Patent ID: 7131975

Claim:
A straightening tool for straightening an angled tissue cutting instrument including an elongate outer tubular member having a proximal length portion and an initial bend connecting the proximal length portion to a distal length portion extending from the bend to a distal end, and an elongate, flexible inner member movably disposed within the outer member to cut anatomical tissue, said straightening tool comprising a body having a central longitudinal axis, an elongate handle and an elongate positioning block extending longitudinally, forwardly from said handle, said handle and said positioning block being coaxial with said central longitudinal axis, said positioning block having a cavity defined between an internal rearward wall of said positioning block and an internal rearward intermediate wall of said positioning block spaced forwardly from said rearward wall, said cavity having a bottom wall connecting said rearward wall and said rearward intermediate wall, said cavity being open along a top of said positioning block, said positioning block having a longitudinal slot extending from an internal forward intermediate wall of said positioning block to a forward end wall of said positioning block, said slot being bounded rearwardly by said forward intermediate wall, inferiorly by a floor and laterally by opposing lateral walls, said slot having a top opening along said top of said positioning block and a forward opening along said forward end wall, said top opening communicating with said forward opening at said forward end wall, said positioning block having an internal bore extending longitudinally between said rearward intermediate wall and said forward intermediate wall, said bore being coaxial with said central longitudinal axis and having a rearward opening along said rearward intermediate wall communicating with said cavity adjacent said bottom wall and a forward opening along said forward intermediate wall communicating with said slot adjacent said floor, said floor extending angularly, downwardly from said bore to said forward opening at an angle, said bore having a cross-sectional dimension for receiving the distal length portion of the outer member therethrough to position the distal end of the outer member in abutment with said rearward wall and to position the bend in said slot with the proximal length portion extending externally from said top opening, said bore confining the distal length portion against radial movement to permit the proximal length portion to be pivoted into abutment with said floor of said slot to effect straightening of the outer member.