Removing tissue

1. An instrument comprising:

an elongate body portion defining a lumen and having a distal end and a proximal end, the elongate body portion extending along a longitudinal axis;

an open member extending distally from the distal end of the elongate body portion, the open member defining an opening for receiving tissue, wherein the opening is defined by a plane that is perpendicular to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;

a rotating drive shaft extending within the lumen; and

a rotatable cutting member, a proximal end of the rotatable cutting member coupled to and extending distally of a distal end of the rotating drive shaft, the rotatable cutting member configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis to circumscribe a volume partially enclosed by the open member, wherein the rotatable cutting member consists of a single arcuate shaped cutting member.

2. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the open member further houses the rotatable cutting member.

3. The instrument of claim 2 , wherein the rotatable cutting member rotates out of the open member as the rotatable cutting member circumscribes a volume in order to morcellate tissue.

4. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the open member comprises a hemispherical wall.

5. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the tissue is bladder or prostate tissue.

6. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the elongate body portion defines a second lumen disposed therethrough, the second lumen having a distal port proximate to the cutting member and a proximal opening proximate to the distal end of the elongate body portion.

7. The instrument of claim 6 , further comprising a suction source operably coupled to the open member by way of the second lumen to facilitate removal of morcellated tissue.

8. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the rotatable cutting member consists of a single arcuate shaped blade.

9. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein a distalmost end of the rotatable cutting member is configured to remain proximal of the open member throughout use of the instrument.

10. An instrument comprising:

an elongate body portion having a longitudinal axis;

a hemispherical wall extending distally from a distal end of the elongate body portion, the hemispherical wall defining an opening for receiving tissue and a compartment for holding morcellated tissue, wherein the opening is defined by a plane that is perpendicular to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;

a rotatable drive shaft disposed within the elongate body portion; and

a cutting member extending distally from the distal end of the elongate body portion, a proximal end of the cutting member coupled to the rotatable drive shaft and extending distally of the rotatable drive shaft, the cutting member configured to circumscribe a volume about the longitudinal axis, wherein the cutting member consists of a single arcuate shaped cutting member.

11. The instrument of claim 10 , wherein the cutting member is configured to morcellate tissue upon rotation.

12. The instrument of claim 11 , wherein the tissue is removed from a bladder or a prostate.

13. The instrument of claim 11 , wherein the compartment further houses the cutting member.

14. The instrument of claim 11 , wherein the cutting member is disposed within the hemispherical wall.

15. The instrument of claim 14 , wherein the cutting member rotates out of the hemispherical wall as the rotatable cutting member circumscribes a volume in order to morcellate tissue.

16. The instrument of claim 10 , wherein the elongate body portion defines a second lumen therethrough.

17. The instrument of claim 16 , further comprising a suction source operably coupled to the compartment by way of the second lumen to facilitate removal of the captured morcellated tissue.

18. The instrument of claim 10 , wherein the cutting member consists of a single arcuate shaped blade.