Rongeur apparatus having an offset bayonet and method of use with microscope during microsurgery

A rongeur-type surgical instrument apparatus having a hand grip member,

• a composite shank member mechanically coupled to said hand grip member, said composite shank member having a proximate shank portion and a distal shank portion,
• said proximate shank portion being disposed adjacent said hand grip member,
• said composite shank member comprises a stationary shank member and a movable shank member,
• said distal shank portion comprising a bite-end member which includes a punch cutting tip at an extreme distal end of said movable shank member and a footplate at an extreme distal end of said stationary shank member, said punch cutting tip and said footplate defining a punch travel region, said apparatus comprising:
• an offset bayonet portion formed between said proximate shank portion and said distal shank portion, said offset bayonet portion being defined by a first angled shank portion of said stationary shank member, and a second angled shank portion of said movable shank member, each stationary and movable shank portion having a shank extension portion whose length substantially equates to a distance defined by said punch travel region to facilitate back and forth travel of said movable shank portion, a respective shank extension portion associated with said stationary shank portion being a portion of said proximate shank portion, and a respective shank extension portion associated with said movable shank portion being a portion of said distal shank portion, said offset bayonet portion being formed for effecting unimpeded microscopic visualization of an operating field during use of said surgical instrument in conjunction with an operating microscope.