Safety scalpel

• US 7,207,999 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2004
• Issued: 04/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael D. Griffin, Rodolfo Gaba
• Original Assignee: Michael D. Griffin, Rodolfo Gaba
• Inventors: Gaba, Rodolfo, Griffin, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes; Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANDERSEN, MICHAEL T
• Application Number:
  US10/800,306
• Publication Number:
  US 20050203555A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• Field of Search: 606/167, 606/162, 606/163, 301/62, 301/56
• 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 17/3217 Devices for removing or collecting used scalpel blades for sharps A61B50/362
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32113 with extendable or retractable guard or blade

Abstract

Presented herein are various embodiments of a safety scalpel. According to one embodiment is a safety scalpel system including handle capable of coupling to a blade with or without a safety housing.

Claims

1. A safety scalpel, comprising:

a blade including an orifice disposed between a front cutting end and a rear end, said front and rear ends being disposed substantially in the same plane;

a handle including a front portion and a rear portion, said front portion being adapted to receive said rear end of said blade and securely engage said blade via said orifice; and

a housing configured to retain internally said blade and slide back and forth onto said front handle portion between a first position in which said front cutting end of said blade is fully exposed for operational use and a second position in which said front cutting end of said blade is fully enclosed within said housing for safety, said blade being securely engaged by said front handle portion via said orifice in said first and second positions, said housing including on different sides respectively a sliding movement activator and a blade disengaging actuator, said actuator configured for contacting to disengage said blade from said front handle portion when said housing is in said second position, said housing being formed with at least one retaining member unattached to said actuator, said retaining member forming a hooking structure for fixing therewithin a portion of said blade when said blade is disengaged from said handle and said blade disengaging actuator is disengaged from said blade;

said blade being removable with said housing from said handle.

2. The safety scalpel of claim 1, wherein said blade disengaging actuator is adapted to flex at a first end.

3. The safety scalpel of claim 2, wherein said blade disengaging actuator is adapted at a second end to push said internally retained blade toward said front handle portion when said blade housing is in said second position, said push causing said blade to disengage from said front handle portion, said second end being disposed substantially opposite said first flexing end.

4. The safety scalpel of claim 3, wherein said disengaged blade is retained internally by said housing for safety.

5. The safety scalpel of claim 4, wherein said housing is decoupled from said handle by sliding said housing away from said at least one groove on said front handle portion.

6. The safety scalpel of claim 5, wherein said blade is completely enclosed by said housing for safety when said housing is decoupled from said front handle portion.

7. The safety scalpel of claim 4, wherein said blade is retained internally by said housing via a plurality of integral blade retaining members.

8. The safety scalpel of claim 7, wherein said plurality of integral blade retaining members includes at least two members adapted to frictionally retain said rear end of said blade within said housing.

9. The safety scalpel of claim 7, wherein said plurality of integral blade retaining members includes at least one member adapted to engage said blade orifice within said housing.

10. The safety scalpel of claim 1, wherein said rear handle portion is adapted for hand grasping.

11. The safety scalpel of claim 1, wherein said front handle portion is equipped with at least one groove configured to fit into said blade orifice.

12. The safety scalpel of claim 11, wherein said front handle portion is further equipped with at least one guide channel, said at least one guide channel being flanked on one side by an integral locking bar.

13. The safety scalpel of claim 12, wherein said housing is adapted internally to slide within said at least one guide channel when activated.

14. The safety scalpel of claim 13, wherein said sliding movement activator includes a stop member at a first end, said stop member being adapted to lock said housing at opposite ends of said locking bar, said locked housing being respectively in one of said first and second positions.

15. The safety scalpel of claim 14, wherein said stop member is further adapted to unlock said housing and slide within said at least one guide channel when said sliding movement activator is pressed toward said locking bar in one of said first and second positions.

16. The safety scalpel of claim 14, wherein said sliding movement activator is adapted to flex at a second end, said second flexing end being disposed substantially opposite said stop member at said first end.

17. The safety scalpel of claim 1, wherein said retaining member retains said blade in deflected manner within said housing.

18. A safety scalpel, comprising:

a surgical blade;

a handle with a first portion adapted to engage said surgical blade, said first handle portion being equipped with at least one guide channel; and

a housing configured to retain internally said surgical blade, said housing including;

at least one interior stabilizing rail adapted to slide back and forth in said at least one guide channel of said first handle portion between a first position in which said surgical blade is exposed for operational use and a second position in which said surgical blade is fully enclosed within said housing for safety, said surgical blade being securely engaged by said first handle portion in said first and second positions;

a sliding movement activator;

a blade disengaging actuator configured to operate independently of said sliding movement activator for contacting to disengage said surgical blade from said handle, said sliding movement activator and said blade disengaging actuator being hinged respectively to adjacent sides of said housing; and

,

at least one retaining member unattached to said actuator, said retaining member forming a hooking structure for fixing therewithin a portion of said blade when said blade is disengaged from said handle and said blade disengaging actuator is disengaged from said blade;

said surgical blade being removable with said housing from said handle.

19. The safety scalpel at claim 18, wherein said hinged actuator is configured to disengage said surgical blade from said first handle portion when said housing is in said second position.

20. The safety scalpel of claim 18, wherein said surgical blade includes:

a front cutting end;

a rear end; and

an orifice between said front and rear ends, said front and rear ends being disposed substantially in the same plane.

21. The safety scalpel of claim 18, wherein said surgical blade is completely enclosed by said housing for safety when said housing is decoupled from said first handle portion.

22. The safety scalpel of claim 18, wherein said retaining member retains said surgical blade in deflected manner within said housing.

23. A safety scalpel, comprising:

a blade;

a handle with a first portion adapted to engage said blade, said first handle portion including;

a locking bar; and

at least one guide channel being flanked on one side by said locking bar; and

a housing configured to retain internally said blade, said housing including;

at least one stabilizing rail adapted to slide back and forth in said at least one guide channel of said first handle portion between a first position in which said blade is exposed for operational use and a second position in which said blade is fully enclosed within said housing for safety, said blade being securely engaged by said first handle portion in said first and second positions;

a sliding movement activator adapted at one end to lock said housing at opposite ends of said locking bar to prevent surgical accidents, said locked housing being respectively in one of said first and second positions;

a blade disengaging actuator configured to operate independently of said sliding movement activator for contacting to disengage said blade from said handle, said sliding movement activator and said blade disengaging actuator being integrally formed respectively on different sides of said housing for operational safety; and

,

at least one retaining member unattached to said actuator, said retaining member forming a hooking structure for fixing therewithin a portion of said blade when said blade is disengaged from said handle and said blade disengaging actuator is disengaged from said blade;

said blade being removable with said housing from said handle.

24. The safety scalpel of claim 23, wherein said retaining member retains said blade in deflected manner within said housing.

25. A safety scalpel, comprising:

a blade;

a handle having a longitudinal axis and being adapted at one end to securely engage said blade, said handle including;

a locking bar being substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis; and

at least one guide channel being flanked on one side by said locking bar; and

a housing configured to retain internally said blade, said housing including;

at least one stabilizing rail adapted to slide back and forth in said at least one guide channel between a first position in which said blade is exposed for operational use and a second position in which said blade is fully enclosed within said housing for safety, said blade being securely engaged by said handle in said first and second positions;

a sliding movement activator integrally formed on a first side of said housing and adapted to lock said housing at opposite ends of said locking bar, said locked housing being respectively in one of said first and second positions;

an actuator integrally formed on a second side of said housing and configured for contacting to disengage said blade from said handle when said housing is in said second position, said first and second sides of said housing lying next to each other; and

,

at least one retaining member unattached to said actuator, said retaining member forming a hooking structure for fixing therewithin a portion of said blade when said blade is disengaged from said handle and said actuator is disengaged from said blade;

said blade being removable with said housing from said handle.

26. The safety scalpel of claim 25, wherein said retaining member retains said blade in deflected manner within said housing.

27. A safety scalpel, comprising:

a blade including a front cutting end, a substantially straight rear end, and an orifice operatively disposed between said front and rear ends;

a handle having a longitudinal axis and being adapted at one end to securely engage said blade via said orifice, said handle including;

a locking bar being substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis; and

at least one guide channel being flanked on one side by said locking bar; and

a housing configured to retain internally said blade, said housing including;

at least one stabilizing rail adapted to slide back and forth in said at least one guide channel between a first position in which said front cutting end of said blade is exposed for operational use and a second position in which said blade is frilly enclosed within said housing for safety, said substantially straight rear end of said blade being enclosed within said housing when said housing is in said first position;

a sliding movement activator integrally formed on a first side of said housing and adapted to lock said housing at opposite ends of said locking bar, said locked housing being respectively in one of said first and second positions;

an actuator integrally formed on a second side of said housing and configured for contacting to disengage said blade from said handle when said housing is in said second position, said first and second sides of said housing lying next to each other; and

,

at least one retaining member unattached to said actuator, said retaining member forming a hooking structure for fixing therewithin a portion of said blade when said blade is disengaged from said handle and said actuator is disengaged from said blade;

said blade being removable with said housing from said handle.

28. The safety scalpel of claim 27, wherein said retaining member retains said blade in deflected manner within said housing.