Surgical cutting instrument

Claim 2

A cutting instrument which is carried on a finger of a user's hand, said cutting instrument comprising: a sleeve adapted to be mounted on said finger, a scissor mounted on said sleeve and including: a single stationary cutting edge projecting forwardly of said sleeve and finger, and a single movable cutting edge projecting forwardly of said sleeve and finger, said movable edge being mounted for rotation about a pivot axis which extends through said sleeve and including an acutating arm extending generallly laterally of said sleeve and toward the next adjacent finger of the user's hand so as to be moved rearwardly and displace said movable edge to a cutting position relative to said stationary edge by downward bending of said adjacent finger.

Claim 3

An instrument according to claim 1 including a spring yieldably urging said movable edge open to form with said stationary edge a forwardly opening recess which is from 1/4 to 1/2 inch long and 1/8 to 1/4 inch wide at its mouth.

Claim 4

An instrument according to claim 1, wherein said sleeve is tapered such that its cross-sectional area diminishes forwardly.

Claim 5

An instrument according to claim 1, wherein said movable edge is mounted atop said stationary edge.

Claim 6

An instrument according to claim 1, wherein said sleeve is of adjustable size and includes means for holding the sleeve in various positions of adjustment.

Claim 7

An instrument according to claim 5, wherein said sleeve comprises first and second sections hinged about an axis extending generally parallel to the axis of the sleeve.

Claim 8

An instrument according to claim 6, wherein said holding means comprises a member on one section which engages respective notches on the other section.

Claim 9

An instrument according to claim 6, wherein said holding means comprises a yieldable retaining ring surrounding said sections.

Claim 10

A surgical instrument comprising: a sleeve securable to a surgeon's small finger, a scissor attached to said sleeve and including: a stationary blade mounted on said sleeve and including a cutting portion projecting forwardly beyond said sleeve and finger parallel to the sleeve axis, a pivotable blade pivoted to said stationary blade for rotation about a pivot axis extending through said sleeve and including a cutting portion projecting forwardly beyond said sleeve and finger and movable across said stationary cutting blade when said movable blade is pivoted in a cutting direction, and an acutation portion connected to said movable cutting portion and extending laterally of the sleeve axis and toward the next adjacent finger of the hand a distance sufficient to be engaged and pulled rearwardly by such next adjacent finger to move said movable cutting portion in a cutting direction, and spring means for urging said cutting portions apart to define a single forwardly open cutting recess therebetween of at least 1/4 inch in length and 1/8 inch in width at its mouth.

Claim 11

A surgical instrument comprising: a sleeve securable to a surgeon's small finger, a scissor attached to said sleeve and including: a stationary blade mounted on said sleeve and including a cutting portion projecting forwardly beyond said sleeve and finger parallel to the sleeve axis, a pivotable blade pivoted to said stationary blade for rotation about a pivot axis extending through said sleeve and including a cutting portion projecting forwardly beyond said sleeve and finger and movable across said stationary cutting blade when said movable blade is pivoted in a cutting direction, and an acutation portion connected to said movable cutting portion and extending laterally of the sleeve axis and toward the next adjacent finger of the hand a distance sufficient to be engaged and pulled rearwardly by such next adjacent finger to move said movable cutting portion in a cutting direction, and spring means for urging said cutting portions apart to define a single forwardly open cutting recess therebetween of at least 1/4 inch in length and 1/8 inch in width at its mouth.

Claim 14

A method according to claim 10, wherein said downwardly bending step is performed while holding another instrument in said hand.

Claim 15

A method according to claim 11, wherein said cutting is performed during a surgical operation.

Claim 16

A method according to claim 10 including the step of continually biasing said recess open such that its length is maintained at least at 1/4 inch and its width at a mouth thereof is maintained at least at 1/8 inch.