Retractable scalpel with blade-activated lock
US5258001A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 5, 1991 |
| Grant date | Nov 2, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 5, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2017/32113
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In accordance with illustrative embodiments of the present invention as disclosed herein, a retractable blade knife particularly adapted for use as a surgical scalpel or the like includes a thin metal blade positioned in a cavity inside a handle and being movable between an extended position and a retracted position. In the extended position the blade is releasably locked to the handle in response to resilience of the blade caused by flexure thereof from its relaxed condition. In one embodiment the relaxed state of the blade is slight curved, and in another embodiment, such state is substantially flat. A shoulder that locks the blade in extended position is released by pressing on a pin that extends through a slot in the handle, and the pin, also is used to shift the blade longitudinally.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.