Why buy from Clear Choice Medical
- Free domestic shipping
- 30-day warranty against functional defects
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Each listing is photographed individually. Check the title and photos for the cable, the connector and anything else included, and ask us if something is unclear.
Buyer's guide
Start with the console, not the handpiece
A shaver handpiece is only useful on the platform it was built for. Stryker Formula and CORE, ConMed Linvatec Apex and PowerPro, Smith & Nephew Dyonics, and Arthrex APS each use their own connector, control protocol, and motor drive. Identify the console make and model first, then filter. The model number is printed on the console faceplate. If you are unsure, photograph it and send it to us, and we will search our listings for that platform.
Blade and bur types
Shaver blades come in named designs such as full-radius resectors, aggressive or serrated cutters and end cutters. Burs come in shapes such as round, oval, barrel and acorn. Diameter is stated in millimeters, commonly from about 2.0 mm to 5.5 mm. Which design and size suit a case is a clinical decision for your surgeons. For purchasing, the blade has to match the handpiece hub, not only the brand on the box.
Control scheme and what is in the box
Confirm how your team drives the shaver: hand control on the handpiece, a footswitch or both. Forward, reverse and oscillate modes vary by platform, so confirm the modes you need. Then check the cable. A handpiece without its cable and connector is a different purchase. Check the title and photos for both, and ask us if either is unclear.
Specifications
| Specification | Common values |
|---|---|
| Console Platform | Stryker Formula / CORE · ConMed Linvatec Apex / PowerPro · Smith & Nephew Dyonics · Arthrex APS |
| Motor Type | Electric, with the motor in the handpiece |
| Blade Diameter | About 2.0 mm to 5.5 mm |
| Blade Type | Full-radius resector, aggressive / serrated cutter, meniscal cutter, end cutter |
| Bur Shape | Round, oval, barrel, acorn |
| RPM Range | Varies by platform; commonly about 500-8,000 rpm for blades and higher for burs |
| Modes | Forward, reverse and oscillate; availability varies by platform |
| Control | Hand control, footswitch or both |
| Included Items | Varies; check the title and photos for the cable and connector |
Trusted brands
Manufacturers of this equipment include:
Clear Choice Medical is an independent supplier. We are not affiliated with, sponsored by, endorsed by, or an authorized dealer for any manufacturer named on this page. Manufacturer names and model designations appear solely to identify equipment and describe compatibility.
Buyer FAQ
1. Will a blade from one manufacturer fit another manufacturer's handpiece?
As a rule, no. Hub geometry and drive engagement are proprietary to each platform. Match the blade to the handpiece it was designed for.
2. Are shaver blades single-use?
Many are labeled single-use by the manufacturer. Whether a given device may be used more than once is governed by that labeling and by your facility policy, not by us. Check the listing title and photos for what the item is and how it is packaged.
3. Does the handpiece come with its cable?
Not always. Check the listing title and photos for the cable. If it is not included, ask us. We may have one for that handpiece listed separately.
4. Do items arrive sterile?
No. Everything ships non-sterile and must be processed by your facility per its own protocols and the manufacturer instructions before clinical use. Before we acquire equipment, the hospital or manufacturer it comes from must clean and sterilize it.
5. How do I find my console model number?
It is on the front faceplate and usually repeated on the rear label near the serial number. A photo of either lets us search our listings for that platform.
6. Do you carry consoles and footswitches as well as handpieces?
Yes. Consoles, footswitches and foot pedals are listed alongside the handpieces, blades and burs. What is in stock changes as inventory turns over, so search the model number of the system you run, and ask us if you do not see it.
7. What is the difference between an arthroscopic shaver handpiece and a blade?
The handpiece is the powered part of the shaver system. It connects to a console and drives a separate blade or bur. A blade or bur is the removable accessory at the working end, not another name for the handpiece. Listings may show a handpiece alone, an accessory alone, or a group of components. The product title and actual-item photographs should make clear which pieces are included in the offer.
8. What do forward, reverse, and oscillate mean on an arthroscopic shaver?
These are motor-drive modes. In forward mode, the accessory rotates in one direction; reverse rotates it in the opposite direction. Oscillate alternates the direction according to the system's design. The available settings are features of a particular console and handpiece, so the same labels do not describe every shaver system in identical detail. For a specific model, its manufacturer's documentation is the source for the available modes and their definitions.
9. What does blade diameter mean on an arthroscopic shaver?
Blade diameter is the stated outside diameter of a shaver accessory, normally measured in millimeters. It tells a buyer the size of that accessory, not its length, cutting-window shape or whether it is a blade or bur. Two products can therefore share a diameter but differ in other specifications. For a meaningful size comparison, look at the exact diameter shown on the listing and any other dimensions stated for that accessory.
10. What is the difference between an arthroscopic shaver blade and a bur?
A shaver blade generally has a tubular design with a cutting window and a moving inner element. A bur instead has a shaped cutting or abrasive head. These names describe two different accessory constructions, rather than two names for the same part. Both can appear in arthroscopic shaver listings, sometimes with similar size descriptions. Actual-item photographs and the specific product title help show whether the item offered is a blade or a bur.
About arthroscopic shaver systems
An arthroscopic shaver is a motorized cutting system built around a simple idea: an inner tube rotates or oscillates inside an outer tube that has a window cut into its side. Tissue is drawn into that window by suction running through the lumen, the inner blade shears it off, and the debris evacuates through the same channel. The result is controlled tissue removal in a fluid-filled joint with continuous clearing of the field.
The system has three parts and they are not interchangeable across brands. The console supplies power, sets speed and mode, and interprets the control input. The handpiece contains the motor and the collet that grips the blade. The blade or bur is the consumable. Because the connector, the drive coupling, and the control signaling are all proprietary, the first question in any purchase is which console platform the department runs — everything else follows from that answer.
Accessories are named by their cutting profile. Full-radius resectors, serrated or aggressive cutters and end cutters are common blade designs. Burs come in profiles such as round, oval, barrel and acorn. Diameters commonly run from about 2.0 mm to 5.5 mm. The design name, the diameter and the hub together identify an accessory, and the choice for a case belongs to the surgeon.
When buying a used handpiece, the details worth attention are the connector pins, the condition of the cable jacket where it meets the strain relief, whether the collet grips and releases a blade cleanly, and whether the motor runs without unusual noise. Each handpiece is photographed individually, and we will send extra images of the connector face, the cable or the collet on request.
If your department runs more than one platform, record which console is in which room before ordering. A handpiece made for one platform generally will not run on another.
Related pages
Not sure it is the right match? Call us at 727-482-5016 before you order. Tell us what you are matching to and we will confirm fit against the listing photos.