Surgical instrument for transcholedochal papillotomy

Claim 1

A surgical instrument suitable for use in transcholedocal papillotomy for incision of duodenal papilla without duodenal incision, comprising a fixed handle; control means movably attached to said fixed handle; a transmission catheter suitable for insertion through a choledochus without duodenal incision, attached at one end to said fixed handle; guide means positioned within said transmission catheter and actuated by movement of said control means; a fixed blade attached at a second end of said transmission catheter, said fixed blade having a blunt distal end; a movable blade distally hinged to said fixed blade and closing thereon proximally and completely in a direction opposite to that of insertion, said movable blade being connected to said guide means at a point between the hinge and a cutting line of said fixed and said movable blades, said movable blade being actuated by said guide means; and means for displacing said control means back to an original position after movement therefrom, said original position corresponding to a closed position of said movable blade relative to said fixed blade, whereby movement of said control means is transmitted by said guide means to said movable blade causing movement thereof from said closed position to an open position, after which said means for displacing said control means returns said control means to said original position, thereby actuating said guide means to return said movable blade to said closed position.