Abstract:
A scalpel blade protector comprises an inner housing attached to a scalpel handle, an outer housing and a blade guard slidably mounted between the inner and outer housings for movement between positions exposing and shielding the scalpel blade. The blade protector is attached to conventional scalpel handles. A first embodiment shows a blade protector for a flat scalpel handle. A second embodiment shows a blade protector for a round or hexagonal scalpel handle.

Description:
This invention relates to a blade protector for a surgeon&#39;s scalpel and more particularly to a blade protector for a conventional scalpel. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A movement exists to encourage or require surgeon&#39;s scalpels to have blade protectors in an attempt to minimize accidental cuts during surgery. The broad concept is to provide a shield or guard that can be moved by the surgeon from a stowed position exposing the blade to an operative position covering the blade. Not surprisingly, there have been proposed a series of specially designed scalpels that incorporate blade protectors such as found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,906,626; 4,414,974; 4,576,164; 4,735,202; 5,292,329; 5,309,641; 5,330,492; 5,417,704; 5,423,843; 5,620,454; 5,868,771 and 6,626,925 as well as printed patent application 2004/0087989. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In this invention, it is recognized that many surgeons have become accustomed to conventional scalpel handles and are somewhat uncomfortable with handles that are specifically modified to provide movable blade guards. Accordingly, the scalpel guard of this invention is designed to fit onto conventional scalpel handles. Because most conventional scalpel handles are either flat or round/hexagonal, two different embodiments of this invention are illustrated. 
     In both embodiments, an inner housing is fixed to the scalpel handle in a suitable manner, such as with a friction fit, a removable adhesive, shrink fit or the like. In the event the inner housing is slightly loose on the scalpel handle, a wedge or other suitable member may be used to secure the inner housing to the handle. A blade guard is mounted on the inner housing for movement between an operative extended position shielding the scalpel blade and a stowed or retracted position exposing the blade. The blade guard includes a shoulder or protuberance so the surgeon can readily push or pull the blade guard to a desired position. An outer housing covers the blade guard and is attached in any suitable manner to the inner housing so the blade guard may readily slide between the inner and outer housings. 
     It is an object of this invention to provide an improved scalpel blade protector. 
     A further object of this invention is to provide an improved scalpel blade protector that may be positioned on a conventional scalpel without modifying the scalpel. 
     A more specific object of this invention is to provide a scalpel blade protector including an inner housing affixed to the scalpel handle, a blade guard movable between positions exposing and shielding the blade and an outer housing covering much of the inner housing and blade guard. 
     These and other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent as this description proceeds, reference being made to the accompanying drawings and appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a partial isometric view of a conventional scalpel handle showing the blade attachment end; 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view, similar to  FIG. 1 , showing the scalpel handle with a blade having the cutting edge up; 
         FIG. 3  is an end view of the scalpel of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIGS. 4 and 5  are isometric and cross-sectional views of the scalpel of  FIGS. 2 and 3  to which has been added an inner housing; 
         FIGS. 6 and 7  are isometric and end views of the scalpel and inner housing of  FIGS. 4 and 5  to which has been added a slidable blade guard; 
         FIGS. 8 and 9  are isometric and end views of the scalpel, inner housing and blade guard of  FIGS. 6 and 7  to which has been added an outer housing, illustrating the outer housing in an extended or shielding position over the scalpel blade; 
         FIG. 10  is an isometric view similar to  FIG. 8  showing the blade guard in a retracted position exposing the scalpel blade; 
         FIG. 11  is an isometric view of another embodiment of a conventional scalpel showing the scalpel with the cutting edge down; 
         FIG. 12  is an end view of the scalpel of  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIGS. 13 and 14  are isometric and end views of the scalpel of  FIGS. 11 and 12  to which has been added an inner housing; 
         FIGS. 15 and 16  are isometric and end views of the scalpel and inner housing of  FIGS. 13 and 14  to which has been added a slidable blade guard; 
         FIGS. 17 and 18  are isometric and end views of the scalpel, inner housing and blade guard of  FIGS. 15 and 16  to which has been added an outer housing, illustrating the outer housing in an retracted position exposing the scalpel blade; and 
         FIG. 19  is an isometric view similar to  FIG. 17  showing the blade guard in an extended or shielding position covering the scalpel blade. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-10 , there is illustrated a conventional scalpel  10  having a flat handle  11  having an end  12  sculpted to receive a blade  13  having a slot  14  therein, a cutting edge  15  and a cutting tip  16 . The end  12  provides an elongate rib  17  providing a notch  18  extending lengthwise and an inclined abutment  19 . The rib  17 , notch  18  and abutment  19  are sized and shaped to receive the slot  14  of the blade  13  and, in cooperation with the remainder of the blade  13 , thereby attach the blade  13  to the handle  11 . Provided on the scalpel  10  is a blade protector  20  comprising an inner housing  22 , a blade guard  24  and an outer housing  26 . As will become more fully apparent hereinafter, an important advantage of this invention is the ability to replace the blade  13  without removing the blade protector  20 . Although  FIGS. 2-9  appear to show the protected scalpel in the process of being assembled, this is for illustrative purposes only. The blade protector  20  is a unit and is attached in one motion. 
     The inner housing  22  is attached to the handle  11  in any suitable manner, such as by a friction fit. To this end, the inner housing  22  may be slightly elastic allowing it to be slipped over the end of the handle  11 , after removing the blade  13 . In the event the inner housing  22  does not snugly fit the scalpel handle  11 , a wedge  28  or other suitable member may be inserted between the handle  11  and inner housing  22 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . The inner housing  22  may be made of any suitable material, such as a medically approved polymer, and is mainly open so the blade  13  may be secured to the handle  11  after the blade protector  20  is in place. 
     In the alternative, the inner housing  22  may be secured to the handle  11  by the use of releasable adhesives, by a shrink fit or the like. In the event a shrink fit is selected, the material of the inner housing  22  is selected to shrink in response to the application of heat, as with a hair dryer or the like. After use, and before sterilizing the handle  11 , the blade protector  20  may be removed simply by cutting the material of the inner housing  22 . 
     The blade guard  24  slides on the outside of the inner housing  22  between a position exposing the blade  13  and a position shielding the blade  13 , as may be seen by a comparison of  FIGS. 8 and 10 . The blade guard  24  is made of any suitable material, such as a medically approved polymer, and preferably includes a U-shaped guard  30  having an opening adjacent the non-cutting edge of the blade  13  and an operator  32  conveniently placed for the surgeon to push or pull in order to slide the blade guard  24  between its positions. It will, of course, be evident that the blade guard  24  may be closed and the operator  32  placed on the top of the handle  11  rather than on the bottom as shown. 
     The outer housing  26  is made of any suitable material, such as a medically approved polymer, and includes a closed generally rectangular member  34  secured to the inner housing  22  in a suitable manner, as by pressure welding in a spot or depression  36  rearwardly of the blade guard  34 . The member  34  provides a slot  38  along its edge so the operator  32  is exposed through the outer housing  26 . It will accordingly be seen that rearward movement of the blade guard  24  is limited by the physical connection between the inner and outer housings  22 ,  26 . 
     The position of the blade guard  24  relative to the inner and outer housings  22 ,  26  may be controlled in any suitable manner. Because the blade guard  24  slides between the inner and outer housings, the position control may be friction between the blade guard  24  and the housings  22 ,  26 . In other words, the blade guard  24  slides, but not readily, between the housings  22 ,  26 . In the alternative, suitable locking means, such as a detent or bulge  40  on the blade guard  24  and one or more depressions  42  facing the detent  40 . The detent  40  and depression  42 , or other similar arrangement, may also provide a limit of outward movement of the blade guard  24  so it cannot accidentally be advanced off the handle  11 . 
     Use of the scalpel  10  and blade protector  20  should now be apparent. The blade protector  20  slips over the end of the scalpel handle  11  and the blade  13  is then installed. To position the blade guard  24  in the shielding position around the blade  13 , the operator  32  is advanced to a position covering the tip  16  of the blade  13 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . To use the scalpel  10 , the surgeon manipulates the operator  32  to retract the blade guard  24  thereby exposing the cutting edge  15  and tip  16  of the blade  13  as shown in  FIG. 10 . It will also be seen that the blade  13  may be removed from the handle  11  with the blade protector  20  in place. This is of significant advantage because surgeons periodically replace blades during surgery and are accustomed to continue using the same handle. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 11-19 , there is illustrated another embodiment of a conventional scalpel  50  having a round/hexagonal handle  52  and a blade  54  providing a cutting edge  56  and a cutting tip  58 . Provided on the scalpel  50  is a blade protector  60  comprising an inner housing  62 , a blade guard  64  and an outer housing  66 . Although  FIGS. 11-17  appear to show the protected or guarded scalpel  50  in the process of being assembled, this is for illustrative purposes only. The blade protector  60  is a unit and is attached in one motion. 
     The inner housing  62  is attached to the handle  52  in any suitable manner, such as by a friction fit, by the use of releasable adhesives or by a shrink fit. To this end, the inner housing  52  may be slightly elastic allowing it to be slipped over the end of the handle  52 . To insure that the inner housing  62  snugly fits the scalpel handle  52 , one or more flaps  68  may be stamped in a side of the housing  62  to abut the handle  52  and thereby increase friction between the housing  62  and handle  52 . The inner housing  62  may be made of any suitable material, such as a medically approved polymer, and includes a partially closed forward end  70  allowing the blade  54  to pass therethrough and preventing the inner housing  52  from moving too far rearwardly on the handle  52 . 
     The blade guard  64  slides on the outside of the inner housing  52  between a position exposing the blade  54  and a position shielding the blade  54 , as may be seen by a comparison of  FIGS. 17 and 19 . The blade guard  64  is made of any suitable material, such as a medically approved polymer, and preferably includes a circular guard  72  and an operator  74  conveniently placed for the surgeon to push or pull in order to slide the blade guard  64  between its positions. It will, of course, be evident that the blade guard  64  may be closed and the operator  74  placed on the top of the handle  52  rather than on the bottom as shown. 
     The outer housing  66  is made of any suitable material, such as a medically approved polymer, and includes a closed circular member  76  secured to the inner housing  52  in a suitable manner, as by pressure welding in a spot or depression  78  rearwardly of the blade guard  64 . The member  78  provides a slot  80  extending lengthwise along the handle  52  so the operator  74  is exposed through the outer housing  66 . It will accordingly be seen that rearward movement of the blade guard  64  is limited by the physical connection between the inner and outer housings  62 ,  66 . 
     The position of the blade guard  64  relative to the inner or outer housings  62 ,  66  may be controlled in any suitable manner. Because the blade guard  64  slides between the inner and outer housings, the position control may be friction between the blade guard  64  and the housings  62 ,  66 . In other words, the blade guard  64  slides, but not readily, between the housings  62 ,  66 . In the alternative, suitable locking means, such as a detent or bulge  82  on the blade guard  64  and one or more depressions  84  facing the detent  82 . The detent  82  and depression  84 , or other similar arrangement, may also provide a limit of outward movement of the blade guard  64  so it cannot accidentally be advanced off the handle  52 . 
     Use of the scalpel  50  and blade protector  60  should now be apparent. The blade protector  60  slips over the end of the scalpel handle  52  and the blade  54  is then installed. To position the blade guard  64  in the shielding position around the blade  13 , the operator  74  is advanced to a position covering the tip  58  of the blade  54 , as shown in  FIG. 19 . To use the scalpel  50 , the surgeon manipulates the operator  74  to retract the blade guard  64  thereby exposing the cutting edge  56  and tip  58  of the blade  54  as shown in  FIG. 17 . 
     Although this invention has been disclosed and described in its preferred forms with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred forms is only by way of example and that numerous changes in the combination and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.