US Patent 12004913 Methods of reprocessing a surgical instrument

A method of reprocessing a surgical instrument that includes a handpiece having opposed shells secured together with a fastener, a shroud secured to the handpiece and overlaying the fastener and a portion of the handpiece, an outer shaft extending from the shroud and defining a cutting window, and a cutting shaft movable within the outer shaft and including a cutting tip for resecting tissue within the cutting window is disclosed. The method includes mutilating the shroud so as to remove the shroud from the handpiece, removing the fastener, separating the opposed shells to access an interior of the handpiece, servicing or replacing at least one component within the interior of the handpiece, securing the opposed shells to one another with the fastener or another fastener, and securing a replacement shroud to the handpiece.