A self-cleaning tissue removal instrument is disclosed and described herein. The self-cleaning tissue removal instrument generally comprising: a handle operably coupled with a proximal end of a rail portion a jaw portion operably coupled to a distal end of the rail portion, a longitudinal axis running along the proximal portion to the distal portion of the self-cleaning tissue removal instrument wherein the jaw portion is moved from an open position to a closed position by operation of the rail portion translating along the longitudinal axis of the self-cleaning tissue removal instrument, and the jaw portion clamps down and removes tissue in the closed position and a cleaning mechanism operably coupled with the rail portion, whereby the cleaning mechanism disengages any tissue attached to the jaw portion when the jaw portion longitudinally translates to the open position.
