Patent ID: 8911461

Claim:
A suture cutter for cutting a suture located within a patient, comprising: an actuator for manipulation by a medical professional; an intermediate cannula portion operatively coupled to the actuator; and a cutting assembly operatively coupled to the intermediate cannula portion and the actuator, the cutting assembly including a blade housing defined by a distal end, wherein the cutting assembly includes a movable cutting element that moves within a slot formed in the blade housing and includes an opening in the form of a through hole formed therein, and an adjustably sized cutting window that is at least partially defined by the opening, wherein the slot terminates in a closed end located proximate the distal end of the blade housing and is located between the cutting window and the distal end of the blade housing, the closed end of the slot limiting a degree of travel of the cutting element disposed therein, the blade housing having a first fixed aperture for permitting the suture to pass external to the blade housing and a second fixed aperture for permitting the suture to pass external to the blade housing, each of the first and second apertures being formed and open along an exterior surface of the blade housing, the first aperture being longitudinally offset from the second aperture and closer to the distal end compared to the second aperture, wherein the blade housing has a fixed channel formed therein that connects and extends between the first aperture and the second aperture with the slot intersecting the channel, the fixed channel being defined by an angled wall as a result of a bore being formed in the blade housing, the slot intersecting the fixed channel such that a first section of the angled wall lies on one side of the slot and cutting element, while a second section of the angled wall lies on an opposite side of the slot and cutting element, wherein the cutting assembly is configured to cut a suture received inside of the cutting window as the size of the cutting window is reduced upon actuation of the actuator.