Patent ID: 7398880

Claim:
A scalpel blade remover for removing a blade having a heel from a tang of a scalpel, the remover comprising: a housing; an actuator having a proximal end, the actuator being operatively juxtaposed with the housing and moveable relative to the housing from a proximal position whereat an opening is formed between the actuator and the housing for receiving therebetween the blade on the tang of the scalpel, to a distal position; a blade deflecting mechanism for automatically separating the heel of the blade from the tang of the scalpel as the actuator is moved to the distal position; and a retention mechanism for engaging the actuator and retaining it in the distal position; wherein in use, when the blade on the tang is inserted in the opening and the actuator is pushed forward by the tang to its distal position, the blade deflecting mechanism automatically separates the heel of the blade from the tang of the scalpel, the retention mechanism engages the actuator and retains it in its distal position and limits rearward movement of the blade, and upon withdrawal of the tang from the scalpel blade remover, the blade is stripped from the tang and retained between the actuator and the housing.