Patent ID: 8181352

Claim:
A retractable surgical blade device, said retractable surgical blade device comprising: a handle member having a base wall, opposed first and second sidewalls extending generally perpendicularly from said base wall, said first sidewall including a first flange extending generally perpendicularly therefrom, said second sidewall including a second flange extending generally perpendicular therefrom; said base wall, said sidewalls and said first and second flanges defining a channel extending the entire length of said handle member, each said flange having a distal edge defining a flange gap therebetween; said handle member having a front portion with a front end and a back portion with a back end, said channel having an opening at said handle back end; a surgical blade assembly having a slider and a surgical blade; said slider having a body and a projection, said slider body having a first portion, a second portion, and an interconnecting intermediate portion, said slider body defining opposed first and second longitudinal slots; a surgical blade secured to said slider projection; said slider being disposed in said channel with said handle first and second flanges disposed in said slider body slots with said slider body second portion disposed within said channel and said slider body intermediate portion disposed within said flange gap; wherein said slider is structured to generally move between a withdrawn position, wherein the blade is disposed within the channel, and a cutting position, wherein the blade extends beyond the handle front end and may be used for cutting a slider replacement assembly comprising: a back portion hinge slot and a ramp; said ramp disposed on said first flange adjacent to said handle back end and extending into said flange gap, said ramp having a inner edge, said ramp inner edge being shaped as a wedge with a narrow end disposed closer to said handle front; said back portion hinge slot extending from said back end of the handle member back portion forwardly, said back portion hinge slot structured to allow said second sidewall back end portion and said second flange back end portion to move between a first position, wherein said second sidewall back end portion extends generally parallel to said first sidewall and said second flange back end portion extends generally parallel to said first flange, and a second position, wherein said second sidewall back end portion is angled away from said first sidewall and said second flange back end portion is angled away from said first flange thereby increasing the flange gap at said handle back end; and wherein, when said second sidewall back end portion and said second flange back end portion are in said second position, said flange gap at said handle back end is sufficiently wide to allow said slider body to move past said ramp and exit said channel.