US3990451A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Surgical instrument
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1975-05-15
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Granted: 1976-11-09
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Expires: 1995-05-15
Abstract
Abstract A surgical instrument for making a closed periphery incision, preferably navicular in shape, comprises a handle including an enlarged cutting head rigidly mounted at one end thereof to prevent relative rotation between the handle and the cutting head, the head being hollow and defining a pair of elongated cutting blades arranged in generally side-by-side relation and including cutting edges therealong facing in generally the same direction, corresponding pairs of ends of the blades being convergent toward and joined with each other, and the cutting edges being outwardly convex in the direction in which they face. By virtue of at least one pair of corresponding blade edges intersecting to form an acute angle included therebetween, the incision is advantageously started by applying the corner defined by the intersecting blade edges to the skin with a firm pressure and then rocking the tool along its outwardly convex edges to complete the incision.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen D. Gibbs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:29
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/32; A61B17/3205; A61B17/32053
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
A surgical instrument for making a closed periphery incision in the skin, said instrument including handle means and a pair of elongated cutting blade portions extending therefrom and rigidly mounted on said handle means to prevent relative rotation between said handle means and said blade portions, said blade portions arranged in generally facing relation and terminating in cutting edges extending therealong, said edges defining a closed periphery opening therebetween, the cutting edges of at least one pair of corresponding blade portion ends being coextensive and intersecting at an acute angle included between said cutting blade portions, said edges facing outwarding of said opening in a direction generally away from said handle means and being outwardly convex in the direction in which said edges face to define rocker-shaped cutting edges, whereby said incision is started by penetrating said skin with said included acute angle intersection of said edges and conveniently completed in a single rocking motion of said rocker-shaped cutting edges over the skin.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
163 words
A surgical instrument for making a closed periphery incision in the skin, said instrument including handle means and a pair of elongated cutting blade portions extending therefrom and rigidly mounted on said handle means to prevent relative rotation between said handle means and said blade portions, said blade portions arranged in generally facing relation and terminating in cutting edges extending therealong, said edges defining a closed periphery opening therebetween, the cutting edges of at least one pair of corresponding blade portion ends being coextensive and intersecting at an acute angle included between said cutting blade portions, said edges facing outwarding of said opening in a direction generally away from said handle means and being outwardly convex in the direction in which said edges face to define rocker-shaped cutting edges, whereby said incision is started by penetrating said skin with said included acute angle intersection of said edges and conveniently completed in a single rocking motion of said rocker-shaped cutting edges over the skin.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
An instrument, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said closed periphery opening is navicular in shape.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
An instrument, as claimed in claim 2, wherein the length of said navicular opening is two to four times greater than the width of said opening.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
128 words
A surgical instrument for making a closed periphery navicular shaped incision in the skin comprising a handle including a cutting head rigidly mounted at one end thereof to prevent relative rotation between said handle and said head, said head being hollow and defining a pair of opposite side cutting blade portions, said blade portions having bowed cutting edges opening toward each other and being joined at their corresponding ends to define a navicular shaped opening therebetween, said cutting edges facing outwardly of the end of said opening remote from said handle and being outwardly convex in the direction in which they face to thereby define rocker-shaped cutting edges whereby said navicular incision is conveniently made in a single rocking motion of said rocker-shaped cutting edges over the skin.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
128 words
A surgical instrument for making a closed periphery navicular shaped incision in the skin comprising a handle including a cutting head rigidly mounted at one end thereof to prevent relative rotation between said handle and said head, said head being hollow and defining a pair of opposite side cutting blade portions, said blade portions having bowed cutting edges opening toward each other and being joined at their corresponding ends to define a navicular shaped opening therebetween, said cutting edges facing outwardly of the end of said opening remote from said handle and being outwardly convex in the direction in which they face to thereby define rocker-shaped cutting edges whereby said navicular incision is conveniently made in a single rocking motion of said rocker-shaped cutting edges over the skin.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
An instrument, as claimed in claim 4, wherein said cutting head is enlarged to define with said handle at least one pair of shoulders facing toward said handle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
An instrument, as claimed in claim 4, wherein the length of said navicular opening is two to four times greater than the width of said opening.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
An instrument, as claimed in claim 6, wherein the length of said navicular opening is about three times greater than the width of said opening.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
An instrument, as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of said shoulders extends outwardly from said handle a distance of at least about 3/8 inch.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
An instrument, as claimed in claim 4, wherein said head forms with said handle an excluded angle of from 30° to 60°.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
An instrument, as claimed in claim 9, wherein said head forms an excluded angle of about 45° with said handle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
An instrument, as claimed in claim 9, wherein said angle lies in a plane substantially parallel to the plane in which the minor axis of said navicular opening lies.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
An instrument, as claimed in claim 5, wherein said shoulders are spaced apart by said handle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
An instrument, as claimed in claim 4, wherein said cutting edges intersect to form sharp included angles therebetween for ease in starting the navicular shaped incision.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
60 words
An instrument, as claimed in claim 13, wherein said opposite side cutting blade portions are elongated and joined along their length to define at least one elongated blade portion joint, said joint is inwardly concave along its length to define, with the corresponding intersection of said cutting edges, a sharp pointed corner for ease in starting the navicular shaped incision.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
An instrument, as claimed in claim 14, wherein said blade portions define a pair of joints, said joints and the corresponding intersections of said cutting edges defining a pair of sharp pointed corners.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
An instrument, as claimed in claim 14, wherein said cutting head is integral with said handle and enlarged to define therewith at least one pair of shoulders facing said handle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
176 words
A surgical instrument comprising an elongated handle and a hollow cutting head rigidly mounted at one end of said handle to prevent relative rotation between said handle and said head, said head being enlarged relative to said handle in a first transverse diametric plane to define with said handle at least one pair of diametrically opposite shoulders facing toward the other end of said handle, said head including a pair of elongated cutting blades depending from said shoulders and arranged in generally facing relation, each of said blades terminating at its free end in a cutting edge, said cutting edges facing in the same direction and defining a closed periphery navicular shaped opening therebetween, said opening having a major axis to minor axis ratio of from 2:1 to 4:1, said blades being convergent toward and joined with each other at their corresponding ends and bowed away from each other intermediate their corresponding ends, said cutting edges facing oppositely of said other end of said handle and being outwardly convex in the direction in which they face.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
176 words
A surgical instrument comprising an elongated handle and a hollow cutting head rigidly mounted at one end of said handle to prevent relative rotation between said handle and said head, said head being enlarged relative to said handle in a first transverse diametric plane to define with said handle at least one pair of diametrically opposite shoulders facing toward the other end of said handle, said head including a pair of elongated cutting blades depending from said shoulders and arranged in generally facing relation, each of said blades terminating at its free end in a cutting edge, said cutting edges facing in the same direction and defining a closed periphery navicular shaped opening therebetween, said opening having a major axis to minor axis ratio of from 2:1 to 4:1, said blades being convergent toward and joined with each other at their corresponding ends and bowed away from each other intermediate their corresponding ends, said cutting edges facing oppositely of said other end of said handle and being outwardly convex in the direction in which they face.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
An instrument, as claimed in claim 17, wherein said major axis extends in a second transverse diametric plane, said first and second planes disposed substantially normal to each other.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-11-09 | 1980-05-10 | 1980-11-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-11-09 | 1984-05-10 | 1984-11-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-11-09 | 1988-05-10 | 1988-11-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |