Medical sheath for scalpel handle with retractable blade guard

A scalpel device comprising:

• a handle shank having an integral blade carrier configured for holding a scalpel blade;
• a scalpel blade releasably attached to the blade carrier, the blade carrier allowing the scalpel blade to be interchanged with another;
• a handle sheath configured for receiving the scalpel shank, the shank being rigidly coupled to the sheath, the shank coextending with generally the entire length of the sheath;
• and
• a retractable blade guard that is movably coupled to the sheath, the blade guard being movable between retracted and extended positions wherein the scalpel blade is selectively covered or exposed, at least one of the sheath and retractable blade guard being formed from a plastic or polymeric material.

A disposable scalpel device comprising:

• a metal shank having an integral blade carrier configured for holding a scalpel blade;
• a scalpel blade releasably attached to the blade carrier, the blade carrier allowing the scalpel blade to be interchanged with another;
• a sheath formed from a plastic or polymeric material configured for receiving the scalpel shank, the shank being rigidly coupled to the sheath and generally coextending with the length of the sheath;
• and
• a retractable blade guard formed from a clear plastic material to allow visual perception therethrough that is movably coupled to the sheath, the blade guard being movable between retracted and extended positions wherein the scalpel blade is selectively covered or exposed, and wherein the blade guard is configured to cover the cutting edge of the scalpel blade when the scalpel blade is covered by the blade guard.