Patent ID: 8585725

Claim:
A laparoscopic scalpel, comprising: a shaft having a continuous outer surface wherein the shaft extends longitudinally from a handle and the handle has a longitudinal axis that is generally perpendicularly oriented relative to the shaft; a longitudinal recess disposed in the surface of the shaft proximal to a distal end of the shaft, wherein the longitudinal recess defines a single surface disposed into the shaft, the single surface being curved, the longitudinal recess having a proximal and a distal end along a longitudinal axis of the shaft, and a distal portion of the curved surface of the recess is oriented at a first angle relative to the outer surface of the shaft and a proximal portion of the curved surface of the recess is oriented at a second angle relative to the outer surface of the shaft, and wherein the first angle is larger than the second angle; and a blade attached to the shaft, wherein the blade includes a cutting edge exposed by the recess and oriented outwardly from the recess and away from the curved surface.