Patent ID: 8579930
Filing Date: 2013-11-12
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A surgical instrument for releasing soft tissue, the surgical instrument comprising: a handle having proximal and distal ends, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween; a tube having a first end and second end, a longitudinal axis extending therebetween and a slot disposed at least partially along a superior surface of the tube and extending along the longitudinal axis, the first end being configured to facilitate the insertion of the surgical instrument into the human body and the second end being configured to couple to the distal end of the handle; a blade member having a cutting edge, wherein the blade member is configured to slide within the slot of the tube with the cutting edge extending exterior to the tube to release soft tissue; and a guard member, the guard member comprising a hood portion and a capture portion, wherein when an inferior surface of the hood portion is connected to a superior surface of the blade member, the capture portion is positioned distal to the cutting edge of the blade member and extends from and slants in an inferior direction from the hood portion to displace surrounding tissue when the blade member is moved within the slot, and the guard member moves with the blade member.