Surgical knife safety handle

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 alone 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;
• 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 an expanded 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;
• 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.

A surgical knife safety handle device guard position locking mechanism, the locking mechanism 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 guard positioning mechanism slidably mounted in said chamber for longitudinal movement between a fully extended position and a fully retracted position with respect to said handle body, and having a user control mechanism extending from within said chamber via said slot;
• a leaf spring positioned within said guard positioning mechanism to engage a first detent at said fully extended position and to engage a second detent at said fully retracted position;
• and
• said chamber including said first and second detents to engage said leaf spring as said guard positioning mechanism is slidably moved within said chamber between said fully extended position and said fully retracted position.

A surgical knife safety handle device guard pushback prevention mechanism, the pushback prevention mechanism 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;
• 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 an expanded distal end, said guard positioning mechanism slidably mounted in said chamber;
• 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.

A surgical knife safety handle device guard pushback prevention mechanism, the prevention mechanism 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;
• 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 an expanded distal end, said guard positioning mechanism slidably mounted in said chamber;
• at least one rail disposed along a longitudinal axis of said chamber, said rail having a first and second slot;
• and
• said guard positioning mechanism having at least one clip disposed in said rail, said clip engaging said first slot at said fully extended position and engaging said second slot at said fully retracted position restricting said slidable movement of said guard relative to said handle body.