The invention relates to shielded reciprocating cutting tool such as a surgical file system for precisely removing bone and/or other tissue material. The system allows a user to maneuver the system and navigate into hard to access sites under a direct vision mechanism included in the system. A transmission mechanism converts rotary motion from a motor into reciprocating motion and provides it to a cutting tool such as the surgical file for precision bone and/or tissue removal. A pulsatile pump mechanism can be operatively coupled with the transmission mechanism and provides irrigating fluid to the surgical site.