Safety Scalpel with Replaceable Blade Cartridge
AssigneeMedipurpose Pte Ltd
InventorsScott Castanon, Dylann Ceriani
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In an embodiment, there is a safety scalpel having a handle, and a replaceable blade cartridge assembly that is releasably attached to the handle. The handle comprises a first end and a second end. The blade cartridge assembly comprises a housing that can be slideably mounted onto the second end of the handle, a blade holder that can be disposed within the housing, and a blade that can be attached to the blade holder. The safety scalpel has a resilient lock member that prevents the cartridge assembly from being detached from the handle during use.
Claims31
A safety scalpel comprising:
- a handle;
- a blade cartridge releasably attached to the handle, the blade cartridge comprising:
- a blade;
- a housing;
- and
- a blade holder in communication with the blade, wherein the blade holder is configured to allow the blade to extend between a stowed position in a pre-cutting state of the blade holder and a cutting position upon activation of the blade holder;
- and
- a resilient lock member disposed within the housing, wherein the resilient lock member is in an unbiased condition when the blade holder is in the pre-cutting state, and wherein the resilient lock member is configured to engage the blade holder to lock the blade cartridge to the handle when the blade is in the cutting position upon activation of the blade holder.
A replaceable blade cartridge for releasably attaching to a handle to form a safety scalpel, the replaceable blade cartridge comprising
- a blade;
- a housing;
- a blade holder in communication with the blade, wherein the blade holder is configured to allow the blade to extend between a stowed position in a pre-cutting state of the blade holder and a cutting position upon activation of the blade holder;
- and
- a resilient lock member disposed within the housing, wherein the resilient lock member is in an unbiased condition when the blade holder is in the pre-cutting state, and wherein the resilient lock member is configured to engage the blade holder to lock the blade cartridge to the handle when the blade is in the cutting position upon activation of the blade holder.
A method of operating a safety scalpel, the method comprising the steps of:
- sliding a blade of a blade cartridge on a handle in a longitudinal direction, the blade cartridge comprising:
- the blade;
- a housing;
- a blade holder in communication with the blade, wherein the blade holder is configured to allow the blade to extend between a stowed position in a pre-cutting state of the blade holder and a cutting position upon activation of the blade holder;
- and
- a resilient lock member disposed within the housing, wherein the resilient lock member is in an unbiased condition when the blade holder is in the pre-cutting state, and wherein the resilient lock member is configured to engage the blade holder to lock the blade cartridge to the handle when the blade is in the cutting position upon activation of the blade holder;
- and
- sliding the blade forward to the cutting position, and to move the resilient lock member into the locking aperture to lock the blade cartridge onto the handle when the blade is in the cutting position.
A blade housing adapted to support a blade holder in communication with a surgical blade for linear sliding in a safety scalpel, the blade housing comprising:
- a first housing;
- and
- a second housing adapted for attaching to the first housing to form a cavity for supporting the blade holder and the surgical blade, wherein the blade housing is adapted to be mounted to a handle of the safety scalpel;
- a resilient lock member disposed within the blade housing, wherein the resilient lock member is in an unbiased condition when the blade is in a stowed position and the blade holder is in a pre-cutting state, and wherein the resilient lock member is configured to engage the blade holder to lock the blade housing to the handle when the blade is in a cutting position upon activation of the blade holder;
- and
- a blade lock mechanism comprising a resilient ramp, and a lock mechanism adapted for locking the blade to the handle in a stowed position, wherein the ramp is adapted to bias the lock mechanism upon engagement with the handle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.