Patent ID: 6015419
Filing Date: 2000-01-18
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A surgical instrument comprising:a hollow handle having an end slot and a side slot;retraction means for securably moving a scalpel blade between first and second positions relative to the handle, one of which is an extended, in-use position wherein the scalpel blade extends out of the handle through the end slot, and the other of which is a retracted, non-use position wherein the scalpel blade is wholly disposed within the handle;the retraction means including a first sliding element securable to a scalpel blade and having at least one finger extending therefrom, the finger having a first contoured portion engageable, when the retraction means is in the first position, with a second contoured portion of the handle, wherein the first and second contoured portions are substantially complementary such that the finger must deflect to permit disengagement of the first contoured portion of the finger from the second contoured portion of the handle so that the retraction means can be moved from the first position toward the second position; andlocking means for locking the retraction means in one of the first and second positions;the locking means including a second sliding element moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position and having a cam that permits deflection of the finger of the first sliding element when the second sliding element is in the unlocked position and substantially inhibits deflection of the finger of the first sliding element when the second sliding element is in the locked position.