Safety scalpel

• US 20060095057A1
• Filed: 10/26/2005
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medipurpose PTE. LTD.
• Original Assignee: Surgilance PTE LTD.
• Inventors: Yi, Patrick, Foo, Kook-Ting, Neo, Poh-Hock
• Granted Patent: US 7,669,337 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/167
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3213 with detachable blades
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3215 Packages or dispensers for scalpel blades for sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32113 with extendable or retractable guard or blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0801 Prevention of accidental cutting or pricking

Abstract

A safety scalpel that incorporates a reusable metal scalpel handle similar in shape and feel to the conventional metal handle preferred by most surgeons, and a disposable blade cartridge that covers the blade before, during and after use, and is easily mounted and released from the scalpel handle. The blade cartridge includes a blade with similar cutting profiles as standard surgical blades, a blade holder that is permanently fixed to the blade, and a blade guard that covers the blade and within which the blade holder is able to slide. The scalpel handle is reusable, while the blade cartridge is disposable. The blade cartridge is attached to and detached from the scalpel handle in a direction generally perpendicular the longitudinal axis of the scalpel handle.

Claims

1. A safety scalpel comprising:

a disposable blade cartridge; and

a non-disposable scalpel handle having a distal end,

wherein the disposable blade cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the distal end of the non-disposable scalpel handle.

2. The safety scalpel of claim 1, the disposable blade cartridge comprising:

a blade;

a blade holder in communication with the blade; and

a blade guard adapted to receive the blade and blade holder.

3. The safety scalpel of claim 2, wherein the blade defines an aperture near a proximal end of the blade and the blade holder comprises a protrusion positioned near a distal end of the blade holder, such that the protrusion of the blade holder is adapted to engage the aperture of the blade, and wherein the protrusion of the blade holder comprising a notch adapted to lock the blade securely onto the blade holder.

4. The safety scalpel of claim 2, wherein the blade is attached to the blade holder through insert molding, such that the blade holder is formed around the blade.

5. The safety scalpel of claim 3, wherein the blade holder is adapted to move a portion of the blade between a closed position inside the blade guard and an open position outside the blade guard.

6. The safety scalpel of claim 5, the blade holder further comprising a holder knob positioned near a proximal end of the blade holder, wherein the holder knob is movable along a slot of the blade guard.

7. The safety scalpel of claim 6, the blade guard further comprising a forward catch adapted to engage the holder knob at the distal end of the slot and a rear catch adapted to engage the holder knob at the proximal end of the slot, wherein the forward catch prevents the blade holder from moving the blade forwardly beyond the open position and the rear catch prevents the blade holder from moving the blade rearwardly beyond the closed position or locked position.

8. The safety scalpel of claim 6, the blade holder further comprising a stopper rib adapted to engage a rear retaining slot of the guard when the blade is in the closed position and adapted to engage a front retaining slot of the guard when the blade is in the open position, wherein the engagement of the stopper rib and the rear retaining slot temporarily maintains the blade in the closed position and the engagement of the stopper rib and the front retaining slot temporarily maintains the blade in the open position.

9. The safety scalpel of claim 8, the slot of the blade guard comprising a plurality of tabs adapted to engage the protrusion when the blade is in the open position, wherein the engagement of the tabs and the protrusion prevent lateral and transverse movement of the blade during use.

10. The safety scalpel of claim 8, the blade holder further comprising at least one locking slot adapted to engage at least one locking rib of the guard when the blade is in a locked position, wherein the blade holder is prevented from moving the blade.

11. The safety scalpel of claim 2, the non-disposable scalpel handle comprising:

at least one lateral extension adapted to engage a distal end of the disposable blade cartridge; and

a lower wall adapted to engage a proximal end of the disposable blade cartridge,

wherein the at least one lateral extension and lower wall prevent longitudinal movement of the disposable blade cartridge when attached to the non-disposable scalpel handle.

12. The safety scalpel of claim 11, the non-disposable scalpel handle further comprising at least one support rib adapted to engage at least one rail of the disposable blade cartridge, wherein the engagement of the at least one support rib and the at least one rail temporarily maintains the attachment of the disposable blade cartridge onto the non-disposable scalpel handle.

13. The safety scalpel of claim 2, the disposable blade cartridge further comprising at least one groove positioned near the at least one lateral side of the disposable blade cartridge, wherein the at least one groove increases flexibility of the disposable blade cartridge during attachment to and detachment from the non-disposable scalpel handle.

14. The safety scalpel of claim 2, the blade cartridge further comprising at least one laterally extending catch positioned near the proximal end of the blade guard, such that the at least one laterally extending catch engages at least one medial notch positioned on at least one lateral side of the blade handle when the blade cartridge is attached to the blade handle, wherein the engagement of the at least one laterally extending catch and the at least one medial notch prevents longitudinal movement of the blade cartridge.

15. The safety scalpel of claim 2, the blade guard further comprising at least one ridge positioned on at least one lateral side of the blade guard, wherein the at least one ridge provides increased traction and support during the detachment of the blade cartridge from the scalpel handle.

16. A disposable blade cartridge for a safety scalpel, the disposable blade cartridge comprising:

a blade guard; and

a blade receivable within the blade guard,

wherein a portion of the blade is movable between a first position inside the blade guard and a second position outside the blade guard.

17. The disposable blade cartridge of claim 16, wherein the blade defines an aperture near a proximal end of the blade and the blade holder comprises a protrusion positioned near a distal end of the blade holder, such that the protrusion of the blade holder is adapted to engage the aperture of the blade, and wherein the protrusion of the blade holder comprising a notch adapted to lock the blade securely onto the blade holder.

18. The disposable blade cartridge of claim 16, wherein the blade is attached to the blade holder through insert molding, such that the blade holder is formed around the blade.

19. The disposable blade cartridge of claim 16, wherein the blade holder is adapted to move a portion of the blade between a closed position inside the blade guard and an open position outside the blade guard.

20. The disposable blade cartridge of claim 19, the blade holder further comprising a holder knob positioned near a proximal end of the blade holder, wherein the holder knob is movable along a slot of the blade guard.

21. The disposable blade cartridge of claim 20, the blade guard further comprising a forward catch adapted to engage the holder knob at the distal end of the slot and a rear catch adapted to engage the holder knob at the proximal end of the slot, wherein the forward catch prevents the blade holder from moving the blade forwardly beyond the open position and the rear catch prevents the blade holder from moving the blade rearwardly beyond the closed position.

22. The disposable blade cartridge of claim 19, the blade holder further comprising a stopper rib adapted to engage a rear retaining slot of the guard when the blade is in the closed position and adapted to engage a front retaining slot of the guard when the blade is in the open position, wherein the engagement of the stopper rib and the rear retaining slot temporarily maintains the blade in the closed position and the engagement of the stopper rib and the front retaining slot temporarily maintains the blade in the open position.

23. The disposable blade cartridge of claim 22, the slot of the blade guard comprising a plurality of tabs adapted to engage the protrusion when the blade is in the open position, wherein the engagement of the tabs and the protrusion prevent lateral and transverse movement of the blade during use.

24. The disposable blade cartridge of claim 22, the blade holder further comprising at least one locking slot adapted to engage at least one locking rib of the guard when the blade is in a locked position, wherein the blade holder is prevented from moving the blade.

25. A safety scalpel comprising:

a scalpel handle having a longitudinal axis;

a blade cartridge attachable to the scalpel handle,

wherein the blade cartridge is rotatably attached to the scalpel handle in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

26. The safety scalpel of claim 25, the blade cartridge comprising:

a blade;

a blade holder in communication with the blade; and

a blade guard adapted to receive the blade and blade holder.

27. The safety scalpel of claim 26, wherein the blade defines an aperture near a proximal end of the blade and the blade holder comprises a protrusion positioned near a distal end of the blade holder, such that the protrusion of the blade holder is adapted to engage the aperture of the blade, and wherein the protrusion of the blade holder comprising a notch adapted to lock the blade securely onto the blade holder.

28. The safety scalpel of claim 26, wherein the blade is attached to the blade holder through insert molding, such that the blade holder is formed around the blade.

29. The safety scalpel of claim 26, wherein the blade holder is adapted to move a portion of the blade between a closed position inside the blade guard and an open position outside the blade guard.

30. The safety scalpel of claim 29, the blade holder further comprising a holder knob positioned near a proximal end of the blade holder, wherein the holder knob is movable along a slot of the blade guard.

31. The safety scalpel of claim 30, the blade guard further comprising a forward catch adapted to engage the holder knob at the distal end of the slot and a rear catch adapted to engage the holder knob at the proximal end of the slot, wherein the forward catch prevents the blade holder from moving the blade forwardly beyond the open position and the rear catch prevents the blade holder from moving the blade rearwardly beyond the closed position.

32. The safety scalpel of claim 30, the blade holder further comprising a stopper rib adapted to engage a rear retaining slot of the guard when the blade is in the closed position and adapted to engage a front retaining slot of the guard when the blade is in the open position, wherein the engagement of the stopper rib and the rear retaining slot temporarily maintains the blade in the closed position and the engagement of the stopper rib and the front retaining slot temporarily maintains the blade in the open position.

33. The safety scalpel of claim 32, the slot of the blade guard comprising a plurality of tabs adapted to engage the protrusion when the blade is in the open position, wherein the engagement of the tabs and the protrusion prevent lateral and transverse movement of the blade during use.

34. The safety scalpel of claim 32, the blade holder further comprising at least one locking slot adapted to engage at least one locking rib of the guard when the blade is in a locked position, wherein the blade holder is prevented from moving the blade.

35. The safety scalpel of claim 26, the non-disposable scalpel handle comprising:

at least one lateral extension adapted to engage a distal end of the disposable blade cartridge; and

a lower wall adapted to engage a proximal end of the disposable blade cartridge,

wherein the at least one lateral extension and lower wall prevent longitudinal movement of the disposable blade cartridge when attached to the non-disposable scalpel handle.

36. The safety scalpel of claim 35, the non-disposable scalpel handle further comprising at least one support rib adapted to engage at least one rail of the disposable blade cartridge, wherein the engagement of the at least one support rib and the at least one rail temporarily maintains the attachment of the disposable blade cartridge onto the non-disposable scalpel handle.

37. The safety scalpel of claim 26, the disposable blade cartridge further comprising at least one groove positioned near the at least one lateral side of the disposable blade cartridge, wherein the at least one groove increases flexibility of the disposable blade cartridge during attachment to and detachment from the non-disposable scalpel handle.

38. The safety scalpel of claim 26, the blade cartridge further comprising at least one laterally extending catch positioned near the proximal end of the blade guard, such that the at least one laterally extending catch engages at least one medial notch positioned on at least one lateral side of the blade handle when the blade cartridge is attached to the blade handle, wherein the engagement of the at least one laterally extending catch and the at least one medial notch prevents longitudinal movement of the blade cartridge.

39. The safety scalpel of claim 26, the blade guard further comprising at least one ridge positioned on at least one lateral side of the blade guard, wherein the at least one ridge provides increased traction and support during the detachment of the blade cartridge from the scalpel handle.

40. A method of attaching a blade cartridge to a scalpel handle, the method comprising:

positioning a first inner edge of a blade cartridge on a first outer edge of a scalpel handle;

rotating the blade cartridge in a direction generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the scalpel handle; and

positioning a second inner edge of the blade cartridge on a second outer edge of the scalpel handle.

41. A disposable safety scalpel comprising:

a blade;

a blade holder in communication with the blade;

a blade guard adapted to receive the blade and blade holder; and

a disposable blade handle,

wherein a portion of the blade is movable between a first position inside the blade guard and a second position outside the blade guard.

42. The disposable safety scalpel of claim 41, wherein the blade, blade holder, and blade guard define a blade cartridge adapted to engage the disposable blade handle.

43. The disposable safety scalpel of claim 41, wherein the blade guard is integral with the disposable blade handle.

44. The disposable safety scalpel of claim 41, wherein the blade defines an aperture near a proximal end of the blade and the blade holder comprises a protrusion positioned near a distal end of the blade holder, such that the protrusion of the blade holder is adapted to engage the aperture of the blade, and wherein the protrusion of the blade holder comprising a notch adapted to lock the blade securely onto the blade holder.

45. The disposable safety scalpel of claim 41, wherein the blade is attached to the blade holder through insert molding, such that the blade holder is formed around the blade.

46. The disposable safety scalpel of claim 41, wherein the blade holder is adapted to move a portion of the blade between a closed position inside the blade guard and an open position outside the blade guard.

47. The disposable safety scalpel of claim 46, the blade holder further comprising a holder knob positioned near a proximal end of the blade holder, wherein the holder knob is movable along a slot of the blade guard.

48. The disposable safety scalpel of claim 47, the blade guard further comprising a forward catch adapted to engage the holder knob at the distal end of the slot and a rear catch adapted to engage the holder knob at the proximal end of the slot, wherein the forward catch prevents the blade holder from moving the blade forwardly beyond the open position and the rear catch prevents the blade holder from moving the blade rearwardly beyond the closed position.

49. The disposable safety scalpel of claim 47, the blade holder further comprising a stopper rib adapted to engage a rear retaining slot of the guard when the blade is in the closed position and adapted to engage a front retaining slot of the guard when the blade is in the open position, wherein the engagement of the stopper rib and the rear retaining slot temporarily maintains the blade in the closed position and the engagement of the stopper rib and the front retaining slot temporarily maintains the blade in the open position.

50. The disposable safety scalpel of claim 49, the slot of the blade guard comprising a plurality of tabs adapted to engage the protrusion when the blade is in the open position, wherein the engagement of the tabs and the protrusion prevent lateral and transverse movement of the blade during use.

51. The disposable safety scalpel of claim 47, the blade holder further comprising at least one locking slot adapted to engage at least one locking rib of the guard when the blade is in a locked position, wherein the blade holder is prevented from moving the blade.

52. The disposable safety scalpel of claim 47, the blade guard further comprising a plurality of holder tabs adapted to engage the holder knob when the blade is in the open position, wherein the engagement of the holder tabs and the holder knob prevent movement of the holder knob when in the open position.

53. The disposable safety scalpel of claim 49, the blade guard further comprising a plurality of retaining slot tabs positioned in the front retaining slot, wherein the retaining slot tabs are adapted to engage the stopper rib when the blade is in the open position, wherein the engagement of the retaining slot tabs and the stopper rib prevent movement of the blade when in the open position.