Surgical instrument

US5306284A · kind A · utility

Assignees

• John M. Agee · US
• Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company · US

Inventors

• John M. Agee · Cameron Park, US
• Francis C. King · Sacramento, US
• Kimberly A. Romanko · Windom, US
• Lawrence A. Flor · Anoka, US
• Thomas A. Turgeon · Fridley, US
• William A. Mittelstadt · Woodbury, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 19, 1992
• Grant date: Apr 26, 1994
• Expiry date: Feb 19, 2012

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B17/320036
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Surgical instruments are disclosed for manipulating selected tissue in a body cavity under visual inspection. The preferred instrument includes a probe in which a blade is positioned, wherein the probe includes a lateral aperture near its distal end. The blade can be extended outwardly from the probe along a path which is essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the probe. After the blade has been extended it can be used to effectively divide tissue. An optical system can be received in the probe for viewing through the lateral aperture in the probe.