Abstract:
A releasably attached surgical scissor spray shield is mounted immediately proximate to the scissor blade. The shield controls the spray at the source thus shielding not only the user, but all personnel in the vicinity when an umbilical cord or the like is cut. The mounting mechanisms for the shield releasably, yet securely attaches the spray shield to the scissors so the shield remains immediately proximate to the scissor blades and umbilical cord yet does not restrict the opening of the scissor shear blades. The shield is mounted in close proximity to the cutting operation of the scissors to thereby deflect blood spray immediately adjacent to the source of the spray. The shield does not restrict the operational movement of the scissor blades and arms during the cutting operation.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/069,886, filed on Oct. 29, 2014, and herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to spray shields primarily for use with surgical scissors to protect people from potentially hazardous blood spray when an umbilical cord or any other item is severed. 
         [0003]    For more than fifty years, labor and delivery clinicians have used the same method for transecting the umbilical cord. The process includes placing two clamps on the umbilical cord several inches apart from each other and cutting the umbilical cord between the two clamps with surgical scissors. The blood in the umbilical cord between the two clamps remains pressurized and has been known to spray as far as eight feet or more hitting walls, ceiling tiles, drapes, clinicians and others. It is well established that there exists more than twenty blood borne pathogens such as AIDS/HIV, Hepatitis C, sexually transmitted diseases and now the Ebola virus that could be present in the blood spray and which could contaminate those present. Cases of clinician exposure to blood borne pathogens such as HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases through cord blood spray are well documented. Such cases require extensive, costly and physically demanding prophylactic treatment. 
         [0004]    In spite of numerous technological attempts to address this problem, no commercially or functionally viable devices or solutions are available to clinicians to prevent blood spray when cutting the cord. In the majority of cases, the prior art/devices simply did not function as intended. In one instance, the device attempted to combine functions such as preventing spray while also drawing cord blood into vials. In another example, the device was intended to prevent blood spray while simultaneously cutting and clamping the umbilical cord. Those and other known devices were plagued with operational issues involving one or more of these functions and consequently unable to perform the intended functions to the satisfaction of the market. Devices that required a significant departure from existing procedures and new equipment also met with resistance. As with virtually every decision, cost is an important factor and the cost of some devices were considered prohibitive. 
         [0005]    With no functional solution available, clinicians try to minimize the impact of umbilical cord blood spray in several different ways. Many clinicians put a hand up near the scissors to act as a shield. Unfortunately, this prevents the clinician from using that hand for clinical or care related functions and momentarily distracts the clinician causing them to focus on their own safety rather than the immediate procedure and the patient&#39;s care and safety. 
         [0006]    Another approach is to look away when the cord is cut hoping any spray that might occur will hit them somewhere other than the eyes, nose or mouth. Clearly this is undesirable as it is best to have clinicians looking at the task at hand. 
         [0007]    Alternatively, some caregivers have even held a towel over the area in an attempt to block the spray. None of these approaches are effective or safe for either the clinician or the patient. Furthermore, they do not comply with the federal requirements as set forth in 29 CFR 1910 generally requiring that employers reduce the risk of blood borne pathogen exposure to employees. 
         [0008]    One attempt to address this problem is disclosed as a disposable shield in U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,435 to Kelly, et al. This device was intended to protect only the scissor user. It does not protect any other personnel in the area due to its shape, orientation, location and distance from the source of the spray. 
         [0009]    While protecting the clinician cutting the cord, typically a doctor or midwife, is a worthwhile endeavor, a 2012 survey of labor and delivery nurses (i.e. clinicians not cutting the umbilical cord and positioned in physical locations throughout the delivery area) revealed that 95% of those nurses had experienced cord blood spray and 21% had been sprayed within the prior year. Additionally, tests designed to replicate spray from an umbilical cord were recently conducted and the spray pattern analysis indicated that as much as 50% of the spray occurs in a direction other than towards the user. Blood spray is a serious problem to all in the delivery room and is not limited to the clinician cutting the umbilical cord. 
         [0010]    A similar potential solution is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. D399,971 to Scherer which approaches the problem in a similar manner as does Kelly, et al., but with a different shield design. Nevertheless, Scherer fails to solve the above-noted shortcomings of Kelly, et al. 
         [0011]    As previously mentioned, there is currently no functionally or commercially viable solution in the marketplace for the problem of blood spray resulting from the transection of the umbilical cord or other cutting procedures. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    These and other shortcomings in the prior art have been addressed with this invention. In accordance with at least one embodiment of this invention, a releasably attached, surgical scissor disposable spray shield is mounted immediately proximate to the scissors and umbilical cord and addresses these and other shortcomings in the prior art. The shield is immediately proximate to the scissors and umbilical cord and controls the spray at the source thus shielding not only the user, but all personnel in the vicinity when the umbilical cord is cut. The mounting mechanisms for the shield releasably, yet securely attach the spray shield to the surgical scissors so the shield remains immediately proximate to the scissor shear blades and umbilical cord yet does not unnecessarily/functionally restrict the opening of the scissor shear blades. Some of those mounting mechanisms are contemplated herein. 
         [0013]    In various embodiments, the scissor mounted blood spray shield according to this invention shields not only the operator of the scissors, but other personnel in the vicinity. In various embodiments, this shield is mounted in close proximity to the cutting operation of the scissors to thereby deflect blood spray immediately adjacent to the source of the spray. Additionally, various embodiments of this invention when mounted to the scissors do not restrict the operational movement of the scissor blades and arms during the cutting operation. Moreover, the shield is securely mounted to the scissors while still avoiding interference with the cutting operation. 
         [0014]    Additionally, various embodiments of this invention allow for the shield and scissor combination to stand upright with the scissors in a generally horizontal orientation to allow for easy location by the clinician as well as convenient and easy grasping and manipulation of the scissors and the shield unit. 
         [0015]    As such, the above noted and other shortcomings with known devices have been overcome with the scissor mounted blood spray shield according to various embodiments of this invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a blood spray shield mounted upon a pair of scissors according to this invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of the blood spray shield of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of the blood spray shield of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of the combination of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 6  with the blood spray shield shown in cross-section; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 6  with the scissors in a closed configuration; 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a side elevational view with the blood spray shield in cross-section and the scissors in an opening operation; 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is a view similar to  FIG. 8  with an umbilical cord positioned between the blades of the scissors in a closing operation; 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  is a view similar to  FIG. 9  with the umbilical cord being cut and the blood spray shield containing spray from the cutting action of the scissors; 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  is a side elevational view of the combination of  FIG. 1  positioned upon a supporting surface; 
           [0028]      FIG. 12  is a top perspective view of a blood spray shield according to one embodiment of this invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 13  is a bottom perspective view of the blood spray shield of  FIG. 12 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 14  is a front elevational view of the blood spray shield of  FIG. 12 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 15  is a rear elevational view of the blood spray shield of  FIG. 12 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 16  is a right side elevational view of the blood spray shield of  FIG. 12  with the left side elevational view being a mirror image thereof; 
           [0033]      FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  17 - 17  of  FIG. 14 ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 18  is a top view of the blood spray shield; and 
           [0035]      FIG. 19  is a bottom view thereof. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0036]    One embodiment of the surgical scissor disposable spray shield  10  is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-19 . The surgical scissor disposable spray shield  10  may include a shield portion  12  and a mount  14 . 
         [0037]    The surgical scissor disposable spray shield  10  according to various embodiments of this invention is intended to be removably mounted to a pair of surgical scissors  16  or another implement. The surgical scissors  16  includes a pair of scissor arms  18   a ,  18   b  which are pivotally joined together at a joint  20 . The joint  20  includes a pivot member  22  which, in various embodiments, may include a screw, pin or other structural member about which the two scissor arms  18   a ,  18   b  pivot or articulate relative to one another generally in a plane that is perpendicular to the pivot axis of the joint  20 . Each scissor arm  18   a ,  18   b  includes a blade portion  24   a ,  24   b  extending from a distal end of the joint  20 , a tip  40   a ,  40   b  and an arm portion  26   a ,  26   b  extending proximally from the joint  20 . The arm portions  26   a ,  26   b  may include an elongate handle  28   a ,  28   b  with a grip  30   a ,  30   b  in the form of a loop or eyelet at the terminal end of the arm portion  26   a ,  26   b . Each blade portion  24   a ,  24   b  may include a sharpened scissor blade  32   a ,  32   b  which cooperates with the sharpened scissor blade  32   b ,  32   a  of the complimentary scissor arm  18   a ,  18   b  to cut, sever, transect or otherwise slice through a typical scissor cutting action any member such as an umbilical cord  34  or the like which may be positioned between the articulating blade portions  24   a ,  24   b  of the surgical scissors  16 . The scissor arms  18   a ,  18   b  pivot about a pivot axis defined by the joint  20  to and between open positions and a closed position in which the blade portions  24  are closed upon each other. While one specific embodiment of a pair of scissors is shown and described herein, it will be readily appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that this is but an exemplary tool on which the spray shield according to various embodiments of this invention may be temporarily mounted within the scope of this invention. 
         [0038]    The shield portion  12  could be of many different shapes, but in one embodiment may be concave and take the approximate form of a volumetric cross-section of a shape that resembles a cylinder with an ellipsoidal or torispherical dome end cap  36  as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . The shield portion  12  may have a thickness of approximately 0.70 mm and may be approximately 80 mm in length at the longest point and approximately 65 mm wide at its widest point. The horizontal dimensions or height along the length of the shield portion  12  cylindrical section&#39;s volumetric cross section may follow the horizontal dimensions or height of the upper blade portion  24   a  to which it is immediately proximate and range from approximately 13 mm at the rear end  38  of the cylindrical portion to approximately 5 mm at the ellipsoidal end cap  36  of the cylindrical portion of the shield portion  12  (See  FIG. 1 ). The ellipsoidal end cap  36  at the very front end of the shield portion  12  may extend vertically down in front of an upper blade tip  40   a  of the scissor lower arm  18   a  approximately 13 mm (See  FIG. 5 ). The ellipsoidal end cap  36  at the very front end of the shield portion  12  which may extend vertically down in front of the upper blade tip  40   a  of the scissor lower arm  18   a  may have a flat edge  42  extending horizontally across the very bottom of the ellipsoidal end cap  36  (See  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0039]    A rear shield  44  extends down perpendicularly approximately 13 mm at the rear end of the shield portion  12  (See  FIG. 3 ). At the rear end of the shield portion  12 , there is a void or shield portion cutout  46  in the middle of the shield portion  12 . The shield portion cutout  46  begins at the very end of the shield portion  12  where the shield portion  12  intersects the rear shield  44  and continues lengthwise toward the front of the shield portion  12  and ends at a forward edge (See  FIG. 2 ). The shield portion cutout  46  is approximately 7 mm wide and 11 mm long in one embodiment. The dimensions of the shield portion cutout  46  may be dependent on the size of the surgical scissors  16  which are compatible with the surgical scissor disposable spray shield  10 . The width of the shield portion cutout  46  may be determined by the width of the surgical scissors  16  at the joint  20  and the length may be determined by the width of the upper blade portion  24   a  at that point and may vary depending on the size of the surgical scissors  16 . The apex of the shield portion  12  is located at the midpoint of the width of the shield portion  12  and runs lengthwise down the shield portion  12  and may have a 2° angle of declination from a line parallel to the upper arm portion  26   b . This 2° angle of declination approximates the angle of declination between a line parallel to the surface of the upper or non-shearing edge of the upper blade portion  24   a  and a line parallel to the upper arm portion  26   b.    
         [0040]      FIG. 3  shows one view of the rear shield  44 . The rear shield  44  may generally take the shape of a lengthwise bisected ellipse and may be approximately 65 mm wide at the widest point and approximately 13 mm tall at the tallest point. The rear shield  44  may contain a rear shield vertical opening  48 . The rear shield vertical opening  48  may be located at the midpoint of the major dimension of the rear shield  44  and may extend the entire height of the rear shield  44 . The rear shield vertical opening  48  is approximately 7 mm wide in one embodiment. 
         [0041]      FIG. 12  shows a top view and  FIG. 13  shows a bottom view of the mount  14  of one embodiment of this invention. The mount  14  may include two opposable arms  50   a ,  50   b , a lower detent  52  and an upper detent  54 . The lower and upper detents  52 ,  54  may be referred to as first and second detents or second and first detents. The mount  14  of this embodiment is approximately 28 mm in length. The opposable arms  50   a ,  50   b  may be directly connected to their respective sides of the rear shield vertical opening  48  of rear shield  44  and be approximately 7 mm apart from each other at the rear shield vertical opening  48 . A portion of the mount  14  may be located underneath the shield portion  12  and inside the rear shield  44 . The top surfaces of the portion of the mount  14  located underneath the shield portion  12  may also be connected to the underside of the shield portion  12 . The mount portions  56  of the mount  14  located underneath the shield portion  12  and inside the rear shield  44  could be several different shapes, but in this embodiment are triangular. 
         [0042]    In one embodiment, the lower detent  52  may be approximately 7 mm wide, 2 mm long and approximately 1 mm high and may be located at the bottom of and approximately equidistant lengthwise along the mount  14 . In alternative embodiments, the lower detent  52  could be comprised of one continuous member connected at both opposable arms as in this embodiment, or two individual members very similar to the upper detent  54 , each connected to an opposable arm  50   a ,  50   b  and meeting each other in the middle between the opposable arms  50   a ,  50   b , or one member having a triangular shape similar to a member of the upper detent  54 , connected only to the right opposable arm  50   b  and extending between 50% and 99% of the distance between opposable arms  50   a ,  50   b . The lower detent  52  may serve three purposes. The first purpose is to serve as a stop for the lower blade portion  24   b  and provide horizontal stability for the surgical scissor disposable spray shield  10  on the surgical scissors  16 . The lower detent  52  coupled with the forward edge of the shield portion cutout  46  may prevent the upper arm portion  26   b  from rotating more than 90° and pushing the surgical scissor disposable spray shield  10  too far forward on the surgical scissors  16 . The second purpose of the lower detent  52  may be to prevent the scissor arm portions  26   a ,  26   b  from moving vertically down past that point and coupled with the upper detent  54  may help provide vertical stability for the surgical scissor disposable spray shield  10  on the surgical scissors  16 . The third purpose may be to provide stability and act as an anchor point for the opposable arms  50   a ,  50   b  to ensure the opposable arms maintain sufficient compressive force on the lower arm portion  26   a  and do not flex too much. However, the surgical scissor disposable spray shield  10  with the mount  14  integrally molded to the rear shield  44  and shield portion  12 , may be sufficiently secure to hold the mount  14  in place at those connected locations keeping the moment arm sufficiently close to the rear of the mount  14  and preventing the opposable arms  50   a ,  50   b  from excess movement. In that case, the lower detent  52  could be designed similar to the upper detent  54  with triangular shape pointing down rather than up. This has the advantage of providing an additional or optional scissor mounting mechanism whereby the surgical scissor disposable spray shield  10  could be forced down onto the surgical scissors  16  from the top rather than the surgical scissors  16  being forced down on the surgical scissor disposable spray shield  10  from the top. A lower detent that allows the opposable arms  50   a ,  50   b  to be more independent of each other may strengthen the opposable arms  50   a ,  50   b . The lower and upper detents  52 ,  54  also provide a more secure connection of the surgical scissor disposable spray shield  10  to the surgical scissors  16  so that during operation of the surgical scissors  16  the shield portion  12  remains in a fixed or generally constant position relative to one or both of the scissor blades  24 . 
         [0043]    The horizontal distance from the forward or front edge of the lower detent  52  and the forward edge of the shield portion cutout  46  is approximately 11 mm, but this may be dependent on the size of the surgical scissors  16 . This horizontal distance may be determined by the width of the lower blade portion  24   b  at that point and may vary depending on the size of the surgical scissors  16 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 7  illustrates how the upper detent  54  may be located at the top rear end of the mount  14  and comprised of two opposing members; upper detent opposing member  54   a  and upper detent opposing member  54   b  located opposite each other on each of the opposable arms  50   a ,  50   b , respectively. Upper detent opposing member  54   a  and the upper detent opposing member  54   b  are individually approximately 2 mm wide, 5 mm long and may be of a generally triangular shape ranging from approximately 0.2 mm at its narrowest point to approximately 2 mm at its highest point. 
         [0045]    The upper detent opposing members  54   a ,  54   b  may be of a generally triangular shape forming an incline plane with the upper detent opposing member incline plane side  54   c  facing up and away from the mount  14  as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . The upper detent opposing member short side of each of the respective upper detent opposing members  54   a ,  54   b  may be attached to, comprise or be part of their respective opposable arms  50   a ,  50   b  per  FIG. 7 . The upper detent opposing member base side  54   d  of each of the respective upper detent opposing members  54   a ,  54   b  of the upper detent  54  faces downward as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0046]    The vertical distance between the top side of the lower detent  52  and the bottom side of the upper detent  54  or the upper detent opposing member base side  54   d  is approximately 6 mm. This dimension may be the height of the lower arm portion  26   a  and may vary depending on the size of the surgical scissors  16 . The horizontal distance from the leading or front edge of the lower detent  52  and the leading or front edge of the upper detent  54  may be approximately 12 mm. This dimension may be dependent on the size of the surgical scissors  16 . This horizontal distance is determined by the distance from the rear or non-cutting edge of the lower blade portion  24   b  when it is perpendicular to the upper blade portion  24   a  and the rear edge of the scissor joint  20  area at the scissor joint area projection  58  ( FIG. 8 ) and may vary depending on the size of the surgical scissors  16 . The horizontal distance between the forward edge of the upper detent  54  and the forward edge of the shield portion cutout  46  may be approximately 23 mm and may vary depending on the size of the surgical scissors  16 . 
         [0047]    In various embodiments of this invention, the lower and upper detents  52 ,  54  may be closely spaced or in contact with the adjacent portions of the first scissor arm portion  26   a  as shown in  FIG. 5 . This snug or tight fitting relationship for the mount  14  on the surgical scissors  16  allows for the shield portion  12  to move with the upper blade portion  24   a  during the cutting operation of the surgical scissors  16  and remain a fixed distance from the upper blade portion  24   a.    
         [0048]    The opposable arms  50   a ,  50   b  may be canted in towards each other beginning at the lower detent  52  as illustrated in  FIG. 13 . The cant angle for opposable arm  50   a ,  50   b  may be approximately 9°. At the rear end of the mount  14 , the opposable arms  50   a ,  50   b  may be approximately 3.5 mm apart from each other. 
         [0049]    The surgical scissor disposable spray shield  10  may be made from any material including clear polymeric material. In one embodiment it is made of polycarbonate. 
         [0050]    To attach the surgical scissor disposable spray shield  10  to the surgical scissors  16 , the user grasps the surgical scissor disposable spray shield  10  with one hand and with the mount  14  towards the user. The user inserts the closed scissor blade tips  40   a ,  40   b  into the rear shield vertical opening  48  ( FIG. 3 ) above the lower detent  52  ( FIG. 3 ) and below the forward edge of the shield portion cutout  46  ( FIG. 2 ). At this time, the lower arm portion  26   a  and upper arm portion  26   b  will both be above the upper detent  54 . The user continues to insert the scissor blade tips  40   a ,  40   b  until the scissor joint  20  is past the rear shield  44 . 
         [0051]    At this point, while firmly holding the surgical scissor disposable spray shield  10  with one hand, the user then moves the lower arm grip  30   a  down which will force the lower arm portion  26   a  down onto the upper detent  54  and down the incline plane created by the generally triangular shape of the upper detent opposing members  54   a ,  54   b  (See  FIGS. 6-7 ). The lower arm portion  26   a  may be wider than the rear end of the mount  14  so as the lower arm portion  26   a  is continually forced down onto the upper detent  54  the upper detent opposing members  54   a ,  54   b  and the opposable arms  50   a ,  50   b  will be forced to move horizontally outward away from the scissor lower arm  18   a . The user will continue to force the lower arm portion  26   a  down onto the upper detent  54  until such time as the lower arm portion  26   a  is pushed below the upper detent  54  ( FIG. 2 ). The triangular shape design of the upper detent opposing members  54   a ,  54   b  and specifically the location of the upper detent opposing member incline plane side  54   c  ( FIG. 6 ) of the upper detent opposing members  54   a ,  54   b  ( FIG. 7 ) is to allow the lower arm portion  26   a  to slide below the upper detent  54  and to reduce the amount of force required to slide the lower arm portion  26   a  down and below the upper detent  54 . Once the lower arm portion  26   a  has been pushed below the upper detent  54 , the lower arm portion  26   a  will now push up against and be held firmly in place against the upper detent opposing member base side  54   d  as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . The surface of the upper detent opposing member base side  54   d  is flat and oriented parallel to the top surface of the scissor lower arm  18   a  ( FIG. 6 ) and is designed to contact and prevent the scissor lower arm  18   a  from inadvertently slipping or moving up past the upper detent  54  and potentially dislodging or dislocating the surgical scissor disposable spray shield  10  from the surgical scissors  16 . The bottom surface of the scissor lower arm  18   a  may be seated against the lower detent  52 . 
         [0052]    Once the scissor lower arm  18   a  is pushed below the upper detent  54 , the opposable arms  50   a ,  50   b , having been dislocated or pushed outward from their original position by the scissor lower arm  18   a , will seek but be unable to return to their original position. This dislocation and inability of the opposable arms  50   a ,  50   b  to return to their original position is an intended result of the cant in the opposable arms  50   a ,  50   b  which causes the width of the opposable arms  50   a ,  50   b  at the rear end of the mount  14  to be narrower than the width of the scissor lower arm  18   a . Additionally, the fact that the opposable arms  50   a ,  50   b  move independent of each other in equal yet opposite directions creates equal and opposite forces as a result of their dislocation. The opposable arms  50   a ,  50   b  are securely attached to the rear shield  44  at the rear shield vertical opening  48 . The opposable arms  50   a ,  50   b  may extend the entire height of the rear shield  44  at the attachment location. Furthermore, the top portions of the opposable arms  50   a ,  50   b  that are located inside the rear shield  44  and under the shield portion  12  are attached to the underside of the shield portion  12 . This design provides security and stability to the opposable arms  50   a ,  50   b  and positions the flex point of the opposable arms  50   a ,  50   b  sufficiently close to the rear end of the mount  14  such that the force exerted by the opposable arms  50   a ,  50   b  on the scissor lower arm  18   a  when displaced by scissor lower arm  18   a  will be sufficient to hold the mount  14  securely on the surgical scissors  16  and help prevent the mount  14  from inadvertently moving horizontally or forward or backward along the scissor lower arm  18   a  during normal scissor operation. Additionally, this allows the shield portion  12  to be fixed relative to the upper blade portion  24   a  during cutting operations. 
         [0053]    The user can then position the mount  14  on the scissor lower arm  18   a  by sliding the mount  14  forward until the upper detent  54  is pressed up against a scissor joint area projection  58  (see  FIG. 5 ) and the mount  14  can no longer be easily pushed forward. Furthermore, the surgical scissor disposable spray shield  10  has a self-correcting positioning mechanism when the scissor upper arm  18   b  and scissor lower arm  18   a  are opened. If the mount  14  is initially positioned too far back on the scissor lower arm  18   a , opening of the scissor upper arm  18   b  and scissor lower arm  18   a  will cause the scissor upper arm  18   b  to contact the forward edge of the shield portion cutout  46  and move the mount  14  forward on the scissor lower arm  18   a . If the mount  14  is initially positioned too far forward on the scissor lower arm  18   a , opening of the scissor upper arm  18   b  and scissor lower arm  18   a  will cause the lower blade portion  24   b  to contact the lower detent  52  and force the mount  14  to slide towards the rear of the scissor lower arm  18   a . The mount  14  will be properly positioned when the most forward portion of the upper detent  54  rests against the scissor joint area projection  58  of the scissor lower arm  18   a  and is no longer capable of moving forward. This proper shield positioning also occurs when the upper blade portion  24   a  and scissor lower blade portion  24   b  are perpendicular to each other. 
         [0054]    Once the surgical scissor disposable spray shield  10  is properly installed on surgical scissors  16 , the lower detent  52  and the upper detent  54  help hold the mount  14  in proper vertical alignment on the scissors (See  FIG. 5 ). The lower detent  52  prevents the mount  14  from moving upward past the lower arm portion  26   a  while the upper detent  54  helps hold the mount  14  from moving downward past the lower arm portion  26   a . The position of the shield portion  12  is fixed relative to the upper blade portion  24   a  by the mount  14 . The upper detent  54  and the lower detent  52  combined with the shield portion  12  resting securely on the upper sharpened scissor blade  32   a  due to the shield portion  12  angle of declination provide vertical security and stability for the surgical scissor disposable spray shield  10  when mounted on surgical scissors  16 . In addition to providing vertical positioning and stability, the upper detent  54  is intended to properly align the mount  14  horizontally on the lower arm portion  26   a  when the upper detent  54  is positioned all the way forward and against the scissor joint area projection  58 . The upper detent  54  also acts as a forward stop for mount  14  preventing the mount  14  from sliding any further forward past the scissor joint area projection  58 . 
         [0055]    The shield portion  12  rests on and extends over the top, front and sides of the upper sharpened scissor blade  32   a . The shield portion  12  may be in closest proximity, above the scissor upper shear blade  32   a  and around the sides of the umbilical cord  34  and the scissor upper shear blade  32   a  and scissor lower shear blade  32   b  during the cutting operation. Once the surgical scissor disposable shield  10  has been properly attached to the surgical scissors  16 , the flat edge  42  which extends horizontally across the very bottom of the ellipsoidal end cap  36  at the very front end of the shield portion  12  (See  FIG. 11 ) provides a sufficiently stable base which allows the surgical scissors  16  and surgical scissor disposable spray shield  10  to stand “upright” or generally perpendicular to a supporting surface  60  as shown in  FIG. 11  when the surgical scissors  16  are closed or nearly closed. This allows the clinician to more easily and quickly access the surgical scissors  16  with the surgical scissor disposable spray shield  10  attached. In alternative embodiments, the rear spray shield  44  and/or mount  14  may extend sufficiently downward to support the surgical scissors  16  on the supporting surface  60  alone or in combination with the flat edge  42 . 
         [0056]    When it is time to cut the umbilical cord  34 , the clinician easily and quickly picks up the surgical scissors  16  with surgical scissor disposable spray shield  10  attached. The clinician then opens the scissor upper arm  18   b  and the scissor lower arm  18   a  which in turn opens the upper sharpened scissor blade  32   a  and the lower sharpened scissor blade  32   b . The scissor upper arm  18   b , which is above the upper detent  54 , can be rotated a full 90° from the scissor lower arm  18   a  until the top portion of the scissor upper arm  18   b  reaches the front edge of the shield portion cutout  46  and the non-cutting edge of the lower sharpened scissor blade  32   b  reaches the forward edge of the lower detent  52 . Throughout the sequence of the upper sharpened scissor blade  32   a  and lower sharpened scissor blade  32   b  opening, the shield portion  12  remains in the desired position firmly affixed to the top of and immediately proximate to the upper blade portion  24   a . At all times during scissor operations, the shield portion  12 , being immediately proximate to the upper blade portion  24 a, follows the motion of the upper blade portion  24   a.    
         [0057]    Once the scissor disposable spray shield  10  is properly positioned on the surgical scissors  16 , the umbilical cord  34  or any member can be placed at a location between the sharpened scissor blades  32   a ,  32   b  as desired by the user. Once the umbilical cord  34  is in the desired location between the sharpened scissor blades  32   a ,  32   b , the user begins the cutting motion by closing the upper arm grip  30   b  and the lower arm grip  30   a  together which in turn causes the sharpened scissor blades  32   a ,  32   b  to close against each other. 
         [0058]    The upper detent opposing members  54   a ,  54   b  may be of a generally triangular shape and dimensions to allow the upper arm portion  26   b  to fully close against the lower arm portion  26   a . This allows the sharpened scissor blades  32   a ,  32   b  to fully close or shear against each other. As the upper arm portion  26   b  is pushed down or closed toward the lower arm portion  26   a , the upper arm portion  26   b  comes in contact with the upper detent opposing member incline plane side  54   c  and forces the upper detent opposing members  54   a ,  54   b  and opposable arms  50   a ,  50   b  out perpendicularly from the upper arm portion  26   b  and lower arm portion  26   a . The opposable arms  50   a ,  50   b  continue to be forced away from each other until the upper arm portion  26   b  and lower arm portion  26   a  are fully closed against each other. Forcing the opposable arms  50   a ,  50   b  out from the upper arm portion  26   b  and lower arm portion  26   a  places additional compressive force on the lower arm portion  26   a  by the opposable arms  50   a ,  50   b  which serves to even more securely hold the mount  14  in the desired horizontal position on the lower arm portion  26   a.    
         [0059]    The shield portion  12  continues to remain in the desired position in close proximity to the upper blade portion  24   a  and is also now above and around the sides of the upper blade portion  24   a  and lower blade portion  24   b  as well as the umbilical cord  34 . As a result all personnel are protected from blood spray emanating up and out from the umbilical cord  34  preventing potential mucous membrane exposure of the eyes, mouth and nose. In this embodiment, the shield portion deflects any spray discharged from the umbilical cord  34  during or after cutting and provides spray protection for the entire hemisphere above the surgical scissors  16 . This spray protection may be even greater depending upon the geometry of the shield portion  12 . The ability of the mount  14  to securely position the disposable spray shield  10  on the surgical scissors  16  and in particular the shield portion  12  in close proximity to the upper blade portion  24   a  and to maintain such position during movement of the upper blade portion  24   a  provides for advantageous spray protection for the user and others nearby to deflect spray from the umbilical cord  34  being cut. 
         [0060]    The surgical scissor disposable spray shield  10  can be affirmatively and easily removed from the surgical scissors  16  by holding the surgical scissor disposable spray shield  10  with one hand and, with the other hand, firmly pulling the scissor grips  30   a ,  30   b  up and away from the surgical scissor disposable spray shield  10 . This motion causes lower arm portion  26   a  to move above the upper detent  54  allowing the closed sharpened scissor blades  32   a ,  32   b  to be pulled easily out of the scissor mount  14 . 
         [0061]    The surgical scissor disposable spray shield  10  can then be disposed of properly. 
         [0062]    An alternative embodiment of the surgical scissor disposable spray shield  10  according to this invention has a shield portion joined to the mount by a flexible attachment member which allows for movement of the shield portion relative to the mount. 
         [0063]    From the above disclosure of the general principles of this invention and the preceding detailed description of at least one embodiment, those skilled in the art will readily comprehend the various modifications to which this invention is susceptible. Therefore, I desire to be limited only by the scope of the following claims and equivalents thereof.