Abstract:
A plurality of scalpel handles, one master handle and one or more slave handles. The master handle and one of the slave handles are interconnected to provide uniform, parallel blade separation of two scalpels and their blades.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates general to scalpels, and in particular to means for interconnecting two scalpels to form a double scalpel for accurate sectioning of soft or unfixed tissue for histology processing. 
     When soft tissues are prosected, the first cut is generally wavy and the second generally cut distorts the tissues resulting in tissue sections that are too thick, too thin, or uneven or non-uniform in thickness. For this reason, many pathologists fix large or soft specimens over night in order to have firmer specimens to prosect and produce thinner, more uniform sections 2 to 4 mm in thickness. This permits better infiltration and dehydration. Although fixation is delayed in intact large specimens compared to adequately thin sections cut fresh and placed in fixative, because fixation is time and thickness dependent. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention allows cutting of uniform thickness sections in soft tissues such as the bowel, brain, spleen, and lung, in the fresh state thereby reducing turn around time and providing better fixation for better histology. The present invention accomplishes this by providing a number of blade handles, one master handle and one or more slave handles. The master handle and one of the slave handles are interconnected in parallel to provide uniform, parallel blade separation of two blades. In another embodiment of the invention the separation between blades is adjustable. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of one interconnected embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the two disconnected handles of FIG. 1 with facing sides in view. 
     FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the two disconnected handles of FIG. 1 with non-facing sides in view. 
     FIG. 4 is a top view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of another interconnected embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of the two disconnected handles of FIG. 5 with facing sides in view. 
     FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of the two disconnected handles of FIG. 5 with non-facing sides in view. 
     FIG. 8 is a top view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG.  5 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like elements are indicated by like numerals, there are shown in FIGS. 1-4, and FIGS. 5-8, double scalpel embodiments  1 ,  2  constructed according to the principles of the present invention. 
     Referring more particularly to FIGS. 1-4, the double scalpel  1  shown in these figures is comprised of a “master” scalpel handle  10  and a separate “slave” scalpel handle  30 . The master scalpel handle  10  has a rounded proximal end  11 , a distal end  12 , an “outside” surface  13 , an “inside” surface  14 , a top edge  15  and a bottom edge  16 , said proximal end  11  and distal end  12  defining the longitudinal axis of the scalpel handle  10 . The master scalpel distal end  12  has a slot  17  formed therein, said slot  17  being adapted to hold a scalpel blade  18 . The master scalpel inside surface  14  has two rounded, threaded apertures  19  formed therein, said apertures  19  being formed centrally along the longitudinal axis of the master scalpel handle  10 . The master handle  10  has two pegs  20 . Each peg  20  has a cap  21  and a threaded body  22 . Each peg body  22  threadingly engages an aperture  19  wherein each peg cap  21  is positioned a selected distance from the handle inside surface  14 . 
     The slave scalpel handle  30  has a rounded proximal end  31 , a distal end  32 , an “outside” surface  33 , an “inside” surface  34 , a top edge  35  and a bottom edge  36 , said proximal end  31  and distal end  32  defining the longitudinal axis of the slave scalpel handle  30 . The slave scalpel handle distal end  32  has a slot  37  formed therein, said slot  37  being adapted to hold a scalpel blade  38 . The slave scalpel inside surface  34  has two key hole slots  40  formed therein, said key hole slots  40  being formed centrally along the longitudinal axis of the slave scalpel handle  30 . Each key hole slot  40  is comprised of a rounded rearward aperture  41  and a forward narrow channel  42 , said rearward aperture  41  being positioned toward the handle proximal end  31  and said channel  42  being positioned toward the handle distal end  31 , said rearward aperture  41  and a forward narrow channel  42  defining a key hole slot longitudinal axis, said key hole slot longitudinal axis being coincident with the slave handle longitudinal axis, both aperture  41  and channel  42  opening through the scalpel handle  30  to and through the scalpel handle outside surface  33 . 
     The master scalpel handle  10  and slave scalpel handle  30  are adapted to being joined together by positioning the master scalpel handle inside surface  14  along side the slave scalpel handle inside surface  34 , insertion of the master scalpel handle peg caps  21  into and through the slave scalpel handle key hole rounded apertures  41 , and sliding the master handle  10  forward so that the peg bodies  22  engage the key hole channels  42 . 
     Referring more particularly to FIGS. 5-8, wherein an alternate embodiment of the invention is shown, the double scalpel  2  shown in these figures is comprised of a “master” scalpel handle  50  and a separate “slave” scalpel handle  70 . The master scalpel handle  50  has a rounded proximal end  51 , a distal end  52 , an “outside” surface  53 , an “inside” surface  54 , a top edge  55  and a bottom edge  56 , said proximal end  51  and distal end  52  defining the longitudinal axis of the scalpel handle  50 . The master scalpel distal end  52  has a slot  57  formed therein, said slot  57  being adapted to hold a scalpel blade  58 . The master scalpel inside surface  54  has two rounded, threaded apertures  59  formed therein, said apertures  59  being formed centrally along the longitudinal axis of the master scalpel handle  50 , one aperture  59  rearward toward the proximal handle end  51  and the other aperture forward toward the distal handle end  52 . The master handle  50  has a rearward peg  60 , said peg  60  having a cap  61  and a threaded body  62 , said peg body  22  threadingly engaging said rearward aperture  59  wherein said peg cap  61  is positioned a selected distance from the handle inside surface  54 . The master handle  50  also has a forward adjustable peg  63 , said peg  63  having a threaded body  64  and a knurled nut  65  threadingly engaging said threaded body  64 , said peg body  64  also threadingly engaging said forward aperture  59  wherein said peg nut  65  is positioned a selected distance from the handle inside surface  54 . 
     The slave scalpel handle  70  has a rounded proximal end  71 , a distal end  72 , an “outside” surface  73 , an “inside” surface  74 , a top edge  75  and a bottom edge  76 , said proximal end  71  and distal end  72  defining the longitudinal axis of the slave scalpel handle  70 . The slave scalpel handle distal end  72  has a slot  77  formed therein, said slot  77  being adapted to hold a scalpel blade  78 . The slave scalpel inside surface  74  has two key hole slots  80  formed therein, said key hole slots  80  being formed centrally along the longitudinal axis of the slave scalpel handle  70 . Each key hole slot  80  is comprised of a rounded rearward aperture  81  and a forward narrow channel  82 , said rearward aperture  81  being positioned toward the handle proximal end  71  and said channel  82  being positioned toward the handle distal end  71 , said rearward aperture  81  and a forward narrow channel  82  defining a key hole slot longitudinal axis, said key hole slot longitudinal axis being coincident with the slave handle longitudinal axis, both aperture  81  and channel  82  opening through the scalpel handle  70  to and through the scalpel handle outside surface  73 . 
     The master scalpel handle  50  and slave scalpel handle  70  are adapted to being joined together by positioning the master scalpel handle inside surface  54  along side the slave scalpel handle inside surface  74 , insertion of the master scalpel handle peg cap  61  and nut  65  into and through the slave scalpel handle key hole rounded apertures  81 , and sliding the master handle  50  forward so that the peg bodies  62 ,  64  engage the key hole channels  82 . 
     The adjustable peg knurled nut  65  of the second invention embodiment  2  allows a user to adjust the separation between master scalpel blade  58  and slave scalpel blade  78 , wherein the first invention embodiment  1  has a preset separation between master blade  18  and slave scalpel blade  38 . 
     It is understood that the above-described embodiments are merely illustrative of the application. Other embodiments may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.