Abstract:
A cutting device including a blade with a first end with a cutting surface and a second end configured to be attached to a handle, wherein the blade can be attached to the handle without a user contacting the blade; and wherein the blade is configured to be locked in place in they handle by rotating said handle.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/006,499 filed Jun. 2, 2014, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    Exemplary embodiments relate to a cutting device and, in particular, to a surgical scalpel having a safer and newly designed detachable blade. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art and Background 
         [0005]    Scalpels are regularly used by surgeons and other healthcare professionals for making incisions in a patient during an operative procedure. Typically, a certified surgical scrub technician affixes the blade to a reusable handle at the beginning of an operation. At the end of the operation, typically the blade tang has to be grasped by the user&#39;s hand or by a clamp and pulled from the handle. This procedure is not desirable because it exposes the person attempting to remove the blade to the risk of being cut if the user&#39;s hand is used to grasp the blade tang. Even if a clamp is used, this procedure is cumbersome at best. 
         [0006]    This awkward hand motion can lead to potential nicks or cuts that are uncomfortable and distracting at best. In addition, they may result in blood or body fluid exposure between the patient and the surgeon or other healthcare professionals in the operating room or elsewhere in the hospital. This may lead to the spread of infectious diseases between the patient and the healthcare professional. Concern over this situation has become especially acute because of such diseases as acquired immune deficiency syndrome, i.e. AIDS, and hepatitis. 
         [0007]    While surgical gloves aid in reducing the chances of being cut during a surgical procedure, these gloves are not foolproof. And even when two sets of gloves are utilized, full protection is not afforded to the healthcare provider because the scalpel blade can still cut through both sets of gloves. Also, utilizing two sets of gloves reduces finger dexterity by the surgeon and thus is distracting to the surgeon and can interfere with the intended surgical procedure. 
         [0008]    In view of the need for a surgical scalpel that can prevent or at least minimize the chances of accidental nicks or cuts during assembly/disassembly, numerous surgical scalpels have been designed. See for example, See also U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,407. Unfortunately, these designs are deficient because they are cumbersome, difficult to use, and may cause unwanted shielding or exposure of the scalpel blade prior to the need for it. In addition, these prior designs are deficient because they do not provide a safe and effective way for the blade to be attached and removed from the handle before or after the surgical procedure. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    Exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to a cutting device and, in particular, to a surgical scalpel having a newly designed safer detachable blade that will protect healthcare professionals from being inadvertently nicked or cut when the surgical scalpel is handled. In addition, this invention relates to a unique locking mechanism for attaching and removing the blade to and from the handle out of and into the unique blade holder pack for safer disposal either during or at the end of the surgical procedure. Moreover, this invention combines all of the above features in a surgical scalpel and handle that may be disassembled to facilitate cleaning and sterilization of the surgical scalpel handle for reuse. Finally, this invention includes a locking mechanism that prevents inadvertent partial disassembly of the surgical scalpel prior to the need to clean and sterilize the device. 
         [0010]    One embodiment of the invention includes cutting device, with a blade with a first end with a cutting surface and a second end configured to be attached to a handle, wherein the blade can be attached to the handle without a user contacting the blade; and wherein the blade is configured to be locked in place in the handle by rotating the handle. 
         [0011]    In other embodiments of the invention, the second end of the blade includes an opening in which the handle can be inserted. 
         [0012]    In other embodiments of the invention, the second end of the blade includes a notch which can be used to lock the blade in said handle. 
         [0013]    In other embodiments of the invention, the cutting device further includes a handle. 
         [0014]    In other embodiments of the invention, the handle includes a lever configured to lock in place the blade in the handle. 
         [0015]    In other embodiments of the invention, the lever includes an elastic member. 
         [0016]    In other embodiments of the invention, lever includes a locking mechanism configured to lock in place the blade in the handle. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the scalpel e present invention with a blade affixed. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the scalpel of the present invention with the handle darkened to show its relative position to the other working parts. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the scalpel of the present invention with the lever arm darkened to show its relative position to the other working parts. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the scalpel of the present invention with the spring arm darkened to show its relative position to the other working parts. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the scalpel of the present invention with the butt plate darkened to show its relative position to the other working parts. 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the scalpel of the present invention with the cam-pin, retaining pin and butt plate fixation screws darkened to show relative position to the other working parts. 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the scalpel of the present invention with the uniquely designed blade darkened to show its relative position to the other working parts. 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of the scalpel of the present invention with different materials for handles demonstrating changes in the width of the scalpel handle dependent upon manufacturing requirements. 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is a view of an exemplary embodiment of the packaging for the scalpel blade of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIGS. 10A, 10B and 10C  are side views of the exemplary packaging. 
           [0028]      FIG. 11  shows an example of how the blade is attached to the handle. 
           [0029]      FIG. 12  shows side views of the closed packaging and views of the open packaging. 
           [0030]      FIG. 13  shows perspective views of closed and open packaging with the packaging mounted in a block. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0031]    Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. However, known functions associated with the exemplary embodiments or detailed descriptions on the configuration and other matters which would unnecessarily obscure the present disclosure will be omitted. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a cutting device, such as a surgical scalpel  1 , has a newly designed detachable blade  2  with a first end with a cutting surface and a second end configured to he quickly and safely attached onto reusable handles  14 . A cavity is formed between the handles  14  into which a lever  5  and an elastic member  12  such as a spring (the elastic member  12  can be part of lever  5  or separate from lever  5 ) for activation of a locking mechanism  4 , such as a cleat, are placed. A butt plate  9  is also placed in the cavity. The blade  2  has a unique attachment end  18  that allows the blade  2  to be attached to the handles  14  and detached from the handles  14  with a rotatable movement B, for example, 90 degrees (see  FIG. 11 ). The two separate handles  14  are attached with a retaining pins/screws  11 ,  16  and  17  enabling easy breakdown for cleaning. 
         [0033]    The handles  14  have a thumb groove  7  at the distal end on the top side. This allows the user to have contact with, and press down, the lever  5 . The lever  5  has a lever pin  6  centrally located and the lever  5  can be pressed against the elastic member  12 . The elastic member  12 , which may be part of the lever  5  at the distal end, is located interior to the thumb groove  7  and can be held in place in a retention groove in butt plate  9 . There is a retainer pin/screw  16  near the blade end of the handles  14  that holds the lever arm and handles  14  in place when the blade  2  is removed from the knife. The retainer pin/screw  16  also acts as a lever stop when the blade  2  is engaged into the end of the handles  14 . 
         [0034]    The blade  2  has an attachment end  18  so that it may be affixed to a retainer pin/screw  17  and can be locked into position by the lever locking cleat  4 . In one embodiment, the attachment end  18  has an opening  18 A sized such that the retainer pin/screw  17  can be inserted. In addition, the attachment end  18  may have a notch  18 B, into which the lever locking cleat  4  can be inserted, to lock the blade in place. Part of the attachment end  18  may also be rounded to facilitate rotation of the blade  2  in the handles  14 . The lever locking mechanism  4  may be L-shaped, or any other shape that can lock the blade in place. 
         [0035]    The retainer pin/screw  16  also stops the lever  5  from falling down between the handles  14  when the blade  2  is removed. The lever pin  6  can be a self-locking implanted cotter (SLIC) pin, or other suitable pin/screw. This allows the handles  14  of the scalpel  1  to be taken apart to be cleaned and sterilized. 
         [0036]    Note that in one embodiment, a measuring scale  13  can be marked on one or both of the handles  14  to assist the surgeon in making measurement. In addition, a finger grip  15  may be provided to make it easier for the surgeon to hold the scalpel  1 . The grip can be notches scored in the handle or another suitable structure for making it easier to hold the scalpel and prevent slipping. 
         [0037]    The blade packaging  20  is designed to expose the attachment end of he blade, or tang, while keeping the cutting edge covered. The blade  2  can be returned to the packaging  20  after use. This allows for easy assembly/disassembly of the blade  2  and handles  14 . The blade packaging  20  can be constructed of recyclable material for quick, efficient and safe disposal. 
         [0038]      FIG. 2  is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the scalpel  1  of the present invention with one of the handles  14  darkened to show its relative position to the other working parts. 
         [0039]      FIG. 3  is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the scalpel  1  of the present invention with the lever arm  5  darkened to show its relative position to the other working parts. The lever  5  could be made of stainless steel or titanium, or other suitable material. 
         [0040]      FIG. 4  is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the scalpel  1  of the present invention with the elastic member  12  darkened to show its relative position to the other working parts. As noted above, the elastic member  12  can be part of lever  5 , or a separate component. The elastic member  12  could be made of stainless steel or titanium, or other suitable material. 
         [0041]      FIG. 5  is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the scalpel  1  of the present invention with the butt plate  9  darkened to show its relative position to the other working parts. 
         [0042]      FIG. 6  is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the scalpel  1  of the present invention with the retainer pin/screws  17 ,  16  and  11 , and butt plate fixation screws  8 ,  10  darkened to show relative position to the other working parts. 
         [0043]      FIG. 7  is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the scalpel  1  of the present invention with the blade  2  darkened to show its relative position to the other working parts. The blade  2  may have many different types of cutting surfaces. 
         [0044]      FIG. 8  is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of the scalpel  1  of the present invention. The handles  14  could be made of high heat zytel, G10 or stainless steel, or other suitable materials. 
         [0045]      FIG. 9  is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of packaging  20  for a blade  2  of the present invention. A pull tab  21  can be wrapped around the packaging  20  horizontally or vertically. The pull tab  21  can also identify type of blade in the package. 
         [0046]      FIGS. 10A, 10B and 10C  are side views of the exemplary packaging  20 .  FIG. 10C  shows the blade  2  in the packaging  20 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 11  shows an example of how the blade  2  can be attached to the handle  14 , without the cutting edge of the blade  2  being exposed to the user. After the top  24  of the packaging  20  is removed, the distal end of the lever  5  is pressed so that the distal end moves down to the level of the thumb groove  7 . This causes the lever  5  to pivot about the lever pin  6  causing the lever locking mechanism  4  to move up and away from the handles  14 . The handles  14  are then moved in a perpendicular direction A toward the blade  2  such that the retainer pin/screw  17  is inserted into the opening  18 A of attachment end  18 . Note that depending on the location of the opening  18 A, the handles do not necessarily need to be moved in a perpendicular direction in order to be inserted in opening  18 A. Then the lever  5  is released causing the lever locking mechanism  4  to press against the attachment end  18 . The handles  14  are then rotated 90 degrees in direction B. This causes the lever locking mechanism  4  to be inserted into notch  18 B and lock the blade  2  in place. Note that depending on the location of the opening  18 A, after the handle is inserted, other degrees of rotation may be used to lock the blade  2  in place. 
         [0048]    In another embodiment, the blade  2  can be rotated 90 degrees in direction C to fold the blade into the handles  14 , similar to a folding pocket or hunting knife. 
         [0049]    The blade  2  can be removed by inserting the blade  2  into an empty packaging  20  and pressing the distal end of the lever  5  to release the locking mechanism  4  from notch  18 B, rotating the handles 90 degrees and then pulling the handles  14  away from the blade  2  so that the retainer pin/screw  17  moves out of the opening  18 A. This design allows the blade to be attached and removed without the user touching the blade  2 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 12  shows side views of the closed packaging  20  and views of the open packaging  20  that show the exposed blade tang. 
         [0051]      FIG. 13  shows perspective views of closed and open packaging  20  with the bottom  23  of the packaging  20  mounted in a block  22 . The bottom  23  of the packaging  20  can be smaller than the top so that the packages can be mounted in an upright position. The newly designed blade holder  22  allows for safe assembly/disassembly and disposal of the blade  2 . 
         [0052]    Although exemplary embodiments of the disclosure have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these exemplary embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the exemplary embodiments, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents. For example, while one use of the invention is in the medical field as a surgical scalpel, the same principles could be used to make devices for other medical and non-medical fields.