Patent ID: 9017327
Filing Date: 2015-04-28
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A medical instrument comprising: an elongate frame with proximal and distal ends spaced in a lengthwise direction along a central axis of the frame; an operating assembly at a proximal region of the frame; and a working assembly at a distal region of the frame, the working assembly comprising a cantilevered tip with a free end and reconfigurable by an operator through the operating assembly by selectively reorienting the tip relative to: a) the frame; and b) a reference plane extending through the frame orthogonally to the central axis at a location on the frame spaced axially from the working assembly toward the operating assembly, in a range between first and second positions, the tip in one position within the range projecting in a first axial direction toward the reference plane to allow the tip free end to be engaged with a human body part at an operation site and controllably engaged and moved through the medical instrument guidingly along the tip to a cutting location, the working assembly comprising at least one cautery component that: a) contacts a human body part at the cutting location; and b) is operable to generate a current that dissects a contacted portion of the human body part at the cutting location, wherein with the tip in the one position the tip and frame cooperatively define a “U” shape with a base and spaced legs opening in a proximal direction and the at least one cautery component is at the base of the “U” so that tissue can be guided by the “U” shape to and against the at least one cautery component.