Endoscopic surgical blade and use thereof

Abstract

An endoscopic surgical blade is disclosed. The blade is part of an endoscopic knife assembly which also has a knife tube and alignment ring. The endoscopic knife assembly is for use in endoscopic surgery by insertion of the assembly though a slotted cannula. The knife tube is hollow and allows the insertion of an endoscope for viewing of the surgical procedure. The blade has an upper and a lower cutting surface on the forward edge, which meet at an angle at a crotch.

1 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . An endoscopic knife assembly, comprising a blade, a knife tube and an alignment ring, wherein the assembly is insertable into a slotted cannula, wherein the blade comprises an upper and a lower cutting surface on the forward edge of the blade, said cutting surfaces meeting at an angle at a crotch. 
     
     
         8 . The endoscopic knife assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the main body of the blade comprises a transition on the lower surface for mating the blade with a knife tube of an endoscopic knife assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The endoscopic knife assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the height of the blade as measured from the top edge to the transition is between about 1.5 mm and about 3.5 mm. 
     
     
         10 . The endoscopic knife assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the height of the blade as measured from the top edge to the transition is about 2.7 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The endoscopic knife assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the combined height of the knife tube and blade is between about 4 mm and about 7 mm. 
     
     
         12 . The endoscopic knife assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the combined height of the knife tube and blade is about 5.817 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The endoscopic knife assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the posterior end of the knife tube is slotted for the attachment of a locking assembly to the knife tube and alignment ring. 
     
     
         14 . An instrument kit for implementing an endoscopic surgical procedure comprising,
 an endoscopic knife assembly, comprising a blade, a knife tube and an alignment ring, wherein the blade comprises an upper and a lower cutting surface on the forward edge of the blade, said cutting surfaces meeting at an angle at a crotch; and   a slotted cannula for endoscopic surgical procedures,   wherein said endoscopic knife assembly is insertable into the slotted cannula.   
     
     
         15 . The instrument kit of  claim 14 , wherein the main body of the blade comprises a transition on the lower surface for mating the blade with a knife tube of an endoscopic knife assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The instrument kit of  claim 14 , wherein the height of the blade as measured from the top edge to the transition is between about 1.5 mm and about 3.5 mm. 
     
     
         17 . The instrument kit of  claim 14 , wherein the height of the blade as measured from the top edge to the transition is about 2.7 mm. 
     
     
         18 . The instrument kit of  claim 14 , wherein the combined height of the knife tube and blade is between about 4 mm and about 7 mm. 
     
     
         19 . The instrument kit of  claim 14 , wherein the combined height of the knife tube and blade is about 5.817 mm. 
     
     
         20 . The instrument kit of  claim 14 , further comprising an endoscope sized for insertion into the cannula and passing through the knife tube of the endoscopic blade assembly. 
     
     
         21 . The endoscopic knife assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the angle at the crotch is between about 80 degrees and about 100 degrees. 
     
     
         22 . The endoscopic knife assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the upper cutting surface of the blade is at an angle to an imaginary line running through the crotch that is parallel to the knife tube, and wherein the angle to the imaginary line is between about 80 degrees and about 100 degrees. 
     
     
         23 . The endoscopic knife assembly of  claim 7 , wherein an end of the upper cutting surface distal to the crotch is radiused with a radius measurement between about 0.75 mm and 0.5 mm. 
     
     
         24 . The instrument kit of  claim 14 , wherein the angle at the crotch is between about 80 degrees and about 100 degrees. 
     
     
         25 . The instrument kit of  claim 14 , wherein the upper cutting surface of the blade is at an angle to an imaginary line running through the crotch that is parallel to the knife tube, and wherein the angle to the imaginary line is between about 80 degrees and about 100 degrees. 
     
     
         26 . The instrument kit of  claim 14 , wherein an end of the upper cutting surface distal to the crotch is radiused with a radius measurement between about 0.75 mm and 0.5 mm.