Multi-window surgical cutting apparatus

1. An apparatus comprising:

(a) a shaft, wherein the shaft comprises a longitudinal axis, wherein the shaft defines a lumen, wherein the shaft comprises a distal portion and a proximal portion, wherein the shaft comprises a first window region and a second window region;

(b) a first cutting edge disposed in said lumen and extending along a portion of the longitudinal axis, wherein the first cutting edge is configured to be cyclically moved across at least a portion of the first window region;

(c) a second cutting edge disposed in said lumen, wherein the second cutting edge is configured to be cyclically moved across at least a portion of the second window region;

(d) a first shield portion which is selectively rotatable relative to the shaft and the first cutting edge between a first position and a second position, wherein the first shield portion is configured to occlude the first window region when the first shield portion is rotated to the first position, wherein the first shield portion is configured to not occlude the first window region when the first shield portion is rotated to the second position; and

(e) a second shield portion which is selectively rotatable relative to the shaft and the second cutting edge between a third position and a fourth position, wherein the second shield portion is configured to occlude the second window region when the second shield portion is rotated to the third position, wherein the second shield portion is configured to not occlude the second window region when the second shield portion is rotated to the fourth position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first window region and the second window region are contiguous.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first window region and the second window region are axially aligned.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first window region is disposed in the distal portion.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the distal portion comprises a curved end, and wherein the second window region is disposed in the curved end.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first window region is oriented toward a first direction, wherein the first direction comprises a radial directional component relative to the longitudinal axis.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the first direction comprises only the radial directional component.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the second window region is oriented toward a second direction, wherein the second direction comprises an axial directional component relative to the longitudinal axis.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first window region is oriented toward a first direction, wherein the first direction comprises only an axial directional component relative to the longitudinal axis.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising a cutting member, wherein the cutting blade comprises the first cutting edge.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the cutting member comprises the second cutting edge.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising a shield member, wherein the shield member comprises the first shield portion and the second shield portion.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first shield portion and the second shield portion are axially aligned.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the shield member comprises a curved segment and wherein said second shield portion is disposed at the curved segment.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the shield member comprises a cylindraceous sector.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first shield portion is disposed in the lumen.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the second shield portion is disposed in the lumen.

18. An apparatus comprising:

(a) a shaft, wherein the shaft comprises a longitudinal axis, wherein the shaft defines a first lumen, wherein the shaft comprises a distal portion and a proximal portion, wherein the shaft comprises a first window region and a second window region, wherein the first window region is oriented toward a first direction which comprises only a radial directional component, wherein the second window region is oriented toward a second direction which comprises an axial directional component;

(b) a cutting member disposed in the first lumen, wherein the cutting member comprises a second lumen, wherein the cutting member comprises a first cutting edge disposed in said lumen, wherein the first cutting edge is configured to be cyclically rotated across at least a portion of the first window region, wherein the cutting member comprises a second cutting edge, wherein the second cutting edge is configured to be cyclically moved across at least a portion of the second window region; and

(c) a shield member which is selectively rotatable relative to the shaft and the cutting member between a first position and a second position, wherein the shield member is configured to occlude the first window region and not to occlude the second window region when the shield member is rotated to the first position, wherein the shield member is configured not to occlude the first window region and to occlude the second window region when the shield member is rotated to the second position.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , comprising a suction port in fluid communication with the second lumen.

20. An apparatus comprising:

(a) a handle assembly comprising

(i) a distal end and a proximal end; and

(ii) a suction port which is connectable to a vacuum source;

(b) a shaft assembly comprising:

(i) a shaft, wherein the shaft comprises a longitudinal axis, wherein the shaft defines a lumen, wherein the shaft comprises a distal portion and a proximal portion, wherein the proximal portion of the shaft is connected to the distal end of the handle assembly, wherein the shaft comprises a first window region and a second window region;

(ii) a cutting member disposed in the first lumen, wherein the cutting member is configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis, wherein the cutting member comprises a second lumen which is in fluid communication with the suction port, wherein the cutting member comprises a first cutting edge configured to be cyclically moved across at least a portion of the first window region, wherein the cutting member comprises a second cutting edge configured to be cyclically moved across at least a portion of the second window region; and

(iii) a shield member which is selectively rotatable relative to the shaft and the cutting member between a first position and a second position, wherein the shield member is configured to occlude the first window region and not to occlude the second window region when the shield member is rotated to the first position; wherein the shield member is configured not to occlude the first window region and to occlude the second window region when the shield member is rotated to the second position.