摘要 |
A cutting blade for a morcellator has a generally cylindrical shape and includes a sidewall having an inner surface and an outer surface, each of which at least partially resides respectively in concentric first and second cylindrical planes. The blade sidewall further includes a beveled or sloped surface that extends from the inner surface toward the outer surface to define a sharpened edge situated in the second cylindrical plane in which the outer surface of the cutting blade sidewall resides. The sloped surface is provided to protect the sharpened edge of the morcellator blade when it is not obvious to a surgeon operating the morcellator that a tenaculum used to grasp anatomical tissue at the surgical site may have its tissue grasping claws spread to such an extent that the claws may contact the cutting blade of the morcellator. Under such circumstances, the tenaculum will contact the sloped portion of the inner surface of the cutting blade, rather than the sharpened edge, thereby minimizing the chance that the sharpened edge will become dull or damaged.
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