Surgical instrument and method of using the same

1 . A surgical instrument, comprising:

a handle;

a coupling mechanism connected to the handle, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises:

a body;

a first shank movably connected to the body and selectively affixable to the body; and

a second shank movably connected to the body and selectively affixable to the body,

wherein the first and second shanks extend from opposite side surfaces of the body; and

a cutting tool selectively connectable to the first and second shanks.

2 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises:

a first side surface and a first hole extending into the body from said first side surface; and

a second side surface arranged opposite to the first side surface and a second hole extending into the body from said second side surface,

wherein the first shank extends at least partially in the first hole and extends outwardly from the first side surface, and the second shank extends at least partially in the second hole and extends outwardly from the second side surface.

3 . The surgical instrument of claim 2 , wherein the first hole and the second hole are in fluid communication with one another at a first interior portion of the body, and wherein the body further comprises:

a third side surface, extending between the first and second side surfaces thereof; and

a third hole, extending into the body from the third side surface thereof,

wherein the third hole is in fluid communication with the first and second holes at the first interior portion of the body.

4 . The surgical instrument of claim 3 , wherein the coupling mechanism further comprises a fastener selectively connected to the body, wherein the fastener extends through the third hole and is configured to selectively affix the first and second shanks to the body by pressing the first and second shanks against the body at the first interior portion of the body.

5 . The surgical instrument of claim 4 , wherein the fastener has a fastener body with threads along a length thereof, and the third hole has threads matching the threads of the fastener body along a length of the third hole, wherein the fastener and the third hole are threadedly connected to one another.

6 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the cutting tool comprises:

first and second blades spaced apart from one another and opposing one another; and

third and fourth blades spaced apart from one another and opposing one another, wherein the third blade connects the first and second blades to one another, and the fourth blade connects the first and second blades to one another.

7 . The surgical instrument of claim 6 , wherein the first blade has a first blade hole and the first shank has a first protrusion configured to be selectively inserted in the first blade hole to selectively connect the first shank with the first blade.

8 . The surgical instrument of claim 7 , wherein the second blade has a second blade hole and the second shank has a second protrusion configured to be selectively inserted in the second blade hole to selectively connect the second shank with the second blade.

9 . The surgical instrument of claim 6 , wherein the first blade has a first cutting edge, the second blade has a second cutting edge, the third blade has a third cutting edge and the fourth blade has a fourth cutting edge.

10 . The surgical instrument of claim 9 , wherein the first cutting edge, the second cutting edge, the third cutting edge and the fourth cutting edge extend along a same plane.

11 . The surgical instrument of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the first blade, the second blade, the third blade and the fourth blade has one or more markings thereon for indicating a depth of insertion of the first cutting edge.

12 . The surgical instrument of claim 8 , wherein the third blade has a fixed length and the fourth blade has a fixed length.

13 . The surgical instrument of claim 8 , wherein the third blade has an adjustable length and the fourth blade has an adjustable length.

14 . The surgical instrument of claim 13 , wherein the third blade comprises:

a first blade portion extending between the first and second blades; and

a second blade portion extending between the first and second blades and overlapping the first blade portion,

wherein the first blade portion is fixedly connected to the first blade and movably connected to the second blade portion, and

wherein the second blade portion is fixedly connected to the second blade.

15 . The surgical instrument of claim 14 , wherein the cutting tool further includes a first clip slidably connecting the first and second blade portions of the third blade to one another.

16 . A method of performing a surgical procedure, comprising:

providing the surgical instrument according to claim 1 ;

connecting the cutting tool to the first and second shanks;

directing the cutting tool toward a surgical site of a patient's body; and

pressing the cutting tool toward the patient's body, causing the cutting tool to cut into soft tissue at the surgical site.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the cutting tool is a polygonal hollow section having a plurality of sidewalls with sharp edges opposite to the handle,

wherein a first sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls includes a first blade hole and the first shank has a first protrusion configured to be selectively inserted in the first blade hole to selectively connect the first shank with the first sidewall,

wherein a second sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls includes a second blade hole and the second shank has a second protrusion configured to be selectively inserted in the second blade hole to selectively connect the first shank with the second sidewall,

wherein the first and second sidewalls are opposite to one another and separated from one another,

wherein a third sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls and a fourth sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls are opposite to one another and separated from one another, and

wherein the third sidewall and the fourth sidewall, respectively, connect the first sidewall and the second sidewall to one another,

the method further comprising adjusting a distance by which the first and second shanks extend from said opposite side surfaces of the body based on a separation distance between the first and second sidewalls prior to the step of connecting the cutting tool to the first and second shanks,

wherein the connecting of the cutting tool to the first and second shanks includes inserting the first protrusion of the first shank in the first blade hole and inserting the second protrusion of the second shank in the second blade hole.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

loosening a fastener connected to the body of the coupling mechanism, thereby enabling the first and second shanks to be moved relative to the body, prior to carrying out the step of adjusting the distance by which the first and second shanks extend from said opposite side surfaces of the body; and

after having carried out the step of adjusting the distance by which the first and second shanks extend from said opposite side surfaces of the body, tightening the fastener to affix the first and second shanks to the body of the coupling mechanism.

19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the cutting tool has an adjustable length,

wherein the third sidewall includes a first blade portion extending between the first and second sidewalls and a second blade portion extending between the first and second sidewalls, said second blade portion overlapping the first blade portion,

wherein the first blade portion is fixedly connected to the first sidewall and movably connected to the second blade portion, and

wherein the second blade portion is fixedly connected to the second sidewall;

wherein the fourth sidewall includes a third blade portion extending between the first and second sidewalls and a fourth blade portion extending between the first and second sidewalls and overlapping the third blade portion,

wherein the third blade portion is fixedly connected to the first sidewall and movably connected to the second blade portion, and

wherein the fourth blade portion is fixedly connected to the second sidewall;

the method further comprising adjusting the separation distance between the first and second sidewalls by pulling the first and second sidewalls toward one another or by pushing the first and second sidewalls away from one another, thereby causing the first and second blade portions to move relative to one another and causing the third and fourth blade portions to move relative to one another.

20 . A surgical instrument, comprising:

a handle;

a coupling mechanism connected to the handle, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises:

a body;

a first shank movably connected to the body and selectively affixable to the body; and

a second shank movably connected to the body and selectively affixable to the body,

wherein the first and second shanks extend from opposite side surfaces of the body; and

a cutting tool selectively connectable to the first and second shanks,

wherein the cutting tool is an elongated polygonal hollow section having a plurality of sidewalls with sharp edges opposite to the handle,

wherein a first sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls includes a first blade hole and the first shank has a first protrusion configured to be selectively inserted in the first blade hole to selectively connect the first shank with the first sidewall,

wherein a second sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls includes a second blade hole and the second shank has a second protrusion configured to be selectively inserted in the second blade hole to selectively connect the first shank with the second sidewall,

wherein the first and second sidewalls are opposite to one another and separated from one another,

wherein a third sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls and a fourth sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls are opposite to one another and separated from one another,

wherein the third sidewall and the fourth sidewall, respectively, connect the first sidewall and the second sidewall to one another, and

wherein, when the first and second shanks are selectively connected to one another, the first and second shanks extend in a cavity of the polygonal hollow section, between said first to fourth sidewalls.