Patent ID: 8257364

Claim:
An amniotomy assembly comprising: an amniotomy device comprising a shaft including a rupture crown disposed on a distal end portion of the shaft, the rupture crown including a first set of leading bite wings formed on a distal end of the rupture crown and a second set of trailing bite wings formed on a side of the rupture crown adjacent to a side of the shaft, wherein the first set of leading bite wings is configured to engage an amniotic membrane and pull the amniotic membrane toward the second set of trailing bite wings without rupturing the amniotic membrane; and a tubular sleeve disposed over at least a portion of the shaft and selectively lockable to the shaft, wherein an interior surface of a distal end of the tubular sleeve comprises pincers configured to sever tissue entrained by the rupture crown; wherein the tubular sleeve is movable relative to the rupture crown between a first position in which the rupture crown resides within the tubular sleeve and a second position in which the rupture crown extends from the tubular sleeve, and wherein the pulling of the amniotic membrane toward the second set of trailing bite wings facilitates rupturing of the amniotic membrane by at least one of the second set of trailing bite wings and the tubular sleeve.