Patent ID: 8597307
Filing Date: 2013-12-03
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A surgical suture cutting device comprising: a hollow shaft extending along a longitudinal axis between a proximal handle and a distal suture guide, said suture guide comprising (i) an enclosed blade guide slot being aligned with said longitudinal axis and being defined in part by a ventrally facing upper wall, (ii) an open lateral suture guide slot being positioned distal to said blade guide slot and being defined in part by a dorsally facing lower wall, and (iii) a relief slot being aligned with said longitudinal axis and being positioned distal said lateral suture guide slot; and an blade comprising an extension blade portion extending along said longitudinal axis between a proximal blade portion and a distal blade portion, said distal blade portion comprising a sharpened inclined cutting edge being inclined to face away from said upper wall of said blade guide slot, to face away from a dorsal edge of said distal blade portion, and to face toward said lower wall of said suture guide slot, said distal blade portion being longitudinally movable in relation to said suture guide slot between a first position and a second position; wherein said dorsal edge of said distal blade portion comprises (i) a distal tall portion near said cutting edge, (ii) a inclined portion proximally adjacent said tall portion, and (iii) a recessed short portion proximally adjacent said inclined portion, wherein dorsal movement of said distal blade portion is limited by an interaction between at least said inclined portion and of said upper wall of said blade guide slot during longitudinal movement of said distal blade portion between said first position and said second position, and wherein said inclined portion of said dorsal edge is configured to be in contact with said upper wall of said blade guide slot for a predetermined longitudinal movement distance of said cutting edge such that dorsal movement of said cutting edge occurs simultaneously with said predetermined longitudinal movement distance.