Patent ID: 8979879
Filing Date: 2015-03-17
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. A surgical instrument with an exposed cutting edge for cutting body tissue, said instrument comprising: a handle assembly, said handle assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, said handle assembly having an axis extending from said proximal end to said distal end; a first jaw extending from said handle assembly at said proximal end, said first jaw having a bottom edge, a second jaw extending from said handle assembly at said proximal end, said second jaw having a bottom edge, said second jaw being slidably moveable with respect to said first jaw; said handle assembly movable for: (i) selectively forcing said first and second jaws into contact with one another; and (ii) selectively forcing said first and second jaws apart from one another; and said first and second jaws sized and positioned to bring said jaws into face-to-face contact with said bottom edges aligned to form a single exposed and unenclosed cutting edge when said handle assembly is used to move said first and second jaws into contact one with one another, whereby said cutting edge can be used to form a cut in said body tissue and said first and second jaws can be used to widen said cut when said handle assembly is used to move said first and second jaws away from one another.