US Patent 8172846 Method for performing high speed surgical procedures

A method for performing a surgical procedure on tissue at a target site of a patient includes providing a surgical cutting instrument including an outer tube, inner wire assembly and a cutting tip. The outer tube defines a curved segment. The inner wire assembly is rotatably disposed within the outer tube. The cutting tip is connected to the inner wire assembly and positioned at a distal end of the outer tube. The tissue at the target site is exposed and the cutting tip is deployed against the tissue. The method further includes rotating the inner wire assembly relative to the outer tube at speeds in excess of 50,000 RPM such that the cutting tip removes contacted tissue.