Patent ID: 7105005

Claim:
An arteriotomy scissors comprising: a sleeve having a longitudinal axis, a distal end, and a proximal end, the distal end having a first region with a first cross section dimension and a second region with a second, reduced cross section dimension that is fixedly positioned with respect to the first region; a fixed blade having a cutting edge fixedly mounted to the second region at the distal end of the sleeve; a movable blade having a cutting edge pivotally mounted with respect to the fixed blade to the second region at the distal end of the sleeve; the cutting edge of one of the fixed and movable blades extending at an angle less than ninety degrees with respect to the sleeve longitudinal axis, and the cutting edge of the other of the fixed and moveable blades extending at an angle greater than ninety degrees with respect to the sleeve longitudinal axis, to form a cutting gap that opens in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve and, wherein the cutting gap formed by the fixed blade and the movable blade is substantially located within a projection space along the longitudinal axis defined by an outer perimeter of the cross section of the first region of the sleeve distal end and the movable blade is substantially located within the projection space when the movable blade is in an open cutting position with respect to the fixed blade; and an actuation rod having a distal end and a proximal end, the actuation rod extending through the sleeve, and the distal end of the actuation rod mounted to the movable blade.