Patent ID: 11925358
Assignee: WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 9:
10. A medical cutting device having interchanging blades, comprising:
a blade disposed adjacent to a footplate for engaging with the footplate to sever surgical material;
a lever pivoting about a pivot axis on a handle for disposing the blade against the footplate, the handle further including a handle base and handle slide;
an interlocking member on the handle base;
an interchangeable tip including the blade, footplate and a rail, the blade in slidable communication with the rail for actuation against the footplate; and
a detachable linkage between the handle and the interchangeable tip for disengaging the interchangeable tip, the detachable linkage defined by opposed cleats on the handle base and handle slide adapted for engagement with corresponding receptacles on a footplate portion and a blade portion, respectively, wherein the interchangeable tip further includes the blade portion and the footplate portion having an engageable slot, the blade attached to a distal end of the blade portion and the footplate attached to a distal end of the footplate portion and aligned for communication with the blade,
further comprising a rail on the handle, the rail on the handle aligned with the rail on the interchangeable tip when engaged by the detachable linkage, the blade portion responsive to the lever via aligned rail, the handle responsive to transverse movement of the interchangeable tip for engaging the detachable linkage, the interlocking member disposed for longitudinal movement perpendicular to the transverse movement for engaging the engaging slot.