Abstract: A cutting instrument includes a blade and a cutting edge that is curved in a direction having a vector component that is transverse to a cutting direction of the instrument, thereby forming a three-dimensional cutting edge. In use, this structure allows the cutting instrument to be drawn across tissue, without necessarily rotating, and separate a strip from the tissue. Various geometries for the cutting instrument can be created by forming a planar blade, heating the blade, and then plastically deforming the blade around a mandrel to achieve the desired three-dimensional geometry.

Abstract: A vacuum-assisted microscale cutting instrument applies a vacuum pressure to pull an area of tissue towards a microknife. The cutting instrument can be configured to make one or more stabbing cuts or a slicing cut, and the housing of the instrument is shaped to address any of a variety of tissue geometries to allow a vacuum seal to be created therewith. To achieve a consistent cut depth in the tissue, a depth stop may be used to prevent the knife from cutting deeper than a predetermined depth.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for self-sharpening micro surgical blades, knives and assemblies.