Patent ID: 9549723
Date: 2017-01-24
CPC Classifications: A61B

Claim:
1. A surgical instrument comprising: a first member having a first handle portion and a first blade coupled to the first handle portion, the first blade comprising an inner surface and an outer surface; a second member having a second handle portion and a second blade coupled to the second handle portion, the second blade being disposed at an angle relative to the first blade, the second blade comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, at least one of the inner surfaces defining at least one mating element and the outer surfaces being engageable with tissue; a pin extending through the handle portions such that the first handle portion is pivotable relative to the second handle portion about the pin and the blades are relatively movable between a first configuration and a second configuration to space the tissue and define an opening between the blades, wherein the angle increases as the blades move from the first configuration to the second configuration; and at least one third member defining at least one mating element engageable with the at least one mating element of the inner surface such that the at least one third member is disposed within the opening.