Disposable guarded finger scalpel for inserting a line in a patient and method of use thereof

• US 5,370,654 A
• Filed: 06/18/1993
• Issued: 12/06/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Leonard Bloom
• Original Assignee: Leonard Bloom
• Inventors: Lehmbeck, Steven P., Abidin, Michael R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Graysay, Tamara L.
• Application Number:
  US08/079,985
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 606/172, 606/181, 606/182, 606/185, 606/189, 606/167, 606/170, 30/162
• US Class Current: 606/182
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3211 Surgical scalpels, knives; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0023 disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32113 with extendable or retractable guard or blade

Abstract

A disposable guarded finger scalpel includes a frame having a forward transparent portion providing a guard for a blade. A pair of spring arms has a forward portion provided with a longitudinal lug received within a longitudinal slot on the blade. The spring arms are disposed rearwardly on the frame and extend laterally outwardly through respective openings in the side walls of the frame. A cap joins the rearward portions of the spring arms, and the cap abuts against a rear end wall of the frame.

Claims

1. A disposable guarded finger scalpel, wherein the disposable guarded finger scalpel is used while inserting a line in a patient, comprising a frame normally grasped between a thumb and forefinger, the frame including a blade guard forwardly thereof and having an opening therein, an inner member nested within the frame and including at least one spring arm disposed rearwardly of the frame and extending laterally therefrom, the inner member including a forward portion having a lug extending longitudinally thereof, a blade having a longitudinal slot receiving the lug on the forward portion of the inner member, thereby mounting the blade on the inner member, the blade normally being retracted within the blade guard, the inner member having a cap means rearwardly thereof, and the frame having a rear end wall abutting against the cap means on the inner member, thereby securing the inner member within the frame, wherein the at least one spring arm is manually squeezed laterally inwardly of the frame, thereby advancing the blade outwardly through the opening in the blade guard, and thereby automatically retracting the blade within the guard when the spring arm is manually released.

2. The disposable guarded finger scalpel of claim 1, wherein the frame is substantially rectangular, the frame having top and bottom walls, the frame further having side portions with respective openings formed therein, and wherein the at least one spring arm of the inner member has a pair of spring arms extending laterally through the openings, respectively, and confined by the top and bottom walls of the frame.

3. The disposable guarded finger scalpel of claim 2, wherein the blade guard is transparent, such that the blade is visible within the guard.

4. The disposable guarded finger scalpel of claim 2, wherein the spring arms are grasped between the thumb and forefinger, and wherein the spring arms have side walls provided with respective roughened portions to accommodate the thumb and forefinger, respectively.

5. A disposable guarded finger scalpel, comprising a generally rectangular frame having top and bottom walls and respective side walls, each of the side walls being provided with an opening formed therein, the frame having a transparent forward portion providing a blade guard, a blade slidably guided within the guard, the blade having a respective side portion provided with a longitudinally-extending slot, an inner member received within the frame and including a forward portion provided with a longitudinal rib received within the longitudinally-extending slot on the blade, and the inner member including a pair of spring arms formed integrally with the forward portion of the inner member and extending through the respective openings in the side walls of the frame laterally thereof, the spring arms being disposed rearwardly on the frame, and the frame having a rear end wall means cooperating with a cap means on the spring arms, thereby longitudinally securing the spring arms within the frame, such that the spring arms may be squeezed laterally together and inwardly of the frame, thereby advancing the blade forwardly of the transparent blade guard, and such that when the spring arms are released, the blade is automatically retracted within the transparent guard

6. In the method of inserting a line in a patient, wherein a needle is used to make a puncture in the patient'"'"'s skin, such that a guide wire may be inserted through the needle and the puncture and into the patient, the needle being removed, and such that a catheter may be inserted subsequently over the guide wire and into the patient, the wire being removed when the catheter is installed, the improvement comprising the steps of providing a disposable guarded finger scalpel including a frame having a transparent blade guard forwardly thereof and having a rearward portion, an inner member nested within the frame and including at least one spring arm disposed rearwardly of the frame and extending laterally therefrom, the inner member including a blade at a forward portion thereof normally being retracted within the blade guard, the inner member further including a cap means rearwardly thereof, and the frame having a rear end wall abutting against the cap means on the inner member, thereby securing the inner member within the frame, manually grasping the rearward portion of the frame of the disposable guarded finger scalpel, viewing the blade within the transparent guard, and depressing the at least arm spring arm laterally inwardly of the frame, thereby advancing the blade out of the guard, making a cut in the patient'"'"'s skin substantially at the puncture before the catheter is inserted over the guide wire, thereby facilitating insertion of the catheter, and releasing the spring arm laterally outwardly of the frame, thereby automatically retracting the blade within the transparent guard of the disposable guarded finger scalpel.

7. A disposable kit for installing a line in a patient, the kit including a needle for making a puncture in the patient'"'"'s skin and further including a catheter and a guide wire therefor, and a guarded finger scalpel in the kit, the guarded finger scalpel comprising an outer frame, an inner member nested within the frame, slidably guided therein for longitudinal movement relative to the frame, and including at least one integrally-formed spring arm extending laterally therefrom, the inner member further including a forwardly-extending portion having a lug extending forwardly thereof, a blade having a longitudinal slot receiving the lug on the forwardly-extending portion of the inner member, thereby mounting the blade thereon, the frame having a rear end wall, and the inner member having a cap means secured to the rear end wall of the frame, thereby confining the inner member within the frame, and a guard on the frame forwardly thereof and substantially enclosing the blade, such that when the spring arm is squeezed between the thumb and forefinger, the spring arm is depressed into the frame, thereby extending the inner member forwardly of the frame so that the blade extends beyond the guard on the frame, such that the blade on the guarded finger scalpel may be used to enlarge the puncture in the patient'"'"'s skin, thereby facilitating insertion of the catheter into the patient, and such that upon release of the thumb and forefinger, the spring arm extends laterally of the frame and the blade as retracted within the guard on the frame, thereby protecting the respective health care providers in installing the line in the patient and in cleaning up and subsequent disposal of the kit including the guarded finger scalpel therein.