1. A system for performing an incision on a tissue structure, the system comprising: a surgical instrument configured to capture a tissue structure between a signal emitter and signal detector and to then incise the captured tissue structure by axial movement of a flat cutting member with a sharpened edge along an incision path; and a control unit in communication with the surgical instrument and configured to process evaluation data obtained via the surgical instrument in order to determine whether the incision path is clear of a nerve and to disable axial movement of the flat cutting member based upon the determination.