Surgical instrument with extendable blades

A surgical instrument for use in connection with the performance of laparoscopic procedures, comprising:

• (a) an elongated, generally cylindrically shaped rod having first and second ends, said second end having a handle portion;
• (b) first and second yieldably deformable, generally planar blades connected to said rod proximate said first end and extending therefrom, each of said blades having curved tip portions and spaced apart, generally parallel edges, each said blade having a width, a longitudinal axis and a first and second portion, said first portions being disposed in first planes and said second portions being twisted about said longitudinal axis at a location proximate the junction of said first and second portions to urge said second portions into second planes generally perpendicular to said first planes, whereby internal stresses are imparted to said blades tending to cause said second portions of said blades to fan outwardly with respect to one another so that said edges of said second portion of said first blade extend angularly with respect to said edges of said second portion of said second blade and said tip portions of said second portions of said first and second blades are angularly spaced apart;
• and
• (c) blade constraining means for constraining movement of said blade, said means being telescopically receivable over said blades for sliding movement with respect thereto from an extended position to a retracted position, said means in said extended position functioning to restrain said blades from fanning out with respect to each other.