Tissue cutter with differential hardness

A uterine fibroid tissue removal device, comprising:

• a housing;
• an outer tube having a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end of the outer tube supported by the housing, the outer tube configured for transcervical insertion into a uterus and having a side opening proximate the distal end of the outer tube;
• an inner tube formed from a first material and having an axial lumen, the inner tube being disposed within the outer tube and configured to be translated and rotated relative to the outer tube during operation of the tissue removal device;
• and
• a unitary distal tip member formed separately from the inner tube out of a second material harder than the first material, the distal tip member being attached to a distal end of the inner tube such that an axial lumen of the distal tip member is in fluid communication with the inner tube axial lumen, and such that the distal tip member translates and rotates relative to the outer tube along with the inner tube during operation of the tissue removal device, wherein a distal facing open cutting end of the distal tip member in fluid communication with the lumen of the distal tip member translates across the side opening of the outer tube to sever tissue extending therethrough,
• wherein the axial lumen of the distal tip member is smaller in cross-sectional area than the axial lumen of the inner tube, and
• wherein the distal facing open cutting end of the distal tip member comprises an external bevel.