Patent ID: 7338463
Filing Date: 2008-03-04
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A sheath for protecting a blade which comprises: an elongated member having an outer surface and defining an axis lying in a longitudinal plane, the elongated member being formed with an axially aligned protective channel for receiving the blade therein, with the channel being bounded by opposed channel sides extending from a common vertex to the outer surface of the elongated member, wherein the vertex is substantially parallel to the axis, and wherein the elongated member is formed with a slit in the longitudinal plane with the slit having opposed slit sides extending from the vertex and away from the protective channel to the outer surface of the elongated member; an expansion means having a surface moveable between a first configuration and a second configuration; and a means for holding the elongated member on the surface of the expansion means with the slit sides juxtaposed to each other for covering the blade in the protective channel when the surface of the expansion means is in its first configuration, and with the slit sides separated from each other to expose the blade when the surface of the expansion means is in its second configuration.