US4378624A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Scalpel blade remover
Assignee: BRAINTREE SCIENTIFIC Inc A CORP OF MASS
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Filing: 1981-02-17
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Granted: 1983-04-05
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Expires: 2001-02-17
Abstract
Abstract A scalpel blade remover in which the blade is clamped against a fixed block by manipulating a lever to cause a movable block to move toward the fixed block. The movable block is preferably made of resilient material and all other elements of the structure are made of metal such as stainless steel, all components being autoclavable. A tab is provided on the movable block to engage an end of the blade and move that end relative to the body of the blade and the scalpel handle to disengage the blade from the handle. The blocks are mounted upon a supporting surface, beneath which a sterile disposable box may be disposed. The supporting surface is slotted in a plane which includes the area of clamping of the scalpel blade between the fixed and movable blocks. The movable block may also be provided with a guide portion to ensure the clamping action, and the movable block may be provided with a relieved or cut-off end permitting a scalpel blade to be disengaged from the scalpel handle.
Inventors
- 👤 Roger E. Klingenberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 13:48
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/32; A61B17/3209; A61B17/3211; A61B17/3217; B; B25; B25B; B25B27/00; B25B27/02; B25B5/00; B25B5/06; B25B5/08; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/53683; Y10T29/53796; Y10T29/53896
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
A device for removing a scalpel blade from a handle comprising a support base, a fixed block mounted on said base, a movable block also mounted on said base, at least one of said blocks being made of resilient material, means for moving said movable block toward and away from said fixed block, movement toward said fixed block being effective to clamp said blade between confronting surfaces of said fixed and movable blocks, and means formed adjacent one end of one of said blocks to contact an end of said blade and disengage said blade from said handle, movement of said movable block away from said fixed block permitting separation of said handle from said blade.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
116 words
A device for removing a scalpel blade from a handle comprising a support base, a fixed block mounted on said base, a movable block also mounted on said base, at least one of said blocks being made of resilient material, means for moving said movable block toward and away from said fixed block, movement toward said fixed block being effective to clamp said blade between confronting surfaces of said fixed and movable blocks, and means formed adjacent one end of one of said blocks to contact an end of said blade and disengage said blade from said handle, movement of said movable block away from said fixed block permitting separation of said handle from said blade.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said support base has an opening formed therein, said opening being of sufficient size for the passage therethrough of a scalpel blade and being disposed beneath the point at which said confronting surfaces of said fixed and movable blocks clamp said blade.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for moving said movable block toward and away from said fixed block comprises a lever pivotably supported upon said support base and having a cam surface formed thereon and resilient means for urging said movable block into contact with said cam surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said means on one of said blocks to disengage said blade from said handle comprises a tab formed on said movable block, said tab being disposed at one end of the confronting surface of said movable block and extending a predetermined distance outwardly therefrom.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said support base and said fixed block are formed of stainless steel and said movable block is formed of autoclavable resilient material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device as defined in claim 3 wherein said resilient means for urging said movable block into contact with said cam surface comprises at least one tension spring extending between said movable block and a point on said support base.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
79 words
A device as defined in claim 2 wherein said support base is generally rectangular in cross-section having side members and a flat upper surface to which said fixed block is rigidly attached and on which said movable block is slidably mounted, an open volume being defined by said side members and said upper surface and further comprising an open-topped disposal box removably disposed in said open volume beneath said opening formed in the upper surface of said support base.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device as defined in claim 7 wherein said side members are of unequal length, said upper surface being at an angle to the horizontal.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
169 words
A device for removing a scalpel blade from a handle comprising a support base having a generally rectangular cross-section, an open inner volume, and a flat upper surface, a fixed block mounted on said surface, a movable block of resilient material slidably mounted on said surface, spring means normally urging said movable block away from said fixed block, a lever having a cam surface bearing upon said movable block and operative to move said movable block toward and away from said fixed block, manipulation of said lever in one direction causing said movable block to clamp said blade against said fixed block and permitting separation of said handle from said blade, a slot being formed in said upper surface in alignment with the plane of clamping of said blade, releasing of said lever in a direction opposite to said one direction permitting said spring means to cause movement of said movable block away from said fixed block and declamping of said blade, said blade then dropping through said slot.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
169 words
A device for removing a scalpel blade from a handle comprising a support base having a generally rectangular cross-section, an open inner volume, and a flat upper surface, a fixed block mounted on said surface, a movable block of resilient material slidably mounted on said surface, spring means normally urging said movable block away from said fixed block, a lever having a cam surface bearing upon said movable block and operative to move said movable block toward and away from said fixed block, manipulation of said lever in one direction causing said movable block to clamp said blade against said fixed block and permitting separation of said handle from said blade, a slot being formed in said upper surface in alignment with the plane of clamping of said blade, releasing of said lever in a direction opposite to said one direction permitting said spring means to cause movement of said movable block away from said fixed block and declamping of said blade, said blade then dropping through said slot.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device as defined in claim 9 and further comprising an open-topped blade disposal box removably disposed in said open inner volume beneath said slot.
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) | 1986-04-04 | 1986-10-04 | 1987-04-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-04-04 | 1990-10-04 | 1991-04-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-04-04 | 1994-10-04 | 1995-04-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |