TISSUE EXTENSION

A tool for elongating a fibrous length of tissue, the tool comprising: a first group of cutters, the first group of cutters comprising a plurality of cutters spaced apart across a width of the tool so as to form an interleaved set of cutting widths and non-cutting widths; a second group of cutters, the second group of cutters comprising a plurality of cutters spaced apart across the width of the tool so as to from an interleaved set of cutting widths and non-cutting widths; and wherein each cutter of the second group of cutters is positioned so as to at least partially overlap at least one non-cutting width of the first group of cutters. As each group of cutters is arranged to form interleaved areas of cutting and non-cutting, when the tool is used, each group of cutters will cut some fibres of the fibrous length of tissue while leaving other fibres uncut. Each group of cutters takes an approach similar to the Bellemans' technique by making a series of punctures in the fibrous tissue. However, each group of cutters is more well-defined, reliable and repeatable than the individual punctures of Bellemans' technique as they have a defined relationship and they have non-cutting widths separating the cutters so that each cutter in the group is guaranteed to cut different fibres of the tissue. In addition, by overlapping at least one non-cutting width of the first group, the second group is guaranteed to cut some fibres that are not cut by the first group.