Patent ID: 11877766
Assignee: MAYO FOUNDATION FOR MEDICAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. A device for cutting a transverse carpal ligament in a carpal tunnel region of a patient's hand, the device comprising:
a handle, comprising;
a slider;
an inflation device housed at least partially in the handle; and
a control for operating the inflation device, wherein the handle, the slider, the control, and the inflation device are configured to be held in and operated by one hand;

a shaft extending from the handle, the shaft comprising a single piece with an opening extending along a longitudinal length of a top surface of the shaft;
a blade disposed within the shaft and configured to extend out of and slide along the shaft opening to cut the transverse carpal ligament, the blade comprising:
a blade shaft coupled with the slider on the handle and extending to a distal portion of the shaft; and
a blade working end on a distal end of the blade shaft;

a guideway in the shaft that extends in a direction parallel to the longitudinal length, wherein the blade, when actuated by the slider, travels proximally along the guideway from a first inactive position in the distal portion of the shaft to an active, raised position where the blade working end extends through the opening on the shaft to cut the transverse carpal ligament, to a second inactive position in a proximal portion of the shaft; and
at least one balloon coupled with the shaft to help form a safe zone for the blade.