Patent ID: 7909840
Filing Date: 2011-03-22
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. A surgical knife safety handle for both ophthalmic and non-ophthalmic applications, comprising: a handle body having a distal end, a proximal end and a housing extending along a longitudinal axis between said distal and proximal ends, said housing of said handle body defining a chamber therein and having at least one slot extending between a first slot end and a second slot end along said longitudinal axis for accessing said chamber, and having a first detent disposed between said second slot end and said distal end of said handle body, said chamber being at least partially open at said distal end of said handle body to allow a movable guard to be extended from within said chamber of said handle body; a knife holder extending from said opening of said chamber at said distal end of said handle body along said longitudinal axis; said movable guard engaged with a guard positioning mechanism within said chamber of said handle body for longitudinal movement between a fully extended position for at least partially enclosing a knife blade attachable to said knife holder, and a fully retracted position at least partially within said chamber of said handle body; and said guard positioning mechanism slidably mounted within said chamber of said handle body and having a user control mechanism constantly protruding from within said chamber via said slot to be accessible by the user, and integrally formed with a user operable lock for engaging said first detent, wherein said guard positioning mechanism further includes a position locking mechanism comprising a leaf spring positioned within said guard positioning mechanism to engage a second detent at said fully extended position and to engage a third detent at said fully retracted position, and said chamber including said second and third detents to engage said leaf spring as said guard positioning mechanism is slidably moved within said chamber between said fully extended position and said fully retracted position with respect to said handle body.