The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 05, 1996
Filed:
Jun. 07, 1995
Steven Ek, Bolton, MA (US);
David M Auerbach, Encino, CA (US);
Smith & Nephew Endoscopy, Inc., Andover, MA (US);
Abstract
A surgical cutting instrument for cutting body tissue has an axially elongated support shaft which supports, at a distal end thereof, a back biting assembly. The back biting assembly has a ring-shaped jaw member pivotally supported by the support shaft at a distal end thereof for rearward pivotal movement toward and away from a closed cutting position. A fixed cutting block member, supported by the support shaft at a position proximally of the pivot axis of the ring-shaped member is aligned with and cuttingly engages the ring-shaped member to cut or punch any tissue within the opening of the pivotal jaw member. The fixed cutter member can have a serrated, parallel rib surface facing the moveable jaw member, with at least one serration being taller than the others for blocking the entry of tissue or other foreign objects into the space wherein the pivotable member rotates thereby to prevent blocking of that rotation by such foreign objects. The leading edge of the pivotable member is fashioned with a reduced thickness to better slip beneath and engage tissue such as, for example, meniscus tissue.