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Abstract

A surgical cutting instrument that is particularly adapted to lift individual ones of sutures from the skin of a patient and to hold each suture by means of a knot at one end thereof while cutting the suture to free it from the skin. The instrument comprises a longitudinally extended body having a generally straight handle portion at one end and a pair of tines at the other end. Both tines are upturned and are of unequal length with blunt innermost edges defining a narrow slot open at one end to snare the knot of a suture. The tine ends are blunt and rounded, the longer of which is insertable under the suture. A longitudinal sharp, thin cutting edge, which comprises a replaceable steel blade in a polycarbonate plastic embodiment, is disposed along a portion of the outermost edge of the longer tine adjacent the junction of both tines and the body. Rotation of the handle brings the sharp edge into cutting relation with the suture which is then severed and removed by lifting the knotted end held fast between the two tines.

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First Claim