Patent ID: 7387637

Claim:
A surgical knife safety handle device for both ophthalmic and non-ophthalmic applications, comprising: a handle body having a distal end, a proximal end and a substantially cylindrical housing extending along a longitudinal axis between said distal and proximal ends, said cylindrical housing defining a chamber therein and having at least one slot extending along said longitudinal axis accessing said chamber, said chamber open at said distal end of said handle body; a knife holder at said distal end of said handle body having a post extending from said distal end of said handle body along said longitudinal axis; and a movable guard engaged with a guard positioning mechanism for longitudinal movement between a fully extended position and a fully retracted position with respect to said handle body, said guard having a proximal end, and a distal end for at least partially enclosing a knife blade attachable to said knife holder, and a guard body extending along a longitudinal axis between said distal and proximal ends of said guard; said guard positioning mechanism slidably mounted in said chamber and having a user control mechanism extending from within said chamber via said slot and a pushback prevention mechanism, the pushback prevention mechanism comprising: at least one flange of a plurality extending from said proximal end of said guard and having a raised inner lip about an inside circumference of said flange, said plurality creating an opening at said proximal end of said guard to engage a pin; said pin extending from a distal end of said guard positioning mechanism and having a groove about an outside circumference of said pin and having a taper, wherein said engagement between said guard and said guard positioning mechanism disposes said raised inner lip within said groove; and at least one flange of said plurality having a raised surface to engage said taper, said engagement deflecting said at least one flange outward from said axis of said pin and into a third detent in said chamber, said engagement between said at least one flange and said third detent restricting said slidable movement of said guard relative to said handle body.