Patent ID: 7591817
Filing Date: 2009-09-22
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A surgical instrument comprising: an elongate shaft having a longitudinal shaft axis, a proximal grip end, and a distal working end, the shaft being rotatable about its longitudinal axis by user manipulation of the proximal grip end; an energy source coupled to the surgical instrument; a tissue retainer positioned at the distal working end of the shaft and rotatable with the shaft, the retainer having a curved portion that lies in a plane that extends around a retainer axis between a first end and a second end with the retainer axis being perpendicular to the plane in which the curved portion lies, a tissue holding space within the curved portion, and the first and second ends of the curved portion being spaced to define an entry opening into the holding space, the retainer configured to be received over and at least partly circumvent a target structure of a surgical field received in the holding space via the entry opening; and an elongated surgical dissection component depending from the retainer generally parallel to but laterally offset from the retainer axis and rotatable with rotation of the shaft and retainer, the surgical dissection component being the only section of the surgical instrument selectively energizeable by the energy source to dissect selected tissue contacting the surgical instrument.