Patent ID: 7048746

Claim:
A suture removal instrument comprising: (a) an elongated body having a proximal handle portion and insulated distal portion; (b) a first conductive member extending from the insulated distal portion of said elongated body in a parallel fashion, being substantially straight along their respective longitudinal axes, said first conductive member terminating in a tapered tip; (c) a resistive heating element extending in a linear fashion between said first and second conductive members, wherein said resistive heating element is affixed at its proximal end to the distal end of said second conductive member and at its distal end to said tapered tip of said first condnctive member such that said resistive heating element forms an acute angle with the longitudinal axis of said first conductive member, said angle dictated by the respective lengths of the conductive members and the spacing there between; (d) conduction means for supplying power to said heating element; and (e) activation means for controlling the supply of power to said heating element.