Patent ID: 6048354
Filing Date: 2000-04-11
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A knife assembly for creating a percutaneous incision in a living body comprising;a. An elongate hollow rectangular handle having a closed first end, an open second end and a slot extending along one side, said handle defining a first longitudinal central axis,b. A knife blade and introducer assembly slidably housed in said handle for sliding along said first axis, said knife blade being substantially flat and rigidly attached to one end of said introducer, said introducer having a longitudinal bore which extends along a second axis parallel to said first axis,c. A locking button attached to said introducer and extending through said slot in said handle and,d. A needle affixed to said first end of said handle extending through said handle along said second axis and beyond said second end of said handle and also extending through said longitudinal bore of said introducer,whereby said knife blade and said introducer can be slid into and out of said handle along said first axis and locked in a retracted position wherein said knife blade is enclosed by said handle and slid to an extended position wherein said knife blade extends from and beyond said second end of said handle by releasing said locking button and sliding it along said slot.