Guarded surgical scalpel
US5569281A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 26, 1995 |
| Grant date | Oct 29, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 26, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2017/32113
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A surgical scalpel (100) is provided with a retractable guard (107) for its cutting blade (106). The guard (107) is mounted on the handle (101) of the scalpel (100) for sliding movement between an advanced position in which the blade (106) is covered and a retracted position in which the blade (106) is exposed. The guard (107) may be moved with one hand, and without requiring the surgeon, nurse and/or assistant to take his or her eyes away from the patient or the instrumentation during a surgical procedure. A two-position resiliently-biased manually-releasable detent means (113) is provided between the handle (101) and the guard (107). A closed longitudinal slot (122, 123) on the guard (107) cooperates with a pin (121) on the handle (101) to limit the sliding movement of the guard (107) independently of the detent action therebetween and accommodates the mechanical loading forces. Preferably, the guard (107) comprises an inverted U-shaped channel member telescopically mounted within the hollow handle (101) for sliding movement therein.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.