Minimally invasive tendon harvester

Abstract

An instrument having a housing extending from a first end of the instrument to a second end of the instrument. The housing includes an elongated tip disposed at the first end of the instrument, a handle disposed at the second end of the instrument, a first opening, and a pair of second openings. The instrument also includes a first actuator which has an engagement member extending through the first opening from within the housing, and a shaft portion disposed within the housing and extending from the engagement member toward the second end of the instrument. The instrument also includes a second actuator which includes a pair of arms extending through the second openings from inside the housing, a shaft portion disposed within the housing and extending from the pair of arms toward the second end of the instrument, and a blade portion at a terminal end of the shaft.

Description

MINIMALLY INVASIVE TENDON HARVESTERCROSS RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 618,682 filed on January 8, 2024, and entitled “Minimally Invasive Tendon Harvester,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to an instrument to be implemented in surgical procedures. The present disclosure relates to a podiatric and orthopedic surgical instrument to be implemented in various procedures of the foot, ankle, or other anatomy, for example procedures to address soft tissue structures of the foot and ankle. More specifically, but not exclusively, the present disclosure relates to a surgical instrument to be implemented in harvesting soft tissue structures of the foot and / or ankle.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Many currently available surgical instruments do not completely address the needs of patients. Additionally, many currently available surgical instruments fail to account for properties of foot and ankle anatomy and accordingly can decrease favorability of the outcome for the patient.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present disclosure is directed toward an instrument to be implemented in procedures of the foot and ankle.

[0005] A first aspect of the present disclosure is an instrument. The instrument includes a housing extending from a first end of the instrument to a second end of the instrument. The housing includes an elongated tip disposed at the first end of the instrument, a handle disposed at the second end of the instrument, a first opening disposed on an upper surface of the housing, and a pair of second openings positioned on opposing side surfaces of the housing. The instrument also includes a first actuator disposed at least partially within the housing. The first actuator includes an engagement member extending through the first opening from within the housing, and a shaft portion disposed within the housing and extending from the engagement member toward the second end of the instrument. The instrument also includes a second actuator disposed at least partially within the housing. Thesecond actuator includes a pair of arms extending through the second openings from within the housing, a shaft portion disposed within the housing and extending from the pair of arms toward the second end of the instrument, and a blade portion disposed at a terminal end of the shaft portion.

[0006] According to the first aspect of the present disclosure, the second openings are diametrically opposed from one another about the housing.

[0007] According to the first aspect of the present disclosure, the first opening is positioned equidistant from each opening of the second openings.

[0008] According to the first aspect of the present disclosure, the housing includes a central longitudinal axis, and wherein the second end of the housing includes a cross- sectional geometry extending further radially from the longitudinal axis than that of the first end of the housing.

[0009] According to the first aspect of the present disclosure, the first actuator is slidable between a first position and a second position.

[0010] According to the first aspect of the present disclosure, manipulating the first actuator from the first position to the second position translates the engagement member from a first, retracted position to a second, extended position

[0011] According to the first aspect of the present disclosure, the first end of the instrument includes an open recess when the first actuator is in the first position with the engagement member in the first, retracted position, and includes an obstructed opening when the first actuator is in the second position with the engagement member in the second, extended position.

[0012] According to the first aspect of the present disclosure, the second actuator is slidable between a first position and a second position.

[0013] According to the first aspect of the present disclosure, manipulating the second actuator from the first position to the second position translates the blade portion from a first, retracted position to a second, extended position.

[0014] According to the first aspect of the present disclosure, translating the blade portion from the first, retracted position to the second, extended position includes translating the blade portion across the obstructed opening.

[0015] A second aspect of the present disclosure is an instrument. The instrument includes a housing which includes an elongated tip disposed at the first end of the instrument, a handle disposed at the second end of the instrument, a first opening disposed on an upper surface of the housing, and a pair of second openings positioned on opposing side surfaces of the housing. The instrument also includes a first actuator disposed at least partially within the housing. The first actuator includes an engagement member extending through the first opening from within the housing, and a shaft portion disposed within the housing and extending from the engagement member toward the second end of the instrument. The shaft portion includes a gate member at an end opposite the engagement member. The instrument also includes a second actuator disposed at least partially within the housing. The second actuator includes a pair of arms extending through the second openings from within the housing, a shaft portion disposed within the housing and extending from the pair of arms toward the second end of the instrument, and a blade portion disposed at a terminal end of the shaft portion.

[0016] According to the second aspect of the present disclosure, the first actuator includes an unengaged position in which the gate member is in a retracted position and an engaged position in which the gate member is in an extended position.

[0017] According to the second aspect of the present disclosure, the gate member permits access to the blade portion when in the retracted position and retains an anatomical component adjacent to the blade when in the extended position.

[0018] According to the second aspect of the present disclosure, the first actuator is slidable between the engaged and unengaged positions.

[0019] According to the second aspect of the present disclosure, the second actuator includes an unengaged position in which the blade portion is in a retracted position and an engaged position in which the blade portion is in an extended position.

[0020] According to the second aspect of the present disclosure, the blade portion translates across an opening positioned at the tip of the instrument defined by the gate member in its extended position when the second actuator is manipulated from the unengaged to engaged positions.

[0021] According to the second aspect of the present disclosure, the second actuator is slidable between the engaged and unengaged positions.

[0022] According to the second aspect of the present disclosure, the first and second actuators are each biased by separate resilient elements such that the first and second actuators are in the unengaged position in a resting state.

[0023] According to the second aspect of the present disclosure, the first and second actuators from their respective unengaged positions to engaged positions comprises applying a force to each of the first and second actuators that is greater than the force of the respective resilient element.

[0024] A third aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a surgical method. The method includes manipulating a surgical instrument. The surgical instrument includes a housing extending from a first end of the instrument to a second end of the instrument. The housing includes an elongated tip disposed at the first end of the instrument, a first opening disposed on an upper surface of the housing, and a pair of second openings positioned on opposing side surfaces of the housing. The instrument also includes a first actuator disposed at least partially within the housing. The first actuator includes an engagement member extending through the first opening from within the housing, and a shaft portion disposed within the housing and extending from the engagement member toward the second end of the instrument. The shaft portion includes an engagement member at an end opposite the engagement member. The instrument also includes a second actuator disposed at least partially within the housing. The second actuator includes a pair of arms extending through the second openings from within the housing, a shaft portion disposed within the housing and extending from the pair of arms toward the second end of the instrument, and a blade portion disposed at a terminal end of the shaft portion. The method also includes positioning a soft tissue structure of the patient adjacent the blade portion of the surgical instrument, manipulating the first actuator to retain the soft tissue structure in a position adjacent the blade portion, and manipulating the second actuator to sever at least a portion of the soft tissue structure.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the inventions and together with the detailed description herein, serve to explain the principles of the inventions. It is emphasized that, in accordance with the standard practice in the industry, various features may or may not be drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion. The drawings are only for purposes of illustratingembodiments of inventions of the disclosure and are not to be construed as limiting the inventions.

[0026] FIG. 1 is a top, rear perspective view of an exemplary orthopedic instrument, in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0027] FIG. 2 is a side, front perspective view of the exemplary orthopedic instrument of FIG. 1, in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0028] FIG. 3 is a top view of the exemplary orthopedic instrument of FIG. 1, in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0029] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the exemplary orthopedic instrument of FIG. 1, in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0030] FIG. 5 is a side view of the exemplary orthopedic instrument of FIG. 1, in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0031] FIG. 6 is an alternate side view of the exemplary orthopedic instrument of FIG. 1, in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0032] FIG. 7 is a front view of the exemplary orthopedic instrument of FIG. 1, in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0033] FIG. 8 is a rear view of the exemplary orthopedic instrument of FIG. 1, in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0034] FIG. 9 is a side cross-sectional view of the exemplary orthopedic instrument of FIG. 1, in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0035] FIG. 10 is a front, enlarged, perspective view of a portion of the exemplary orthopedic instrument of FIG. 1, in accordance with the present disclosure; and

[0036] FIG. 11 is an alternate side, cross-sectional view of the exemplary orthopedic instrument of FIG. 1, in accordance with the present disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0037] In this detailed description and the following claims, the words proximal, distal, anterior or plantar, posterior or dorsal, medial, lateral, superior and inferior are defined by their standard usage for indicating a particular part or portion of a bone or implant according to the relative disposition of the natural bone or directional terms of reference. For example, “proximal” means the portion of a device or implant nearest the torso, while “distal” indicates the portion of the device or implant farthest from the torso. As for directional terms, “anterior” is a direction towards the front side of the body, “posterior” means a direction towards the back side of the body, “medial” means towards the midline of the body, “lateral” is a direction towards the sides or away from the midline of the body, “superior” means a direction above and “inferior” means a direction below another object or structure. Further, specifically in regards to the foot, the term “dorsal” refers to the top of the foot and the term “plantar” refers to the bottom of the foot.

[0038] Similarly, positions or directions may be used herein with reference to anatomical structures or surfaces. For example, as the current implants, devices, instrumentation, and methods are described herein with reference to use with the bones of the foot, the bones of the foot, ankle and lower leg may be used to describe the surfaces, positions, directions or orientations of the implants, devices, instrumentation and methods. Further, the implants, devices, instrumentation, and methods, and the aspects, components, features and the like thereof, disclosed herein are described with respect to one side of the body for brevity purposes. However, as the human body is relatively symmetrical or mirrored about a line of symmetry (midline), it is hereby expressly contemplated that the implants, devices, instrumentation, and methods, and the aspects, components, features and the like thereof, described and / or illustrated herein may be changed, varied, modified, reconfigured or otherwise altered for use or association with another side of the body for a same or similar purpose without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the implants, devices, instrumentation, and methods, and the aspects, components, features and the like thereof, described herein with respect to the right foot may be mirrored so that they likewise function with the left foot. Further, the implants, devices, instrumentation, and methods, and the aspects, components, features and the like thereof, disclosed herein are described with respect to the foot for brevity purposes, but it should be understood that theimplants, devices, instrumentation, and methods may be used with other bones of the body having similar structures.

[0039] Referring now to FIGS. 1-11, an instrument 100 is shown, according to an exemplary embodiment. The instrument 100 may be configured for implementation in various procedures including, for example, orthopedic and podiatric procedures. Further, the instrument 100 may include various features, geometries, dimensions, or other aspects thereof configured to facilitate implementation of the instrument 100 in procedures of the foot and ankle. The instrument 100 may be implemented in various procedures that involve soft tissue structures of the foot and / or ankle, for example ligaments and tendons, such that at least a portion of one or more soft tissue structures may be harvested. In harvesting at least a portion of any soft tissue structures, the instrument 100 may be implemented to facilitate blunt dissection of various adjacent tissues / structures prior to the harvesting any soft tissue structures. The instrument 100 may then be used to isolate one or more soft tissue structures and retain at least a portion of the soft tissue structure(s) in an isolated position relative to adjacent anatomy. The instrument 100 may then be used to sever at least a portion of the soft tissue structure(s). This process may be performed once or repeated several times.

[0040] The instrument 100 is shown to include a first end 102 (e.g., a rear end) positioned substantially opposite the instrument 100 from a second end (e.g., a front end) 104. The instrument is further shown to include a housing 106 which, as shown in FIGS. 1-11, extends from the rear end 102 to the front end 104. In some aspects, the housing 106 may be modular (e.g., two hemi components each extending from the rear end 102 to the front end 104) so as to accommodate placement and assembly of internal features and mechanisms of the instrument 100.

[0041] The instrument 100 is shown to include a handle 108 positioned at the rear end 102 of the instrument 100. The handle 108 may include a substantially rounded or spherical geometry configured to facilitate comfortable gripping and / or manipulation of the instrument 100 by a user. As shown, the handle 108 has a greater lateral dimension (e.g., width) than other portions of the housing 106 and / or the instrument 100. The handle 108 is integral with a central portion of the housing disposed between the handle 108 and an extension 114 (e.g., the central portion is positioned between the rear end 102 and the front end 104). The extension 114 is shown to extend from the central portion of the housing to the terminal end of the housing 106, which includes a tip 116 (e.g., at the front end 104 of the instrument 100). The central portion of the housing 106 is shown to be integral with both the handle 106 and the extension 114. Further, the housing 106 is shown to taper (e.g. decrease in lateraldimension / width) between the handle 108 and the central portion, and also taper from the central portion to the extension 114. As shown, the central portion of the housing 106 is shown to include a partial cone-shaped geometry, with the portion nearest the handle 108 having a greater lateral dimension than the portion adjacent the extension 114.

[0042] The housing 106 is further shown to include an elongated opening 110 (“opening 110”) positioned on a top / upper surface of the housing 106. The opening 110 is shown to have a substantially rectangular geometry with a width lesser than the length (e.g., where the length extends along an axis parallel to a central axis of the instrument 100). The housing 106 is further shown to include a pair of openings 112 (“openings 112”) positioned opposite one another on side / lateral surface of the housing 106. The openings 112 are shown to have a similar geometry to that of the opening 110, with a lesser width than length. The openings 112 are further shown to include substantially rounded comers and are positioned diametrically opposite one another on the housing 106 such that each of the openings 112 is approximately 90-degrees offset from the opening 110. In some aspects, at least a portion of each of the openings 110, 112 may be positioned within a single plane positioned perpendicular to the central axis of the instrument 100.

[0043] The tip 116 of the housing 106 is shown to include a rounded geometry. In some aspects, the tip 116 may be manipulated by a user to perform a blunt dissection of various tissue or other anatomy in order to access a specific soft tissue structure of interest. Accordingly, the rounded geometry of the tip 116 is configured to prevent damage to any anatomy contacted by the tip in accessing the soft tissue structures of interest.

[0044] The extension 114 is shown to have a substantially elongated geometry between a tapered transition (which has a substantially cylindrical geometry) from the central portion of the housing 106 to the tip 116. In some aspects, the extension 114 may have a greater height than width (e.g., where height is the distance between top and bottom surfaces of the extension, with the top surface being positioned about the housing 106 in the same plane as the opening 110). In some aspects, the extension 114 may include a notch extending from a central point on the extension to a point near the tip 116. In some embodiments, this notch may increase in depth at a point near the tip 116 so as to form a recess 118 in which a soft tissue structure of interest may be positioned (and ultimately retained).

[0045] The instrument 100 is further shown to include an actuator 119 positioned at least partially within the housing 106. The actuator 119 is shown to include an engagement member 120 (“slider 120”) which extends upward from a shaft portion 122 of the actuator 119. As shown in FIG. 9, the slider 120 is integral with the shaft 122, although in someaspects these components may be couplable. The slider 120 is positioned at least partially within the opening 110 such that it may be manipulated (e.g., slid) outside of the housing 106 by a user. As shown, the slider 120 may be slid by a user toward the handle 108.Accordingly, this movement of the slider manipulates the shaft 122 of the actuator 119 within the housing 106, with the shaft 122 being moved in the same direction as the slider 120 (e.g., along a parallel axis to that of the movement of the slider 120). In some aspects, the slider 120 may include a greater lateral dimension than that of the opening 110 so as to prevent the slider 120 from being pushed through the opening 110 during use. In some aspects the slider 120 may include a texture on at least a portion thereof so as to facilitate gripping by a user. Further, in some aspects the slider 120 may be pressable (e.g., like a button) as well as slidable.

[0046] The actuator 119 is shown to include a gate 124 positioned at a terminal end thereof (e.g., adjacent to the tip 116). The gate 124 is shown to extend from the housing 106 at a point near the recess 118 and obstruct the recess 118 (e.g., close off the recess 118). As shown, the gate 124 is integral with the shaft 122, although in some aspects these components may be coupled with one another. The gate 124 may be manipulated toward the handle 108 of the instrument 100 by a user moving the slider 120 in the same direction. Accordingly, the gate 124 will be repositioned into the notch adjacent to the recess 118, thus allowing for a soft tissue structure to be positioned within the recess 118. Once a soft tissue structure is positioned within the recess 118, the slider 120 may be released such that the gate 124 closes off the recess 118 and thus retains the soft tissue structure therein. In some aspects, the actuator 119 may include a spring or other resilient member configured to bias the actuator and components thereof such that the slider 120 is positioned at a portion of the opening 110 closest to the tip 116 and, accordingly, the gate 124 is in a position that closes off the recess 118. In such an embodiment, pressure must be maintained on the slider 120 so at to retain it in a position of the opening 110 closest the handle 108 in order to keep the recess 118 “open” and able to accommodate a soft tissue structure therein. Such a resilient structure may be releasably coupled with the actuator 119 and positioned within the housing 106.

[0047] As seen in FIG. 10, the instrument 100 is further shown to include an actuator 125 positioned at least partially within the housing 106 and, similar to the actuator 119, extending along at least a portion of the length of the extension 114. The actuator 125 is shown to include a pair of arms 126 (“arms 126”) extending from a body 128. As shown in FIGS. 1-4 and 8, the arms 126 are shown to extend from within the housing 106, through the openings 112, to points external to the housing 106 for actuation by a user. As shown, the arms 126extend substantially perpendicular relative to the long axis of the instrument 100, although in some aspects the arms 126 may extend therefrom at a substantially oblique angle. Further, the arms 126 are shown to include a curvature along at least a portion of the length thereof so as to facilitate gripping and actuation by a user.

[0048] As seen in FIGS. 10 and 11, the actuator 125 is further shown to include a shaft 130, which extends from the body 128 toward the front end 104 of the instrument 100. As shown, the shaft 130 is positioned adjacent to the shaft 122 of the actuator 119 within the housing 106. As shown, the shaft 130 is integral with the body 128 (and the body 128 with the arms 126), although in some embodiments one or more of these components may be coupled with one another. The shaft 130 is shown to terminate in a hooked geometry that curves upward (e.g., toward the top surface of the extension 114 / tipl 16), which is housed within the tip 116 of the extension 114. Further, this hook geometry of the shaft 130 is shown to include a blade positioned on a proximal side of the hook (e.g., closest to the handle 108).

[0049] The actuator 125 is configured such that the arms 126 may be manipulated by a user from a position at a distal end of the openings 112 to a more proximal position (e.g., at the proximal end of the openings 112 or a position therebetween). Accordingly, such manipulation of the arms 126 also manipulates the body 128 and shaft 130 in a similar direction (parallel to the long axis of the instrument 100). The blade 132 of the actuator 125 is thus moved from a position within the tip 116 of the extension 114, through the recess 118, and to a position at the proximal -most portion of the recess 118 (or a position proximal relative to the recess 118 and within the extension 114). Thus, such manipulation of the arms 126 drives the movement of the blade 132 through the recess 118 (where a soft tissue structure may be positioned and retained by the gate 124) so as to cut or sever any soft tissue structure positioned and retained therein. In some aspects, the actuator 125 may include a resilient member, for example a spring, with which it is coupled. Such a resilient member may bias the actuator 125 such that, absent any pressure / force applied in a direction toward the handle 108, the arms 126 are positioned at a proximal-most end of the openings 112 and the blade 132 is retained within the tip 116 (and thus will not cut any soft tissue structures within the recess 118).

[0050] In using the instrument 100, a user may grasp the instrument 100 by the handle 108, with one or more fingers / thumb positioned on / adjacent to the slider 120 and the arms 126. The user may perform blunt dissection of tissue and / or other anatomic structure using the blunt end of the tip 116 of the housing 106. Upon locating a soft tissue structure whichthe user wishes to sever, the user may manipulate the slider 120 proximally so as to retract the gate 124 and open at least a portion of the recess 118. The user may then manipulate the instrument 100 such that the soft tissue structure of interest is positioned within the recess 118. The user may then release the slider 120 such that the gate 124 closes off the recess and the soft tissue structure is retained within the recess 118. The user may then move the arms 126 in a proximal direction such that the blade 132 travels in a distal-to-proximal direction across / through the recess 118, thus severing the soft tissue structure retained therein. The user may then release the arms 126 allowing them to return to the previous position at the proximal-most end of the openings 112 with the blade 132 returning to the original position retained within the tip 116.

[0051] The terminology used herein for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprise” (and any form of comprise, such as “comprises” and “comprising”), “have” (and any form of have, such as “has”, and “having”), “include” (and any form of include, such as “includes” and “including”), and “contain” (and any form of contain, such as “contains” and “containing”) are open-ended linking verbs. As a result, a method or device that “comprises,” “has,” “includes,” or “contains” one or more steps or elements possesses those one or more steps or elements, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more steps or elements.Likewise, a step of a method or an element of a device that “comprises,” “has,” “includes,” or “contains” one or more features possesses those one or more features, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more features. Furthermore, a device or structure that is configured in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed.

[0052] As may be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the teachings herein, numerous changes and modifications may be made to the above-described and other embodiments of the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the disclosure. The components of the instrument as disclosed in the specification, including the accompanying abstract and drawings, may be replaced by alternative component(s) or feature(s), such as those disclosed in another embodiment, which serve the same, equivalent or similar purpose as known by those skilled in the art to achieve the same, equivalent or similar results by such alternative component(s) or feature(s) to provide a similar function for the intended purpose. In addition, the instrument may include more or fewer components orfeatures than the embodiment as described and illustrated herein. Accordingly, this detailed description of the currently-preferred embodiment is to be taken in an illustrative, as opposed to limiting of the disclosure.

[0053] As may be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the teachings herein, numerous changes and modifications may be made to the above-described and other embodiments of the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the disclosure. The components of the instrument as disclosed in the specification, including the accompanying abstract and drawings, may be replaced by alternative component(s) or feature(s), such as those disclosed in another embodiment, which serve the same, equivalent or similar purpose as known by those skilled in the art to achieve the same, equivalent or similar results by such alternative component(s) or feature(s) to provide a similar function for the intended purpose. In addition, the instrument may include more or fewer components or features than the embodiment as described and illustrated herein. For example, the components and features of the instrument 100 may be used interchangeably and in alternative combinations as would be modified or altered by one of skill in the art. Further, the steps of the surgical method associated with the instrument 100 may be used interchangeably and in alternative combinations as would be modified or altered by one of skill in the art. Accordingly, this detailed description of the currently-preferred embodiment is to be taken in an illustrative, as opposed to limiting of the disclosure.

Claims

CLAIMS:What is claimed is:

1. An instrument, comprising: a housing extending from a first end of the instrument to a second end of the instrument, wherein the housing comprises: an elongated tip disposed at the first end of the instrument; a handle disposed at the second end of the instrument; a first opening disposed on an upper surface of the housing; and a pair of second openings positioned on opposing side surfaces of the housing; a first actuator disposed at least partially within the housing, comprising: an engagement member extending through the first opening from within the housing; and a first shaft portion disposed within the housing and extending from the engagement member toward the second end of the instrument; a second actuator disposed at least partially within the housing, comprising: a pair of arms extending through the second openings from within the housing; a second shaft portion disposed within the housing and extending from the pair of arms toward the second end of the instrument; and a blade portion disposed at a terminal end of the second shaft portion.

2. The instrument of Claim 1, wherein the pair of second openings are diametrically opposed from one another about the housing.

3. The instrument of Claim 2, wherein the first opening is positioned equidistant from each opening of the pair of second openings.

4. The instrument of Claim 3, wherein the housing comprises a central longitudinal axis, and wherein the second end of the housing comprises a cross-sectional geometry extending further radially from the longitudinal axis than that of the first end of the housing.

5. The instrument of Claim 4, wherein the first actuator is slidable between a first position and a second position.

6. The instrument of Claim 5, wherein manipulating the first actuator from the first position to the second position translates the engagement member from a first, retracted position to a second, extended position.

7. The instrument of Claim 6, wherein the first end of the instrument comprises an open recess when the first actuator is in the first position with the engagement member in the first, retracted position, and comprises an obstructed opening when the first actuator is in the second position with the engagement member in the second, extended position.

8. The instrument of Claim 7, wherein the second actuator is slidable between a first position and a second position.

9. The instrument of Claim 8, wherein manipulating the second actuator from the first position to the second position translates the blade portion from a first, retracted position to a second, extended position.

10. The instrument of Claim 9, wherein translating the blade portion from the first, retracted position to the second, extended position comprises translating the blade portion across the obstructed opening.

11. A surgical instrument, comprising: a housing, comprising: an elongated tip disposed at the first end of the instrument; a handle disposed at the second end of the instrument; a first opening disposed on an upper surface of the housing; and a pair of second openings positioned on opposing side surfaces of the housing; a first actuator disposed at least partially within the housing, comprising: an engagement member extending through the first opening from within the housing; and a first shaft portion disposed within the housing and extending from the engagement member toward the second end of the instrument, wherein the first shaft portion comprises a gate member at an end opposite the engagement member; a second actuator disposed at least partially within the housing, comprising: a pair of arms extending through the second openings from within the housing;a second shaft portion disposed within the housing and extending from the pair of arms toward the second end of the instrument; and a blade portion disposed at a terminal end of the second shaft portion.

12. The instrument of claim 11, wherein the first actuator comprises an unengaged position in which the gate member is in a retracted position and an engaged position in which the gate member is in an extended position.

13. The instrument of claim 12, wherein the gate member permits access to the blade portion when in the retracted position and retains an anatomical component adjacent to the blade when in the extended position.

14. The instrument of claim 13, wherein the first actuator is slidable between the engaged and unengaged positions.

15. The instrument of claim 14, wherein the second actuator comprises an unengaged position in which the blade portion is in a retracted position and an engaged position in which the blade portion is in an extended position.

16. The instrument of claim 15, wherein the blade portion translates across an opening positioned at the tip of the instrument defined by the gate member in its extended position when the second actuator is manipulated from the unengaged to engaged positions.

17. The instrument of claim 16, wherein the second actuator is slidable between the engaged and unengaged positions.

18. The instrument of claim 17, wherein the first and second actuators are each biased by separate resilient elements such that the first and second actuators are in the unengaged position in a resting state.

19. The instrument of claim 18, wherein manipulating the first and second actuators from their respective unengaged positions to engaged positions comprises applying a force to each of the first and second actuators that is greater than the force of the respective resilient element.

20. A surgical method, comprising: manipulating a surgical instrument, the surgical instrument comprising: a housing extending from a first end of the instrument to a second end of the instrument, wherein the housing comprises: an elongated tip disposed at the first end of the instrument; a first opening disposed on an upper surface of the housing; and a pair of second openings positioned on opposing side surfaces of the housing; a first actuator disposed at least partially within the housing, comprising: an engagement member extending through the first opening from within the housing; and a first shaft portion disposed within the housing and extending from the engagement member toward the second end of the instrument; a second actuator disposed at least partially within the housing, comprising: a pair of arms extending through the second openings from within the housing; a second shaft portion disposed within the housing and extending from the pair of arms toward the second end of the instrument; and a blade portion disposed at a terminal end of the second shaft portion; positioning a soft tissue structure of a patient adjacent the blade portion of the surgical instrument; manipulating the first actuator to retain the soft tissue structure in a position adjacent the blade portion; and manipulating the second actuator to sever at least a portion of the soft tissue structure.

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