Surgical blade dispenser and disposal system for use during an operating procedure and method thereof

• US 5,361,902 A
• Filed: 06/05/1992
• Issued: 11/08/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Leonard Bloom
• Original Assignee: Leonard Bloom
• Inventors: Lehmbeck, Steven P., Abidin, Michael R.
• Primary Examiner(s): FIDEI, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US07/894,595
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 206/354, 206/359, 206/360, 206/363, 206/355, 206/370, 206/352, 29/239, 29/278
• US Class Current: 206/370
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3217 Devices for removing or collecting used scalpel blades for sharps A61B50/362

Abstract

A sterile blade dispenser facilitates removal of dulled used blades, as well as the mounting of sharp unused blades, on a scalpel during a surgical procedure being conducted in an operating room or similar environment. Preferably, the scalpel has a sliding retractable guard, and the combination of the guarded scalpel and the blade dispenser precludes inadvertent cuts or nicks during the surgical procedure.

Claims

1. A scalpel blade dispenser and disposal system for use during a surgical procedure in an operating room, comprising, in combination, a scalpel blade dispenser which includes a housing having at least one sterile blade therein, and wherein a scalpel has a blade which will be normally replaced during the surgical procedure to maintain good surgical cutting techniques, first means within the housing enabling the blade to be removed from the scalpel upon insertion and withdrawal of the scalpel from the housing, wherein the blade thereby removed from the scalpel is confined within the housing which is subsequently discarded, and second means within the housing enabling the sterile blade to be mounted upon the scalpel upon the subsequent re-insertion of the scalpel into the housing and withdrawal of the scalpel therefrom, wherein the second means comprises a first interior wall Cantilever mounted within the housing, a hook on the first interior wall, the sterile blade having a hole formed therein and receiving the hook on the first interior wall, thereby positioning the sterile blade on the wall, and cam means between the hook on the first interior wall and the hole in the sterile blade, such that as the scalpel with the sterile blade mounted thereon is withdrawn from the housing, the first interior wall deflects and is cammed away from the sterile blade, thereby clearing the hook from the hole in the sterile blade, and thereby allowing the scalpel with the sterile blade mounted thereon to be removed from the housing.

2. The combination of claim 1, further including a sterile package for the housing, the sterile package being removed prior to the surgical procedure.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein a plurality of sterile blades are contained within the housing, wherein the housing has a plurality of discarded blades confined therein, and wherein the housing is disposed of following the surgical procedure.

4. The combination of claim 1, wherein the blade on the scalpel has a back edge, and wherein the first means comprises a leaf spring in the housing, the spring having an upwardly-projecting finger formed thereon, a second wall in the housing, and the second wall having a downwardly-projecting shoulder formed thereon and engaging the finger on the leaf spring;

such that as the scalpel with the blade mounted thereon is inserted into the housing, the blade deflects the leaf spring, thereby clearing the finger from the shoulder as the blade is moved past the shoulder on the second wall; and

such that as the scalpel is withdrawn from the housing, the back edge of the blade engages the shoulder on the second wall to strip the blade from the scalpel.

5. The combination of claim 1, wherein the housing is substantially rectangular and includes top and bottom walls, front and rear walls, and right side and left side walls, respectively, wherein the blade is removed upon insertion of the scalpel into the front wall of the housing and withdrawal of the scalpel therefrom, and wherein the sterile blade is mounted upon the scalpel upon the subsequent re-insertion of the scalpel into the right side wall of the housing and withdrawal of the scalpel therefrom.

6. The combination of claim 1, further including a guard slidably mounted on the scalpel, the guard being alternatively retracted and advanced to uncover and cover the blade, respectively, and in a one-handed operation.

7. A scalpel blade dispenser and disposal system for use during a surgical procedure in an operating room, wherein a scalpel is used during the surgical procedure, the scalpel having a blade mounted thereon, the system comprising a surgical blade dispenser including a housing having at least one blade therein, and wherein the blades on a scalpel are normally replaced during the procedure to maintain good surgical cutting techniques, the improvement comprising a sterile package for the housing, the sterile package being removed prior to the surgical procedure, the housing being substantially rectangular and including top and bottom walls, front and rear walls, and right side and left side walls, respectively, first means within the housing enabling the blade to be removed from the scalpel upon insertion of the scalpel into the front wall of the housing and withdrawal therefrom, wherein the blade thereby removed from the scalpel is confined within the housing which is subsequently discarded, said first means comprising a leaf spring in the housing and having an upwardly-projecting finger formed thereon, and a wall in the housing, the wall having a downwardly-projecting shoulder formed thereon and engaging the finger on the leaf spring;

such that as the scalpel with the blade mounted thereon is inserted into the housing, the blade deflects the leaf spring, clearing the finger from the shoulder as the blade is moved past the shoulder on the wall; and

such that as the scalpel is withdrawn from the housing, the back edge of the blade engages the shoulder on the wall to strip the blade from the scalpel, a plurality of sterile blades in the housing, and second means within the housing enabling at least one sterile blade to be mounted upon the scalpel upon subsequent re-insertion of the scalpel into the right side wall of the housing and withdrawal of the scalpel therefrom, said second means comprising a first interior wall cantilever mounted within the housing, a hook on the wall, the sterile blade having a hole formed therein and receiving the hook on the wall, thereby positioning the sterile blade on the wall, and cam means between the hook on the first interior wall and the hole in the sterile blade, such that as the scalpel with the sterile blade mounted thereon is withdrawn from the housing, the first interior wall deflects and is cammed away from the blade, thereby clearing the hook from the hole in the blade, and thereby allowing the scalpel with the sterile blade mounted thereon to be removed from the housing.

8. A scalpel blade dispenser and disposal system for use during a surgical procedure in an operating room, wherein a scalpel provided with a blade is used, and wherein the dispenser is provided with a plurality of sterile blades for the scalpel, the blade on the scalpel being normally replaced during the procedure to maintain good surgical cutting techniques, comprising, in combination, a housing, a sterile package for the housing, the sterile package being removed prior to the surgical procedure, the housing being substantially rectangular and including top and bottom walls, front and rear walls, and right side and left side walls, respectively, first means within the housing enabling the blade to be removed from the scalpel upon insertion of the scalpel into the front wall of the housing and withdrawal therefrom, wherein the blade thereby removed from the scalpel is confined within the housing which is subsequently discarded and second means within the housing enabling a selected sterile blade to be mounted upon the scalpel upon subsequent re-insertion of the scalpel into the right side wall of the housing and withdrawal of the scalpel therefrom, wherein the blade has a rear edge portion, and wherein the front wall portion of the housing has an opening formed therein for slidable insertion of the scalpel with the blade to be removed therefrom, further including a second internal wall within the housing, the second internal wall having a portion sloping downwardly from the top wall towards the bottom wall of the housing and from the opening in the front wall to the rear wall thereof, thereby defining a shoulder on the second internal wall, a leaf spring mounted within the housing and projecting upwardly from the bottom wall towards the top wall, below the second internal wall in the housing, and from the opening in the front wall towards the rear wall of the housing, the leaf spring contacting the shoulder on the second internal wall in the housing, and the leaf spring having at least one upwardly-projecting finger rearwardly of the shoulder on the second internal wall;

such that upon insertion of a scalpel with the blade thereon through the opening in the front wall of the housing, the scalpel depresses the leaf spring, and the upwardly-projecting finger on the leaf spring lifts the blade up and away from the scalpel; and

such that upon withdrawal of the scalpel from the housing, the shoulder on the second internal wall in the housing engages the rear edge portion of the blade and strips the blade off the scalpel, such that the blade falls down into the housing and on to the bottom wall thereof.

9. The combination of claim 8, wherein two upwardly-projecting fingers are formed on the leaf spring, the fingers being parallel to, and spaced apart from, each other.

10. A scalpel blade dispenser and disposal system for use during a surgical procedure in an operating room, wherein a scalpel provided with a blade is used, and wherein the dispenser is provided with a plurality of sterile blades for the scalpel, the blade on the scalpel being normally replaced during the procedure to maintain good surgical cutting techniques, comprising, in combination, a housing, a sterile package for the housing, the sterile package being removed prior to the surgical procedure, the housing being substantially rectangular and including top and bottom walls, front and rear walls, and right side and left side walls, respectively, first means within the housing enabling the blade to be removed from the scalpel upon insertion of the scalpel into the front wall of the housing and withdrawal therefrom, wherein the blade thereby removed from the scalpel is confined within the housing which is subsequently discarded and second means within the housing enabling a selected sterile blade to be mounted upon the scalpel upon subsequent re-insertion of the scalpel into the right side wall of the housing and withdrawal of the scalpel therefrom, wherein the scalpel has a forwardly-projecting portion, and wherein the selected sterile blade has a slotted opening formed therein to receive the forwardly-projecting portion of the scalpel, thereby removably mounting the sterile blade to the scalpel, the sterile blade further having a forward portion provided with a hole forwardly of the slotted opening formed in the sterile blade, the housing having at least one first interior wall formed therein, recessed below the top wall of the housing, and extending from the left side wall of the housing towards the right side wall thereof, the top wall and the first interior wall thereby defining therebetween a slotted recess in the housing, such that the forward portion of the sterile blade may be received within the slotted recess in the housing, the first interior wall having a first upwardly-projecting hook received within the hole formed in the forward portion of the sterile blade, thereby positioning the sterile blade within the slotted recess in the housing and preventing the sterile blade from being dulled by engaging the left side wall of the housing, the hole in the sterile blade having a circular edge, the housing further having at least one second interior wall, extending towards the first interior wall, and from the right side wall of the housing towards the left side wall thereof, and the second interior wall having a second upwardly-projecting hook engaging the slotted opening in the sterile blade, such that upon re-insertion of the scalpel within the housing, the forward portion of the scalpel downwardly deflects the second interior wall and disengages the second upwardly-projecting hook on the second interior wall from the slotted opening in the sterile blade, such that the laterally-projecting portion of the scalpel engages and is received within the slotted opening in the sterile blade, thereby mounting the sterile blade to the scalpel, and the first upwardly-projecting hook on the first interior wall having an upward surface sloping downwardly towards the left side wall of the housing, such that as the scalpel with the sterile blade thereon is withdrawn out of the housing in a sliding movement from the left side wall to the right side wall of the housing, the circular edge on the hole in the forward portion of the sterile blade engages the upward sloping surface on the first upwardly-projecting hook on the first interior wall, thereby deflecting and camming the first interior wall downwardly within the housing to release the first upwardly-projecting hook from the hole in the forward portion of the sterile blade, and thereby enabling the scalpel and sterile blade to be completely withdrawn from the housing.

11. In a dispenser for the blade of a surgical scalpel, wherein the scalpel has a forwardly-projecting portion provided with a laterally-projecting longitudinal rib, and wherein the blade has a slot formed therein to receive the laterally-projecting longitudinal rib on the forwardly-projecting portion of the scalpel, thereby removably mounting the blade to the scalpel, the blade having a cutting edge formed thereon, and wherein the dispenser includes a housing provided with an opening through which the forwardly-projecting portion of the scalpel is inserted, the improvement which comprises a cantilevered first wall within the housing, extending towards the opening therein, and defining a slotted recess in the housing, a sterile blade within the slotted recess, the sterile blade having a hole formed therein, a first hook on the first wall and received in the hole in the sterile blade, a cantilevered second wall in the housing, below the opening, and extending towards the first wall, the second wall having a second hook received in the slot in the sterile blade, thereby retaining the sterile blade within the slotted recess in the housing and thereby preventing the cutting edge on the sterile blade from becoming dulled inadvertently, such that upon insertion of the forwardly-projecting portion of the scalpel within the opening in the housing, the forwardly-projecting portion of the scalpel downwardly deflects the second wall and disengages the second hook from the slot in the sterile blade, such that the laterally-projecting longitudinal rib on the scalpel engages and is received within the slot in the sterile blade, thereby mounting the sterile blade to the scalpel, and the first hook on the first wall having a sloping surface, such that as the scalpel with the sterile blade thereon is withdrawn out of the opening in the housing, the hole in the sterile blade engages the sloping surface on the first hook on the first wall, thereby camming the first wall within the housing to release the first hook from the hole in the sterile blade, and thereby enabling the scalpel and sterile blade to be completely withdrawn from the housing.

12. In combination, a scalpel handle having a first blade mounted thereon, a housing having a sterile second blade therein, the sterile second blade having a cutting edge, positioning means between the housing and the sterile second blade so that the cutting edge on the sterile second blade is spaced from the housing, thereby precluding the cutting edge on the sterile second blade from being dulled inadvertently, first means including a first deflectable member in the housing and engaging the first blade on the scalpel handle for stripping the first blade from the scalpel handle upon insertion of the scalpel handle into the housing and withdrawal therefrom, and second means including a second deflectable member in the housing and engaging the sterile second blade to mount the sterile second blade on the scalpel handle as the scalpel handle is re-inserted into the housing, enabling the scalpel handle with the sterile second blade mounted thereon to be withdrawn from the housing.