Patent ID: 8128649
Filing Date: 2012-03-06
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A surgical instrument comprising: an elongate hollow member having a proximal end and a distal end; an actuator that moves axially through said hollow member; first and second scissor blades rotatably coupled adjacent said distal end of said hollow member; and said actuator coupled to at least one of said first and second scissor blades to provide rotational movement to at least one of said first and second scissor blades relative to one another in response to axial movement of said actuator so as to rotate said at least one of said first and second scissors blades, wherein said first scissors blade includes a first feature with a first cutting edge, wherein said second scissors blade includes a longitudinally extending rigid supporting base having a midline and a longitudinally extending lateral side offset relative to said midline, and immediately adjacent said base a resilient leaf-spring portion substantially thinner than said base having a deflectable second cutting edge that extends along a length of said leaf-spring portion, said leaf-spring portion extending from said lateral side of said base in a cantilevered arrangement such that said leaf-spring portion is laterally offset from said midline of said base, and said leaf-spring portion extends from said lateral side of said base at a bias angle relative to said base, and wherein as said at least one of said first and second scissors blades is rotated relative to the other between open and closed positions, (i) said first and second cutting edges are brought into contact with each other at a contact point, said contact point moving along said length of said leaf spring portion as said first and second scissors blades are rotated, and said second cutting edge resiliently deflects against said first cutting edge at said contact point, (ii) said bias angle of said leaf-spring portion relative to said base generates a lateral spring force in a direction transverse to a plane through which one of said first and second scissors blades is rotated relative to the other when said first and second blades are moved relative to each other between said open and closed positions and against said first feature of said first blade, and (iii) said leaf-spring portion is flat when not subject to deflection.