Nucleus chopper and splitter

1. A surgical instrument with an exposed cutting edge for cutting body tissue, said instrument comprising:

a handle assembly;

first and second spring steel segments, each said segment having a distal and a proximal end,

each said spring steel segment having an inner and outer surface;

said first and second spring steel segment proximal ends attached to said handle assembly with said first and second inner surfaces facing one another,

said first spring steel segment having a first tip formed thereon at said distal end;

said second spring steel segment having a second tip formed thereon at said distal end;

said first and second spring steel segments secured to said handle assembly,

said first and second tips protruding from said handle assembly,

said first and second tips biased by said spring steel segments to remain parted one from another,

said first tip having a first tip segment extending coaxially with its associated spring steel segment,

said first tip segment having a first tip end,

said second tip having a second tip segment extending coaxially with its associated spring steel segment,

said second tip segment having a second tip end,

a first blade segment,

said first blade segment formed at an angle to and depending from said first tip segment;

a second blade segment,

said second blade segment formed at an angle to and depending from said second tip segment,

each said blade segment having a leading edge and a trailing edge,

each said trailing edge having a cutting edge formed thereon; and

said handle assembly further comprising means to selectively force said first and second tips into contact with one another,

said first and second cutting edges aligning to form a single exposed and unenclosed cutting edge when said forcing means is activated to force said first and second tips into contact one with the other.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said first and second blade segments are coextensive one with another when said first and second tips are in contact with one another.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein each said first and second blade segment terminates in a smooth, blunt surface.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said first blade segment is formed at an angle of about 90° to said first tip segment, and

said second blade segment is formed at an angle of about 90° to said second tip segment.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said first and second blade segments separate when said forcing means is deactivated.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said forcing means comprises:

a guide tube slidably associated with said handle assembly,

said guide tube having a central guide bore formed therethrough;

means for selectively sliding said guide tube outward from and inward to said handle assembly;

said first tip segment having a first ramp formed on the outer surface thereof;

said second tip segment having a second ramp formed on the outer surface thereof,

said first and second ramps being larger in cross-sectional size than said guide bore;

said first and second cutting edges aligning to form a single exposed and unenclosed cutting edge when said sliding means is activated to slide said guide tube outward from said handle assembly to contact said first and second ramps and thereby force said first and second tips into contact one with the other.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein said first and second blade segments are coextensive one with another when said first and second tips are in contact with one another.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein each said first and second blade segments terminates in a smooth, blunt surface.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein said sliding means comprises a slider block;

means for attaching said guide tube to said slider block;

means for guiding said slider block in a direction outward from or inward to said handle assembly; and

first and second handle grips pivotally attached to said handle assembly;

means for linking said slider block to said first and second handle grips whereby moving said handle grips causes said slider block to move within said guide means to extend said guide tube from said handle assembly or to withdraw said guide tube into said handle assembly, thereby causing said first and second tips to come into contact or to separate one from another.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said first and second handle grips are biased to take a first, unstressed position spaced apart from said handle assembly and are moveable toward said handle assembly to a second, compressed position.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said first and second tips separate as said handle grips are moved from said compressed position to said unstressed position.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said first and second tips are brought into contact with one another when said handle grips are moved to said compressed position, thereby forming said single cutting edge.