Patent ID: 8409232

Claim:
A surgical instrument having a longitudinal axis, a front end and a back end comprising: an instrument holder extending along the longitudinal axis having an instrument holding portion disposed at the front end, a back shaft portion disposed at the back end, and a front shaft portion extending between the instrument holding portion and the back shaft portion; a scalpel blade fixedly attached to the instrument holding portion; a hollow sheath body comprising an annular wall surrounding a second longitudinal cavity for encapsulating the scalpel blade therein and for interfacing with the front shaft portion to movably support the hollow sheath body for longitudinal translation with respect to the front shaft portion and the scalpel blade; a handle actuator comprising an annular wall surrounding a first longitudinal cavity for movably receiving the hollow sheath body therein and for interfacing with the back shaft portion to support the handle actuator with respect to the back shaft portion and the hollow sheath body; and wherein said front end comprises a guide wire receiving groove for receiving a wire therein, said groove being an indentation extending into said front end.