Carpal tunnel release systems and methods

An apparatus comprising:

• a shaft including a shaft proximal end, a shaft distal end, and a shaft long axis, wherein the shaft distal end comprises a raised edge;
• a linkage included within the shaft;
• a blade coupled to a distal end of the linkage;
• wherein (a)(i) an axis parallel to the shaft long axis intersects the raised edge but does not intersect the shaft, (a)(ii) the raised edge is curvilinear, (a)(iii) the raised edge includes a first lateral edge portion, a second lateral edge portion, and a middle edge portion between the first and second lateral edge portions;
• and (a)(iv) the first and second lateral edge portions are both proximal to the middle edge portion;
• wherein (b)(i) the raised edge includes a thickness between first and second sidewalls of the raised edge;
• (b)(ii) the thickness is parallel to the shaft long axis;
• (b)(iii) the first sidewall is between the shaft proximal end and the second sidewall;
• and (b)(iv) a proximal face of the first sidewall is arranged to contact tissue when the raised edge contacts the tissue and the shaft proximal end is moved proximally.

A method comprising:

• creating an incision within a patient;
• inserting, through the incision, an apparatus comprising:
• a shaft including a shaft proximal end, a shaft distal end, and a shaft long axis, wherein the shaft distal end comprises a raised edge;
• a linkage included within the shaft;
• a blade coupled to a distal end of the linkage;
• wherein (a)(i) an axis parallel to the shaft long axis intersects the raised edge but does not intersect the shaft, (a)(ii) the raised edge is curvilinear, (a)(iii) the raised edge includes a first lateral edge portion, a second lateral edge portion, and a middle edge portion between the first and second lateral edge portions;
• and (a)(iv) the first and second lateral edge portions are both proximal to the middle edge portion;
• wherein (b)(i) the raised edge includes a thickness between first and second sidewalls of the raised edge;
• (b)(ii) the thickness is parallel to the shaft long axis;
• (b)(iii) the first sidewall is between the shaft proximal end and the second sidewall;
• and (b)(iv) a proximal face of the first sidewall is arranged to contact tissue when the raised edge contacts the tissue and the shaft proximal end is moved proximally;
• dragging the raised edge along a transverse carpal ligament;
• in response to dragging the raised edge along a transverse carpal ligament, deploying the blade outwards away from the shaft and towards the transverse carpal ligament;
• and
• cutting the transverse carpal ligament with the blade.

An apparatus comprising:

• a shaft including a shaft proximal end, a shaft distal end, and a shaft long axis, wherein the shaft distal end comprises a raised edge;
• a linkage included within the shaft;
• a blade coupled to a distal end of the linkage;
• wherein (a)(i) an axis parallel to the shaft long axis intersects the raised edge but does not intersect the shaft, (a)(ii) the raised edge is curvilinear, (a)(iii) the raised edge includes a first lateral edge portion, a second lateral edge portion, and a middle edge portion between the first and second lateral edge portions;
• and (a)(iv) the first and second lateral edge portions are both proximal to the middle edge portion;
• wherein (b)(i) at least one of the first lateral edge portion, the second lateral edge portion, or the middle edge portion includes a top exposed surface that projects at an angle that is greater than 20 degrees with respect to the shaft long axis;
• and (b)(ii) the angle projects distally.