Combination Guarded Surgical Scalpel and Blade Stripper

The present invention relates to a surgical scalpel and, in particular, to a surgical scalpel having a retractable blade guard to protect against inadvertent nicks or cuts during a surgical procedure in an operating room.

Scalpels are regularly used by surgeons and other health care professionals for making incisions during an operating procedure. Typically, the operating room assistant (which may be a nurse, technician or another doctor) "slaps" the scalpel into the surgeon's hand in a predetermined orientation, so that the surgeon can "feel" the scalpel and automatically grip its handle without taking his or her eyes away from the patient or the instrumentation. If the predetermined orientation is not closely followed, the nurse's or surgeon's hand may be cut or nicked. The same hazard may be encountered when the surgeon transfers the scalpel back to the assistant.

These nicks or cuts, besides being uncomfortable and distracting, may result in blood or body fluid exposure from the patient to the surgeon or other health care professional (and vice versa) and hence may lead to the spreading of infectious diseases. Concern over this situation has become especially acute since the appearance of the human immune deficiency virus (or "HIV"). Indeed, such cuts have already been blamed, by some health care providers, for cases of HIV infection in their profession. Consequently, some individual surgeons or health care providers have stopped performing surgical operations, rather than risk the chances of inadvertently contracting the deadly HIV from an infected patient. There are similar concerns with the Hepatitis B virus (or "HBV").

The risks associated with scalpel cuts during an operating room procedure are greater than those associated with needle sticks; but even there, the problem is becoming alarming. In a study made by the Needle Stick Surveillance Group of the Centers For Disease Control ("CDC") out of 3,978 known punctures from patients known to be HIV positive, 13 health care workers got infected or roughly 1 out of 300. Thus, from a single needle stick while treating an AIDS patient in an operating room or other environment, the chances are roughly 1 out of 300 that the surgeon, nurse or other individual health care provider will sero-convert and become HIV positive. If a surgeon, nurse or assistant is cut by a scalpel while conducting a surgical procedure in an operating room (rather than a needle stick) the risk is much greater simply because, first, there is more blood involved and, secondly, the surface area of the wound is larger.

In order to solve this problem, the prior art has disclosed guarded scalpels. Examples are U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,906,626 and 5,071,426 and German Offenlegungsschrift DE 37 22 899 A1. However, and for various reasons, these guarded scalpels are not completely satisfactory; hence are not in current widespread use in hospitals and clinics.

The prior art has also disclosed a microsurgical knife with a locking blade guard, as for example, U.S. Pat. 4,735,202 used for ophthalmological purposes. The structure and intended purpose, however, are not suitable for general surgical use.

Another example of the prior art is U.S. Pat. No. 4,499,898, which discloses a surgical knife with a controllably extendable blade and a gauge therefor. Again, this disclosure is intended for very delicate surgery and is not suitable for a general purpose guarded scalpel.

While protective gloves aid in reducing the chances of being cut during a surgical procedure, these gloves are by no means foolproof; and such cuts are still quite common. Even when two sets of gloves are utilized, full protection is not afforded to the health care provider, for many times the blade cuts right through both sets of gloves. Also, utilizing two sets of gloves reduces finger dexterity and is distracting, interfering with the intended surgical procedure.

This situation has become so pronounced that some leading surgeons, as well as nurses and other individual health care providers, have abandoned their respective practices altogether.

In the operating room, time is of the essence and seconds count; the mental concentration and physical effort are intense; and distractions must be avoided at all times.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a guarded scalpel for general surgery, wherein the blade guard may be retracted and advanced, alternately, and in a one-hand operation without taking one's eye away from the patient or the instrumentation. When transferring the guarded scalpel from the nurse to the surgeon and vice versa, the recipient will know intuitively from the "feel" of the guarded scalpel itself that, first, the guard has been advanced to cover the blade and, second, the relative orientation of the guarded scalpel itself, that it, whether the cutting edge on the covered blade is "up or "down".

The guard closely follows the slim-line contours of the scalpel handle, so that the guard is not cumbersome or obtrusive; rather, the guarded scalpel has a good "feel" and balance, is comfortable to use, and does not distract the surgeon nor interface with his or her concentration.

Moreover, a two-position resiliently-biased detent means provides an auditory "click", signalling that the guard has been moved into an alternate position, and precluding an inadvertent and undesirable movement of the guard during transfer or use of the guarded scalpel. This detent means may be manually released--in a one-hand movement without taking one's eyes off the patient or the instrumentation--for movement of the guard into an alternate position.

The detent means includes a resiliently-biased detent member carried by the handle, disposed substantially within the vertical longitudinal center plane thereof, and projecting above the handle for convenient manual manipulation. The detent member has a limited movement with respect to the handle about an axis which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the guard, thereby minimizing the external contours of the guarded scalpel.

The detent member cooperates with a pair of longitudinally-spaced detent pockets; and, preferably, the detent member has a self-aligning tapered portion, thereby providing a solid detent action between the handle and the guard, and thereby accommodating tolerance accumulations in the manufacture and assembly of the guarded scalpel.

A stop means is provided between the guard and the handle, and this stop means is independent of the detent means. As a result, the mechanical loading is imposed on the stop means, not on the detent means, and yet the detent means provides a positive locking feature while being easy and convenient to manipulate. This is a definite feature and advantage heretofore not available in the guarded surgical scalpels of the prior art.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the guard further has a bottom wall provided with a cut-out, such that the relative orientation of the guarded scalpel is readily appreciated by the recipient without taking his or her eyes away from the patient, and such that the projecting portion of the detent member may be depressed to release the detent means while the cut-out on the bottom wall of the guard may be engaged to retract or advance the guard--all in a one-handed operation.

The present invention thus substantially reduces the risk of the surgeon, nurse or assistant inadvertently acquiring (or transmitting) an infectious disease, such as HIV or HBV, in the operating room or similar medical environment.

In accordance with the further teachings of the present invention, a preferred embodiment thereof is herein illustrated and described, comprising a guarded scalpel including a handle, a blade on the handle, and a guard telescopically mounted within the handle for sliding movement therein. A stop means is provided between the guard and the handle for limiting the sliding movement of the guard within the handle. The guard has a first advanced position in which the blade is substantially covered, and the guard further has a second retracted position in which the blade is exposed. A two-position resiliently-biased detent means is provided between the guard and the handle for defining the respective first and second positions of the guard on the handle, and the detent means is independent of the stop means.

Preferably, the guard comprises a substantially U-shaped inverted channel having a top wall and respective side walls, and the stop means includes at least one pin mounted on the handle transversely thereof and received within a closed longitudinal slot formed in at least one of the side walls of the channel.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a combination guarded surgical scalpel and blade stripper is provided. Like the other embodiments, a guard is mounted on the handle for longitudinal sliding movement thereon. The guard has an advanced forward position on the handle in which the blade is covered, and the guard further has a rearward retracted position on the handle in which the blade is uncovered. The handle has a cleat provided with a rib; and a blade has a slot receiving the rib on the cleat, thereby mounting the blade on the handle. The blade has a rearward edge portion, and manually-manipulatable means are provided for lifting the rearward edge portion of the blade laterally away from the rib on the cleat. A means carried by the guard engages the rearward edge portion of the blade and lifts the blade off the rib longitudinally thereof as the guard is moved forwardly of the handle, thereby stripping the blade from the scalpel.

Preferably, the handle is substantially hollow, the guard is telescopically received within the hollow handle, and the guard comprises an inverted U-shaped channel.

The manually-manipulatable means for lifting the rearward edge portion of the blade away from the rib on the cleat includes a pair of substantially parallel slits formed in a forward portion of a side wall of the hollow handle, thereby providing a first depressible tang on the side wall of the handle. An ejector button is carried by the first depressible tang and extends laterally thereof. The inverted U-shaped channel guard includes a first side wall having a forward portion formed with a pair of substantially parallel slits, thereby providing a second depressible tang on the first side wall of the guard. The first and second depressible tangs are substantially aligned with each other. The second depressible tang on the first side wall of the guard has an inner surface provided with a projection extending inwardly thereof. The projection engages the rearward edge portion of the blade as the ejector button is pushed to deflect the respective aligned first and second depressible tangs inwardly of the handle.

The means carried by the guard for engaging the rearward edge portion of the blade includes a hook provided on the inner surface of a second side wall of the inverted U-shaped channel guard. This hook engages the rearward edge portion of the blade.

These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent from a reading of the following description of the present invention, taken in conjunction with the enclosed drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an operating room or theater where the improved surgical scalpel, equipped with the protective blade guard of the present invention, will be utilized.

FIG. 2A is an enlarged view of a conventional (unguarded) scalpel, illustrating how an assistant may be cut or nicked when transferring the scalpel during an operating procedure.

FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of a conventional scalpel, corresponding substantially to FIG. 2A, but showing how the surgeon may be cut or nicked when transferring the scalpel.

FIG. 3A illustrates how the improved scalpel of the present invention protects the assistant's hand when passing the scalpel to the surgeon during an operation.

FIG. 3B illustrates how the guard on the improved scalpel is easily and conveniently retracted by the surgeon--with one hand--to expose the blade.

FIG. 3C illustrates how the guard is easily and conveniently advanced by the surgeon--again, with only one hand--to cover the blade.

FIG. 3D illustrates how the guarded scalpel of the present invention protects the assistant's hand when the surgeon passes the scalpel back to the assistant.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the scalpel of the present invention with the protective guard in a first advanced position to cover the blade.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the scalpel of the present invention with the protective guard in a second retracted position, thereby exposing the blade.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view, taken along lines 6--6 of FIG. 4, drawn to an enlarged scale, and showing the manually-releasable detent means for the guard.

FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view thereof, taken across the lines 6A--6A of FIG. 6, and showing the annular collar on the spring-loaded detent pin received in a respective detent pocket formed on the guard.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 7--7 of FIG. 6, showing the means for retaining the detent means on the body or handle of the scalpel.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 8--8 of FIG. 4, drawn to an enlarged scale, and showing the stop means for the guard.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the improved scalpel with its blade guard.

FIG. 10 corresponds substantially to FIG. 6, but shows a cap or button on the releasable detent means for the blade, thereby providing a preferred tactile means and facilitating manual release of the detent means.

FIG. 11 is an alternate embodiment of the detent means.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view thereof, taken along lines 12--12 of FIG. 11.

FIGS. 13A-13D show, respectively, the manner in which the guard may be manually retracted to expose the blade on the scalpel, and then advanced to cover the blade to protect against inadvertent cuts and nicks normally occasioned in transferring the scalpel from the nurse to the surgeon, and vice versa, during a surgical procedure; wherein the thumb engages the releasable detent pin (or button) and the forefinger is received in the cut-out formed in the bottom wall of the U-shaped sliding guard to alternately retract and advance the guard.

FIGS. 14A-14D correspond substantially to that of FIGS. 13A-13D, but show an alternate manner for selectively and alternately retracting and advancing the sliding guard, wherein the forefinger releases the detent pin, and wherein the thumb engages the cut-out in the bottom wall of the guard; the surgeon may then use the scalpel to cut in a generally upwardly direction or may pivot his or her wrist to cut in a generally downwardly direction, as desired.

FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of an improved blade mounted on the scalpel.

FIG. 16 is a partial exploded view, corresponding substantially to FIG. 15, but showing the manner in which the improved blade is mounted on the scalpel.

FIG. 17 is a side elevational view of the improved blade of the present invention mounted on a conventional (non-guarded) surgical scalpel.

FIG. 18 corresponds substantially to FIG. 6, but shows a tapered portion of the detent member received within a respective detent pocket, thereby providing an improved detent action between the guard and the handle of the guarded scalpel.

FIG. 19 is an exploded elevational view, corresponding substantially to a portion of FIG. 18 drawn to an enlarged scale, and showing the tapered portion of the detent member initially engaging a respective detent pocket.

FIG. 20 shows the detent member fully seated in its respective detent pocket.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of another (and preferred) embodiment of the guarded scalpel of the present invention, showing the guard in the form of an inverted U-shaped channel telescopically mounted within the handle of the scalpel for sliding movement therein, the guard being shown in its advanced position substantially covering the blade.

FIG. 22 is a further perspective view, corresponding substantially to that of FIG. 21, but showing the guard retracted within the handle to expose the blade.

FIG. 23 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the preferred guarded scalpel, taken along the lines 23--23 of FIG. 21.

FIG. 24 is an end view of the guarded scalpel of FIG. 23.

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of the guarded scalpel, taken along the lines 25--25 of FIG. 23, and drawn to an enlarged scale.

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the present invention, constituting a combination guarded surgical scalpel and blade stripper, showing the guard retracted within the handle and the blade uncovered.

FIG. 27 is a further perspective view thereof, corresponding substantially to FIG. 26, but showing the guard being moved forwardly (as indicated by the arrow) to cover the blade.

FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view thereof, taken across the lines 28--28 of FIG. 26, and drawn to an enlarged scale.

FIG. 29 is a further cross-sectional view thereof, taken across the lines 29--29 of FIG. 26, and drawn to an enlarged scale.

FIG. 30 is a partial exploded perspective view of the major components of the combination guarded surgical scalpel and blade stripper of FIG. 26.

FIG. 31 is a pictorial view of the front portion of the guard, with parts broken away and sectioned to show the hook on the inner surface of the second side wall of the U-shaped channel guard.

FIG. 32 is a further partial exploded perspective view, corresponding substantially to FIG. 30, but viewing the components from a different angle.

FIGS. 33--35 are cross-sectional views, corresponding to a portion of FIG. 29, but showing the sequence of stripping the blade from the scalpel FIG. 33 shows the guard being slid forwardly and further shows the ejector button being depressed, such that the projection on the second depressible tang on the guard engages the rearward edge portion of the blade and lifts the rearward edge portion of the blade away from the longitudinal rib on the cleat on the handle. FIG. 34 shows the rearward edge portion of the blade completely lifted away from the longitudinal rib on the cleat, and further shows the initial engagement between the hook on the guard and the rearward edge portion of the blade. FIG. 35 shows the hook stripping the blade off the cleat as the guard is further slid forwardly of the handle and as the ejector button is released.

FIG. 36 is a pictorial view showing the use of the combination guarded scalpel and blade stripper of the present invention.

FIG. 37 is a perspective view of a further embodiment showing another guarded surgical scalpel equipped with the blade stripper of the present invention, the guard being mounted externally of the handle, and the guard being shown in its forward advanced position to cover the blade.

FIG. 38 is a further pictorial view, corresponding substantially to FIG. 37, but showing the guard in its rearward retracted position to uncover the blade.

FIG. 39 is a cross-section view, taken along the lines 39--39 of FIG. 37 and drawn to an enlarged scale.

FIG. 40 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the lines 40--40 of FIG. 38 and drawn to an enlarged scale.

FIGS. 41-45 are partial longitudinal section views, showing the sequence of stripping the blade from the scalpel. FIG. 41, which is taken along the lines 41--41 of FIG. 38, shows the guard retracted and the blade uncovered. FIG. 42 shows the guard being advanced forwardly as the handle is being telescopically received rearwardly within the guard. FIG. 43 shows the ejector button on the guard being depressed inwardly to lift the rearward edge portion of the blade away from the longitudinal rib on the cleat on the handle. FIG. 44 shows the hook on the guard initially engaging the rearward edge portion of the blade as the guard is slid forwardly and as the ejector button is released. FIG. 45 shows the blade being stripped off the cleat on the handle as the guard is continually slid forwardly of the handle.

FIGS. 46-48 are pictorial sequence views showing the manner in which the blade is stripped away from the scalpel. FIG. 46 shows the ejector button being depressed from the side as the detent button on top of the scalpel is depressed. FIG. 47 shows the guard being slid forwardly. FIG. 48 shows the blade stripped off the scalpel as the guard is continually pushed forwardly.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B, the situation in a typical operating room ("O.R.") is tense and, quite often, the patient's life is at stake. The scalpel blade is very sharp; and in passing a conventional unguarded scalpel is from the nurse (or other assistant) A to the surgeon B, and vice versa, it is not at all unusual for the surgeon B or the nurse A to be nicked or cut by the scalpel blade, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. This is a dangerous situation, especially aggravated by current viruses and, besides, is painful and distracting.

Accordingly, and with reference to FIGS. 3A-D, the guarded scalpel 10 of the present invention has a unique guard 11 for the blade 12. The blade 12 is conventional and is removably mounted on the scalpel 10 (as hereinafter described). The scalpel 10 may be passed from the nurse A to the surgeon B in an guarded position (FIG. 3A) to prevent the nurse from being cut. Thereafter, the surgeon may retract the guard ill in a one-handed movement (FIG. 3B) to expose the blade 12. After making one or more incisions, the surgeon may advance the guard (FIG. 3C)--again, in a one-handed movement and without taking his or her eyes away from the patient or the instrumentation in the O.R.--and pass the scalpel 10 back to the nurse (FIG. 3D). The risk of getting cut has been substantially reduced, if not eliminated altogether.

It will be appreciated, of course, that various guarded scalpels 10 may be passed back and forth in the O.R. during a lengthy procedure on a patient.

With reference to FIGS. 4-9, the guard 11 is substantially U-shaped and closely conforms to the outer contours of the scalpel 10. The guard 11 includes parallel side walls 13 and 14, a bottom wall 15, and a top portion 16. The top portion 16 includes a pair of inturned flanges 17 and 18, respectively, defining a slot 19 therebetween. These inturned flanges 17 and 18 are received in longitudinal guide tracks 20, and 21 formed in the sides 22 and 23, respectively, in the body portion or handle 24 of the scalpel 10, thereby slidably mounting the guard 11 on the handle 24.

A stop means is provided to limit the sliding movement of the guard 11. Preferably, the side wall 14 of the guard 11 has a closed longitudinal slot 25 formed therein; and a pin 26 passes through the closed longitudinal slot 25 and is secured within a transverse bore 27 in the handle 24, thereby restricting the longitudinal sliding movement of the guard 11 and defining its alternate advanced and retracted positions, respectively. Preferably, the pin 26 is a split sleeve as shown more clearly in FIG. 8.

A two-position resiliently-biased manually-manipulatable detent means 28 is provided between the guard 11 and the handle 24 of the scalpel 10. This detent means 28, which is manually releasable, positively locks the guard 11 in its selected position and precludes inadvertent or accidental movement thereof.

The preferred detent means 28 includes a resilient-biased detent member 29. The detent member 29 is carried by the handle 24 and is disposed substantially within the (vertical) longitudinal midplane or center plane 30 thereof, as shown more clearly in FIG. 6, and about an axis which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the guard 11. Thus, the detent member 29 is backed up substantially by the material portion of the handle 24--the detent member 29 is not disposed laterally thereof--and minimizes the extended outer contours of the guarded scalpel 10.

The detent member 29 includes a stem 31, an intermediate collar 32, and an upwardly-projecting portion or button 33. The handle 24 has a bore 34 communicating with a counterbore 35 and a cross-cut 36, respectively. Stem 31 of the detent member 29 is slidably guided in the bore 34, so that the detent member 29 has a smooth inward movement without being cocked. A coil spring 37 is within the counterbore 35 and bears against the collar 32, thereby constantly urging the detent member 29 outwardly (upwardly) of the handle 24; and the collar 32 is slidably received within the cross-cut 36. The button 33 passes through an opening 38 in a retaining plate 39, and the retaining plate 39 is secured to the handle 24 by a screw 40 received in a tapped recess 41. As shown more clearly in FIGS. 6A and 9, a pair of longitudinally-spaced detent pockets 42 and 43 are formed in the inturned flanges 17 and 18 on the guard 11 to receive, alternately, the collar 32 on the detent member 29.

When the detent member 29 is manually depressed inwardly against the force of the coil spring 37, the collar 32 clears its respective detent pocket 42 or 43 and allows the guard 11 to be slidably moved along the handle 24 and into its alternate position. When the collar 32 is received in detent pocket 42, the guard is advanced (forwardly) on the handle 24 to cover the blade 12 and prevent accidental contact with the blade 12 during transfer of the scalpel 10; and when the collar 32 is received in detent pocket 43, the guard 11 is retracted (rearwardly) on the handle 24 to expose the blade 12 during an operating procedure.

To facilitate depression of the detent member 29, a cap 44 may be provided (as shown more clearly in FIG. 10).

With reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, an alternate embodiment of the detent member 29 comprises a detent ball 45 resiliently biased by a spring 46. The spring 46 is in a blind bore 47, and the detent ball 45 is slidably guided in a counterbore 48.

With reference again to FIGS. 4, 5 and 9, the bottom wall 15 of the guard 11 has a cut-out 49 extending upwardly into the respective side walls 13 and 14 of the guard 11. This cut-out 49 is intended to receive either the thumb or forefinger of the recipient and thereby facilitate manual movement of the guard 11.

With reference to FIGS. 13A-D and 14A-D, the features and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated.

When the guarded scalpel 10 is placed in the hand of the surgeon (or passed back to the nurse) , the surgeon (or nurse) will know intuitively from the "feel" of the scalpel 10, first, that the guard 11 is "on" (that is, the blade 12 is covered by the guard 11) but will also know, secondly, the orientation of the scalpel 10 (that is, whether the cutting edge of the blade 12 is pointed "up" or "down"). Most surgeons prefer to make incisions with the blade 12 "down" some with the blade 12 "up", and some surgeons use both orientations depending upon the nature of the required incision.

In FIGS. 13A-D, the blade 12 is "down". In FIG. 13A, the surgeon grasps the scalpel 10, such that the surgeon's thumb is on the upwardly-projecting button 33 on the detent member 29, and the surgeon's forefinger is in the cut-out 49. In FIG. 13B, the button 33 is depressed, and the guard 11 is moved rearwardly to expose the blade 12. After the incision (or incisions) have been made, the button 33 is again depressed by the surgeon's thumb while the surgeon's forefinger is in the cut-out 49 (FIG. 13C) and, thereafter, the guard 11 is moved forwardly (FIG. 13D) to cover the blade 11.

In FIGS. 14A-D, a similar sequence is followed. There, however, the cutting edge of the blade is "up", and the surgeon's thumb is in the cut-out 49 while his or her forefinger is on the button 33.

In summary, the features and advantages of the present invention are as follows: When the scalpel 10 is passed from the nurse to the surgeon (for example) the surgeon knows intuitively from the "feel" of the scalpel 10 that the guard 11 is "on", covering the blade 12, and that the edge on the blade 12 is either "up" or "down". The surgeon may retract the guard 11, easily and conveniently, using only one hand and without taking his (or her) eyes away from the patient or the instrumentation in the operating room. The detent means is within the "meaty" portion of the handle 24, that is, within the (vertical) longitudinal center plane 30 thereof, thereby taking maximum advantage of the handle material and, conversely, facilitating a strong detent action. This strong detent action between the guard 11 and the handle 24 provides not only a tactile indication, but also an auditory "click" that the guard 11 has been moved into its alternate desired position, that is, retracted to expose the blade 12 or advanced to cover the blade 12. The detented action is "solid" and prevents inadvertent or accidental movement of the guard 11 during a surgical procedure or in transferring the scalpel 10. A stop means between the guard 11 and the handle 24, including the closed slot 25 and the transverse pin 26, is independent of the detent means itself; this improves the reliability of the instrument. The guard 11 closely straddles the handle 24 and maintains the desired "slim line" appearance; and the added weight of the guard 11 is relatively insignificant and does not detract from the overall balance, feel and handling of the lightweight scalpel 10. The components of the overall assembly of the scalpel 10 may be manufactured conveniently and economically out of readily available materials, and the scalpel may be sterilized in an autoclave for repeated usage.

With reference to FIGS. 15-17, the blade 12 has a closed slot 50 which fits over a laterally-extending longitudinal rib 51 formed on the forward end 52 of the handle 24, thereby removably mounting the blade 12 to the scalpel 10.

In another embodiment, as shown more clearly in FIGS. 15 and 16, the forward end 52 of the scalpel body 10 has a shoulder 53 substantially at right angles thereto. This shoulder 53 corresponds to an angled shoulder 54 on a conventional non-guarded scalpel S as shown in FIG. 17. The angled shoulder 54 cooperates with a conventional blade (not shown) having a rearward angled portion complementary to the angled shoulder 54.

The improved blade 12 of the present invention has a rearward shoulder or edge 55 which is substantially at right angles thereto (as shown more clearly in FIG. 16) and complementary to the right angle shoulder 53 on the scalpel 10. Thus the improved blade 12 fits snugly against the shoulder 53 when the blade 12 is removably mounted on the scalpel 10.

The conventional scalpel blades (not shown) cannot be fitted to the improved scalpel 10 of the present invention. However, and as shown more clearly in FIG. 17, the improved blade 12 of the present invention can be fitted to a conventional non-guarded scalpel S, if desired, as well as to the improved scalpel 10 of the present invention.

With reference to FIGS. 18-20, the detent member 29' has an externally-tapered self-aligning portion 32', thereby piloting the detent member 29' into its respective detent pocket 42 and assuring a "solid" detent action between the guard 11 and the handle 24, and thereby compensating for any misalignments or tolerance accumulations in the manufacture and assembly of the guarded surgical scalpel 10.

With reference to FIGS. 21-25, the improved guarded surgical scalpel 100 includes a generally-tubular housing providing a handle 101 having a rectangular cross-section, as shown more clearly in FIG. 25. The handle 101 has a closed rearward end 102 and an open forward end 103 and, in this embodiment, is formed from two complementary members including an upper member 101A and a lower member 101B, respectively. These members 101A and 101B are joined together adhesively or by ultrasonic welding or by other suitable means. The lower member 101B has a central upstanding longitudinally-extending section 104. This longitudinal section 104 includes a forwardly-extending rib 105 upon which the conventional scalpel blade 106 is mounted.

A guard 107 is telescopically mounted within the handle 101 for sliding or reciprocating movement therein between an advanced position in which the blade 106 is substantially covered or protected against inadvertent or accidental cuts or nicks (FIG. 21) and an alternate retracted position in which the blade 105 is exposed (FIG. 22) for use during a surgical procedure.

More specifically, the guard 107 comprises a substantially inverted U-shaped channel member having a top wall 108 and respective substantially-parallel legs or side walls 109 and 110, respectively, depending therefrom. In this manner, as shown more clearly in FIGS. 24 and 25, the channel-shaped guard 107 is slidably mounted between the upper member 101A of the handle 101 and the longitudinal central section 104 of the lower member 101B.

The guard 107 is manually retracted and advanced, alternately, by means of a slide button 111 secured to the top wall 108 by a screw 112.

The guard 107 has a two-position resiliently-biased detent means 113 with respect to the handle 101. This detent means 113 includes a detent ball 114 backed up by a spring 115 lodged in a blind bore 116 in the slide button 111 (FIG. 25). This detent ball 114 is carried by the slide button 111, rides in a closed slot 117 formed in the upper member 101A of the handle 101, and is received (alternately) in respective detent pockets 118 and 119 at the ends of the slot 117. The detent means 113 thereby defines the extent of the longitudinal sliding movement of the guard 107 within the handle 101 and, preferably, provides a relatively-loud audible "click" signaling to the user of the instrument that the guard 107 has been moved into its alternate position (either advanced or retracted). This detent action is positive, avoids accidental or inadvertent movement of the guard 107, yet it is convenient and easy to manually manipulate the telescopic sliding guard 107.

However, the mechanical forces and loading on the guard 107 are taken up by a stop means 120 (FIG. 25) which is independent of the detent means 113. More specifically, the stop means 120 includes at least one pin 121 carried by the upper member 101A of the handle 101, transversely thereof, and received in respective closed longitudinal slots 122 and 123 formed in the downwardly-depending side walls 109 and 110, respectively, of the inverted channel-shaped guard 107. Preferably, the pin 121 is also received in the central longitudinal section 104 of the lower member 101B of the handle 101, as shown more clearly in FIG. 25.

The guarded scalpel 100 may be made of plastic (as shown) or metal, if desired, so that the guarded scalpel 100 may be either disposable or reusable. The guard 107 may be formed of a transparent plastic material, as shown in FIGS. 21 and 25, so that the blade 106 is clearly visible at all times.

With reference to FIGS. 26-32, the combination guarded surgical scalpel and blade stripper 200 of the present invention includes a substantially tubular handle 201 having a guard 202 telescopically received within the handle 201 for longitudinal sliding movement thereon. As shown more clearly in FIG. 28, the handle 201 has respective parallel side walls 203 and 204, and the guard 202 is an inverted U-shaped channel having respective parallel side walls 205 and 206.

The guard 202 further has a top wall 207 which has respective portions 208 and 209 separated by a slot 210, so that the portion 209 of the top wall 207 may be depressed inwardly of the guard 202. This depressible top wall portion 209 carries a detent button 211 and further carries a detent pin 212 spaced longitudinally therefrom. This detent pin 212 is received, alternately, in respective detent pockets 213 and 214 provided at the respective ends of a slot 215 formed in at least the side wall 203 of the handle 201. As a result, a two-position manually-manipulatable detent means 216 is provided between the handle 201 and the guard 202.

A stop means 217 limits the sliding movement of the guard 202 relative to the handle 201. This stop means 217, which is independent of the detent means 216, provides a solid bearing support for the sliding guard 202. This stop means 217 includes at least one pin 218 and, as shown more clearly in FIG. 28, the pin 218 is carried transversely of the handle 201 and is retained between the parallel side walls 203 and 204 of the handle 201. The pin 218 rides in respective slots 219 and 220 formed in the side walls 205 and 206, respectively, in the guard 202.

In this preferred embodiment, there are two pins 218 and 218' (as shown more clearly in FIGS. 26 and 27). These pins 218 and 218' retain a cleat 221 on the handle 201 and prevent any pivoting or rocking movement therebetween. The cleat 221 extends forwardly of the handle 201 and has a laterally-extending longitudinal rib 222 provided with an external groove 223. A blade 224 has a longitudinal slot 225 (FIG. 26) which cooperates with the groove 223 to mount the blade 224 on the cleat 221, thereby mounting the blade 224 on the handle 201 of the scalpel 200. The blade 224 is relatively thin (and very sharp) and is "snapped" over the rib 222 on the cleat 221. An injector for mounting the blade 224 on the scalpel 200--without manually touching or grasping the blade 224--is disclosed and claimed in the applicants' co-pending application Ser. No. 08/245,009 filed May 18, 1994 and entitled "Article And Method For Safely Mounting A Blade On A Surgical Scalpel". This prevents the nurse or operating room technician (the "tech") from being cut inadvertently or accidentally while mounting the blade 224 (and, more particularly, a sterile blade) on the scalpel 200.

The guard 202 protects the surgeon, nurse, tech or other assistant from being cut inadvertently or accidentally as the scalpel 200 is being transferred within the operating room ("O.R.").

The present invention further uses the guard 202 as part of a means to remove or strip the blade 224 (and, more particularly, a used blade) from the scalpel 200.

With reference again to FIGS. 26-32, the side wall 203 of the handle 201 has a pair of parallel slits 226 and 227, respectively, thereby forming a first depressible tang 228 in the side wall 203. A second depressible tang 229 is formed by a pair of parallel slits 230 and 231 formed in the first side wall 205 of the guard 202. These first and second depressible tangs 228 and 229, respectively, are substantially aligned with each other (as shown more clearly in FIG. 28). The first side wall 205 of the guard 202 has an inner surface 232 provided with a projection 233 extending inwardly of the guard 202. The second side wall 206 of the guard 202 has an inner surface 234 provided with a hook 235 extending inwardly of the guard 202 (as shown more clearly in FIG. 29). Moreover, the side wall 203 of the handle 201 has an inner surface 236 provided with a "bump" 237 for guiding the first side wall 205 of the guard 202.

The first depressible tang 228 formed on the side wall 203 of the handle 201 is provided with an ejector button 238 (which, if desired, may be knurled as shown) for convenient manual manipulation.

The operation of this aspect of the invention will become readily apparent with reference to FIGS. 33-35. The guard 202 is slid forwardly (FIG. 33) such that the projection 233 slides underneath the rearward edge portion 239 of the blade 224 as the ejector button 238 is depressed. The first depressible tang 228 on the side wall 203 of the handle 201 engages and depresses the second (aligned) depressible tang 229 on the side wall 205 of the guard 202, and the projection 233 on the first side wall 205 of the guard 202 lifts the rearward edge portion 239 of the blade 224 away from the longitudinal rib 222 on the cleat 221 secured to the handle 201. The hook 235 on the second side wall 206 of the guard 202 initially engages the rearward edge portion 239 of the blade 224 (FIG. 34). Continued forward sliding movement of the guard 202 completely separates the blade 224 from the cleat 221 (FIG. 35) as the ejector button 238 is released, thereby stripping the blade 224 from the scalpel 200.

As shown in FIG. 36, this stripping of the blade 224 from the scalpel 200 is quick, easy and convenient and avoids any manual contact with the (used) blade 224 and the problems associated therewith.

With reference to FIGS. 37-48, the stripper concept of the present invention may be applied to a previous embodiment of the guarded surgical scalpel. More particularly, the guarded surgical scalpel 300 has an external guard 301 in the form of a U-shaped channel mounted on the handle 302 for relative sliding movement therebetween. The detent means between the guard 301 and the handle 302 includes a spring-loaded detent pin 303 cooperating with a detent ball (not shown) riding in a slot 304 in the guard 301 and being received, alternately, in a pair of spaced-apart detent pockets 305 and 306, respectively, in the guard 301.

The guard 301 has a side wall 307 formed with a pair of slits 308 and 309, respectively, to provide an inwardly-depressible tang 310. This depressible tang 310 has an ejector button 311 mounted thereon.

When the ejector button 311 is pushed inwardly to depress the tang 310 on the guard 301 (FIGS. 41 and 42) an inwardly-extending projection 312 on the depressible tang 310 engages the rearward end portion 313 of the blade 314 and lifts it away from the cleat 315 on the handle 302 (FIG. 43). A hook 316 on the guard 301 engages the rearward end portion 313 of the blade 314 (FIG. 45). Continued forward sliding movement of the guard 301 on the handle 302 ejects the blade 314 from the scalpel 300 (FIG. 46). This blade stripping operation, which is substantially similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 26-36, is shown pictorially in FIGS. 46-48.

Obviously, many modifications may be made without departing from the basic spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than has been specifically described herein.