Patent ID: 6537280
Filing Date: 2003-03-25
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A surgical osteotome for being reciprocatively driven to cut anatomical tissue at an operative site in a patient's body comprisingan elongate shaft having a distal end and having a proximal end by which said elongate shaft is reciprocated; and a cutting element at said distal end including a longitudinal axis and a distal length portion having a lower part and an upper part extending distally of said lower part, said upper part being defined by an upper surface of said cutting element and by lateral surfaces angled inwardly toward one another in a distal direction such that said upper part is of decreasing width in said distal direction, said lower part being defined by a lower surface of said cutting element and by lateral surfaces angled inwardly toward one another in said distal direction at a greater angle than said lateral surfaces of said upper part such that said lower part decreases in width in said distal direction at a greater rate than said upper part and said lateral surfaces of said lower part are disposed laterally inwardly of said lateral surfaces of said upper part, said lateral surfaces of said lower part merging distally at a transverse cutting edge, said lateral surfaces of said upper part merging distally at a blunt tip disposed distally of said cutting edge, said cuffing edge being adapted to cut anatomical tissue when said cutting element is advanced distally along the tissue while being reciprocated along with said shaft, said tip leading said cutting element as it is advanced distally along the anatomical tissue.