Nucleus chopper and splitter

A surgical instrument with an exposed cutting edge for cutting body tissue, said instrument comprising:

• a handle assembly;
• first and second spring steel segments, each said segment having a distal and a proximal end,
• each said spring steel segment having an inner and outer surface;
• said first and second spring steel segment proximal ends attached to said handle assembly with said first and second inner surfaces facing one another,
• said first spring steel segment having a first tip formed thereon at said distal end;
• said second spring steel segment having a second tip formed thereon at said distal end;
• said first and second spring steel segments secured to said handle assembly,
• said first and second tips protruding from said handle assembly,
• said first and second tips biased by said spring steel segments to remain parted one from another,
• said first tip having a first tip segment extending coaxially with its associated spring steel segment,
• said first tip segment having a first tip end,
• said second tip having a second tip segment extending coaxially with its associated spring steel segment,
• said second tip segment having a second tip end,
• a first blade segment,
• said first blade segment formed at an angle to and depending from said first tip segment;
• a second blade segment,
• said second blade segment formed at an angle to and depending from said second tip segment,
• each said blade segment having a leading edge and a trailing edge,
• each said trailing edge having a cutting edge formed thereon;
• and
• said handle assembly further comprising means to selectively force said first and second tips into contact with one another,
• said first and second cutting edges aligning to form a single exposed and unenclosed cutting edge when said forcing means is activated to force said first and second tips into contact one with the other.