Patent ID: RE42507

Claim:
A surgical scalpel comprising: an elongate handle defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal end and a distal end; a cartridge removably mounted to said handle, said cartridge including a blade holder with a proximal end and a distal end; a blade fixedly attached to said blade holder disposed so that said blade projects distally outwardly when said cartridge is mounted to said handle; said cartridge including a shield having proximal end, a distal end and a bottom, said shield being mounted onto said blade holder and shield being slidably movable between a distal position wherein said shield substantially prevents inadvertent access to said blade and a proximal position wherein said shield substantially surrounds a portion of said handle and said blade is exposed for use, said cartridge including means for releasably mounting said cartridge to said handle and for substantially preventing said movement of said shield with respect to said blade holder unless said cartridge is mounted on said handle, said cartridge further including at least one means for substantially preventing an inadvertent movement of said shield to said proximal position thereby to expose said blade as said cartridge is being mounted to said handle.