Patent ID: 8518035

Claim:
An electrosurgical cutting device comprising: an outer elongate sheath having a proximal and a distal end with a central longitudinal axis therebetween, the sheath further comprising a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end; a torque cable comprising a plurality of metallic wires helically wound about the central longitudinal axis of the outer elongate sheath to form a rope-like structure extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the torque cable extending within the lumen of the outer elongate sheath; an electrically conductive cutting element having a proximal portion attached to the distal end of the torque cable and configured to extend within the lumen of the sheath, the cutting element further having a distal portion that extends about a longitudinal axis of the cutting element, the cutting element configured to be rotationally and axially movable by a corresponding rotational and axial movement of the torque cable such that the cutting element selectively lifts target tissue onto a surface of the cutting element for incision, the cutting element being asymmetrical about the longitudinal axis; and an end cap having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion attached to the distal end of the outer elongate sheath and the distal portion comprising a slotted opening, the slotted opening elongated in a direction transverse to the central longitudinal axis, the end cap further comprising a passageway in communication with the lumen of the sheath and the slotted opening of the distal portion of the cap, wherein, when the distal portion of the cutting element is positioned outside of the slotted opening, the cutting element rotates relative to the end cap between a first position where the asymmetrical cutting element is aligned with the slotted opening such that the cutting element may axially pass therethrough, and a second position where the asymmetrical cutting element is misaligned with the slotted opening such that the cutting element cannot axially pass therethrough, the elongated slotted opening sized to allow the entire cutting element to pass longitudinally therethrough.