Constant force actuator for bleeding time testing device

• US 7,282,059 B1
• Filed: 07/02/2003
• Issued: 10/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Helena Laboratories Corporation
• Original Assignee: Helena Laboratories Corporation
• Inventors: Petersen, Eric, Golias, Tipton, Galloway, Edward L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Erezo; Darwin P.
• Application Number:
  US10/612,499
• Time in Patent Office: 1,567 Days
• Field of Search: 606/182, 606/181, 606/185, 606/167
• US Class Current: 606/182
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02042 Determining blood loss or bleeding, e.g. during a surgical procedure
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/4905 Determining clotting time of blood by chemical methods G01N33/86, C12Q1/54

Abstract

A bleeding time testing system including a bleeding time tester having a cutting blade and a switch actuator, and a tripper affixed onto the body of the tester and cooperative with the switch actuator. The tripper includes a housing, a slide frame slidably interconnected to the housing and having a surface cooperative with the switch actuator, and an actuator button mounted on the housing and cooperative with the slide frame. The actuator button is positioned so as to cause the slide frame to move to the activated position when the actuator is moved downwardly. The actuator button is positioned directly above a centerline of the cutting blade of the tester.

Claims

1. A bleeding time testing system comprising:

a bleeding time tester comprising;

a body having a top surface and a bottom surface;

a cutting blade positioned in said body and movable between a first position within said body and a second position extending outwardly of said bottom surface of said body; and

a switch actuator positioned so as to extend outwardly of said body, said switch actuator being movable between a pre-actuating position and an actuating position, said switch actuator cooperative with said cutting blade so as to move said cutting blade from said first position to said second position when said switch actuator is in said actuating position; and

a tripper affixed onto said body of said bleeding time tester and cooperative with said switch actuator, said tripper comprising;

a housing mounted onto said body;

a slide frame slidably interconnected to said housing, said slide frame having a surface cooperative with said switch actuator of said bleeding time tester, said slide frame movable between a pre-activated position and an activated position, said slide frame extending in parallel relation to said bottom surface of said body; and

an actuator button mounted on said housing and cooperative with said slide frame, said actuator button movable between a pre-activating position and an activating position, said actuator button causing said slide frame to move in parallel relation to said bottom surface of said body to said activated position when said actuator button is moved to said activating position, said slide frame having an inverted U-shaped slot formed on a side thereof, said actuator button having a pin extending inwardly therefrom in parallel relation to said bottom surface of said body, said pin received within said slot when said slide frame is in said pre-activating position, said pin movable out of said slot so as to cause said slide frame to move to said activating position.

2. The system of claim 1, said actuator button positioned directed above a centerline of said cutting blade when said blade is in said second position.

3. The system of claim 1, said bleeding time tester further comprising:

a safety tab removably positioned against said switch actuator so as to retain said switch actuator in said pre-actuating position.

4. The system of claim 1, said housing having a slot aligned with said inverted U-shaped slot of said slide frame, said pin received in and slidable along said slot of said housing.

5. A bleeding time testing system comprising:

a bleeding time tester comprising;

a body having a top surface and a bottom surface;

a cutting blade positioned in said body and movable between a first position within said body and a second position extending outwardly of said bottom surface of said body; and

a switch actuator positioned so as to extend outwardly of said body, said switch actuator being movable between a pre-actuating position and an actuating position, said switch actuator cooperative with said cutting blade so as to move said cutting blade from said first position to said second position when said switch actuator is in said actuating position; and

a tripper affixed onto said body of said bleeding time tester and cooperative with said switch actuator, said tripper comprising;

a housing mounted onto said body;

a slide frame slidably interconnected to said housing, said slide frame having a surface cooperative with said switch actuator of said bleeding time tester, said slide frame movable between a pre-activated position and an activated position, said slide frame extending in parallel relation to said bottom surface of said body;

an actuator button mounted on said housing and cooperative with said slide frame, said actuator button movable between a pre-activating position and an activating position, said actuator button causing said slide frame to move in parallel relation to said bottom surface of said body to said activated position when said actuator button is moved to said activating position; and

a spring means interposed between said housing and a surface of said slide frame, said spring means for resilient urging said slide frame toward said activating position.

6. A bleeding time testing system comprising:

a bleeding time tester comprising;

a body having a top surface and a bottom surface;

a cutting blade positioned in said body and movable between a first position within said body and a second position extending outwardly of said bottom surface of said body; and

a switch actuator positioned so as to extend outwardly of said body, said switch actuator being movable between a pre-actuating position and an actuating position, said switch actuator cooperative with said cutting blade so as to move said cutting blade from said first position to said second position when said switch actuator is in said actuating position; and

a tripper affixed onto said body of said bleeding time tester and cooperative with said switch actuator, said tripper comprising;

a housing mounted onto said body;

a slide frame slidably interconnected to said housing, said slide frame having a surface cooperative with said switch actuator of said bleeding time tester, said slide frame movable between a pre-activated position and an activated position, said slide frame extending in parallel relation to said bottom surface of said body; and

an actuator button mounted on said housing and cooperative with said slide frame, said actuator button movable between a pre-activating position and an activating position, said actuator button causing said slide frame to move in parallel relation to said bottom surface of said body to said activated position when said actuator button is moved to said activating position, said actuator button being slidable transverse to said bottom surface of said body, said actuator button movable downwardly so as to move to said activating position.

7. A bleeding time testing system comprising:

a bleeding time tester comprising;

a body having a top surface and a bottom surface;

a cutting blade positioned in said body and movable between a first position within said body and a second position extending outwardly of said bottom surface of said body; and

a switch actuator positioned so as to extend outwardly of said body, said switch actuator being movable between a pre-actuating position and an actuating position, said switch actuator cooperative with said cutting blade so as to move said cutting blade from said first position to said second position when said switch actuator is in said actuating position; and

a tripper affixed onto said body of said bleeding time tester and cooperative with said switch actuator, said tripper comprising;

a housing mounted onto said body;

a slide frame slidably interconnected to said housing, said slide frame having a surface cooperative with said switch actuator of said bleeding time tester, said slide frame movable between a pre-activated position and an activated position, said slide frame extending in parallel relation to said bottom surface of said body; and

an actuator button mounted on said housing and cooperative with said slide frame, said actuator button movable between a pre-activating position and an activating position, said actuator button causing said slide frame to move in parallel relation to said bottom surface of said body to said activated position when said actuator button is moved to said activating position, said actuator button having a top surface and a pair of legs extending downwardly therefrom, said slide frame extending through and between said pair of legs.

8. The system of claim 7, said tripper further comprising:

a spring interposed between a surface of said housing and in contact with an underside of said top surface of said actuator button, said spring resiliently urging said actuator button to said pre-activating position.

9. The system of claim 7, said slide frame comprising:

a first side;

a second side extending in generally parallel relation to said first side; and

an abutment section affixed to an end of said first and second sides, said abutment section having a surface contacting said switch actuator.

10. The system of claim 7, said housing having a first channel on one side thereof and a second channel on an opposite side thereof, said first side of said slide frame being slidable in said first channel, said second side of said slide frame being slidable in said second channel.

11. The system of claim 9, each of said first and second sides of said slide frame having an inverted U-shaped slot formed therein, each of said pair of legs of said actuator button having a pin extending inwardly therefrom, the pin engaging the inverted U-shaped slot when said actuator button is in said pre-activating position.