Surgical hook knife

A laparoscopic surgical cutting instrument comprising:

• an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;
• handle means disposed at said proximal end:
• a blade member secured to sail instrument proximate said distal end of said shaft, said blade member having a first inner, curved cutting edge and a second, outer cutting edge;
• and,
• means for moving said blade member between a first position and a second position, wherein said first inner, curved cutting edge is exposed for cutting tissue when said blade member is in said first position and said second, outer cutting edge is exposed for cutting tissue when said blade member is in said second position.

A laparoscopic surgical cutting instrument comprising:

• an elongate shaft having a proximal end and distal end, said proximal end including a handle for allowing a user to grasp and manipulate said instrument and said distal end including a hook-shaped member, said hook shaped member including a blunt outer tip taking the form of a spade;
• a blade having a hook-shaped distal end and a cutting edge along an inside edge of said hook-shaped distal end;
• and,
• said blade being operatively connected to said instrument adjacent said hook-shaped member such that said hook-shaped distal end of said blade generally follows the contour of said hook-shaped member and said cutting edge extends proximally of an inside surface of said hook-shaped member, said blunt outer tip lying in a plane generally perpendicular to the plane of said blade.