having a lumen, a proximal section, and a distal section forming a cutting window fluidly connected to the lumen,
• an inner member disposed within the lumen and having a proximal portion and a distal portion including a cutting tip positioned at the cutting window upon final assembly,
• a hub assembly maintaining the proximal section and the proximal portion,
• an electrically non-conductive material covering a region of the outer tubular member distal the hub assembly,
• wiring electrically connected to the outer tubular member,
• where the instrument defines a probe surface proximate the cutting window, the probe surface characterized by the absence of the non-conductive material, wherein the probe surface is defined at least in part by an exposed distal region of the outer tubular member and at least in part by the cutting tip;
• and further wherein an electrical pathway is established from the wiring to the probe surface;
• a motorized handpiece selectively coupled to the hub assembly for rotating the inner member relative to the outer tubular member wherein the hub assembly is configured to electrically isolate the micro-resecting instrument from the motorized handpiece;
• and
• an evoked potential monitoring device having an energy source selectively coupled to the wiring for applying a stimulation energy to the probe surface via the wiring and configured to evaluate a proximity of the probe surface relative to a bodily structure of interest, wherein the motorized handpiece is electronically coupled to the evoked potential monitoring device and further wherein the evoked potential monitoring device is adapted to prompt disablement of the motorized handpiece based upon an evaluated proximity of the probe surface relative to a bodily structure of interest.