Sheathed knife instrument
First Claim
1. In a surgical instrument, a sheathed blade assembly, said assembly comprising an elongate sheath and an elongate surgical blade longitudinally received within said sheath for reciprocal movement therein, said sheath having forward and rear end portions, said sheath, other than for said forward end portion, being linear, said forward end portion being laterally directed away from the longitudinal axis of the remainder of said sheath and having a predetermined configuration defining a predetermined guide path away from said longitudinal axis, said forward end portion terminating in an open blade passing end, said blade having a forward surgical tip portion selectively projectable through and beyond said blade passing end and along the predetermined path defined by the forward end portion of the sheath through which the blade passes, said blade tip portion being completely retractable into said sheath, and means external of said sheath engaging said blade for a selective reciprocation thereof relative to said sheath and a selective extension and retraction of the tip end portion of the blade relative to the open blade passing end, said blade tip portion, when extended beyond said open blade passing end, being completely exposed.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical instrument comprising an elongate reusable handle and disposable, interchangeable sheathed blade modules. Each sheathed blade module including an elongate tubular sheath having a laterally arced blade guiding forward end portion of either a cylindrical or tubular configuration. The arced portion defines a guide path for a blade received within the sheath. The blade, through interconnection with a slide member on the handle module, is selectively moved between a first protected position entirely within the sheath and a second position wherein the surgical tip portion of the blade is exposed. Outward movement of the blade tip portion is directed along a predetermined path by the curved forward end portion of the sheath, while at the same time providing for a complete exposure of the blade tip portion beyond the structure of the sheath. The slide member of the sheath is controlled by a single finger of the one hand used to hold the handle module.
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Citations
22 Claims
- 1. In a surgical instrument, a sheathed blade assembly, said assembly comprising an elongate sheath and an elongate surgical blade longitudinally received within said sheath for reciprocal movement therein, said sheath having forward and rear end portions, said sheath, other than for said forward end portion, being linear, said forward end portion being laterally directed away from the longitudinal axis of the remainder of said sheath and having a predetermined configuration defining a predetermined guide path away from said longitudinal axis, said forward end portion terminating in an open blade passing end, said blade having a forward surgical tip portion selectively projectable through and beyond said blade passing end and along the predetermined path defined by the forward end portion of the sheath through which the blade passes, said blade tip portion being completely retractable into said sheath, and means external of said sheath engaging said blade for a selective reciprocation thereof relative to said sheath and a selective extension and retraction of the tip end portion of the blade relative to the open blade passing end, said blade tip portion, when extended beyond said open blade passing end, being completely exposed.
- 4. A surgical instrument comprising, an elongate handle having a forward end portion, an elongate sheath having a proximal end portion, said handle including mounting means receiving and releasably mounting the proximal end portion of said sheath, said sheath extending longitudinally outward of the forward end portion of said handle, said sheath defining a full length hollow core, said sheath having a distal end portion, said distal end portion being laterally directed from the longitudinal axis of the remainder of the sheath and terminating in an open blade passing end, said laterally directed distal end portion defining a predetermined guide path away from said longitudinal axis within and beyond said sheath, an elongate flexible surgical blade longitudinally slidable within said sheath, said blade having a proximal end portion received within the forward end portion of said handle, said blade having a distal end portion received within the distal laterally directed end portion of the sheath for selective extension therefrom along the predetermined path defined by the laterally directed end portion of the sheath, said handle including blade positioning means engaged with the proximal end portion of the blade for effecting a selective extension and retraction of said blade for movement of said blade between a position wherein said blade distal end portion is completely received and enclosed within said sheath, and a position wherein said blade distal end portion is extended and completely exposed beyond the open blade passing end.
- 19. A disposable elongate sheath and blade module for use with a reusable handle module, said sheath and blade module comprising an elongate tubular sheath having a forward leading end portion laterally directed away from the longitudinal axis of the remainder of the sheath and terminating in an open forward end, and an elongate flexible blade longitudinally reciprocal within said sheath, said blade including a forward surgical tip portion selectively movable between a first position completely retracted within the laterally directed forward end portion of said sheath and a second extended position wherein said forward surgical tip portion of said blade is extended through and projected beyond the forward open end of said forward end portion for a complete exposure of said blade tip portion, said laterally directed end portion of said sheath defining a guide for said blade tip portion controlling the position and direction of said blade away from said longitudinal axis of said sheath as said blade is projected from said forward open end and therebeyond.
Specification