SURGICAL INSTRUMENT HAVING CUTTING ASSEMBLY WITH GRIP

A cutting assembly (14) for a surgical instrument (10) for use on a patient is configured to be coupled to a drive assembly (12) including a motor (16) having a rotatable drive element (18) enclosed in a housing (15). The cutting assembly (14) comprises a rotatable inner member (28) adapted to be rotated by the drive element (18) and an outer tube (26) disposed over the inner member (28). A cutting window (22) is at a distal end (23) of the outer tube (26) and adapted to be applied to a surgical site of a patient. A grip (40) supports the outer tube (26), wherein the grip (40) is configured to be engaged by a least a portion of a palm of a hand of a user. The grip (40) comprises a nose portion (42) having an aperture (43) extending axially therethrough to allow the inner member (28) to extend axially therethrough, and a finger portion (44) extending from the nose portion (42) to support a finger of the hand, and an intermediate portion (48) extending axially from the finger portion (44). The intermediate portion (48) forms an open area ledge (50) with the nose portion (42).