Curved burr surgical instrument

1. A tissue resection device, comprising:

a hollow member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis;

a drive member situated at least partly within the hollow member;

a rotary cutting member for side cutting, the rotary cutting member having an elongate body with a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end, wherein the proximal end of the elongate body is coupled to the drive member and wherein the elongate body has an hourglass shaped section between the proximal end of the elongate body and the distal end of the elongate body along the longitudinal axis of the elongate body;

the hollow member comprising an opening, formed in the distal end of the hollow member along the longitudinal axis of the hollow member, the opening of the hollow member sized and shaped to partially expose the rotary cutting member through the opening of the hollow member, the shape of the opening in the direction of the axis of the hollow member having edges that are concave shaped and are substantially similar to the hourglass shaped section of the elongate body, wherein the rotary cutting member partially protrudes from the opening of the hollow member;

and a protective hood adapted to partially surround the rotary cutting member, wherein the protective hood comprises a second opening formed in a distal end of the protective hood along the longitudinal axis of the elongate body, the second opening of the protective hood being sized and shaped to partially expose the rotary cutting member through the second opening of the protective hood, wherein the shape of the second opening of the protective hood in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the elongate body has edges that are concave shaped and are substantially similar to the hourglass shaped section of the elongate body.

2. The tissue resection device of claim 1 , wherein the rotary cutting member is coaxial with and received within the hollow member.

3. The tissue resection device of claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal axis of the rotary cutting member is parallel to or identical with the longitudinal axis of the hollow member, wherein the rotary cutting member is received within the hollow member.

4. The tissue resection device of claim 1 , wherein a distance that the rotary cutting member protrudes from the opening of the hollow member is selectively adjustable.

5. The tissue resection device of claim 1 , wherein the elongate body of the rotary cutting member further comprises an end cutting portion formed in the distal end of the elongate body of the rotary cutting member.

6. The tissue resection device of claim 5 , wherein the end cutting portion is at least partially hemispherical in shape.

7. The tissue resection device of claim 1 , wherein the protective hood is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the elongate body to selectively cover and uncover the rotary cutting member.

8. The tissue resection device of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the hollow member surrounding the rotary cutting member comprises a transparent material.

9. The tissue resection device of claim 1 , wherein the rotary cutting member comprises: a first portion having a first width; a second portion having a second width; and a middle portion having a third width, the middle portion intermediate the first portion and the second portion, wherein the first width of the first portion and the second width of the second portion are greater than the third width of the middle portion.

10. The tissue resection device of claim 1 , wherein the protective hood can be selectively translated along the longitudinal axis of the hollow member to cover or uncover the rotary cutting member.

11. The tissue resection device of claim 1 , wherein the opening provides a depth stop.

12. The tissue resection device of claim 1 , wherein the rotary cutting member is a burr.

13. The tissue resection device of claim 1 , wherein the rotary cutting member is a rasp.