Patent US5411512A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5411512A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Guarded surgical scalpel
Assignee: ALB ASSOCIATES LLC
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Filing: 1993-11-12
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Granted: 1995-05-02
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Expires: 2013-11-12
Abstract
Abstract A surgical scalpel (100) is provided with a retractable guard (107) for its cutting blade (106). The guard (107) is mounted on the handle (101) of the scalpel (100) for sliding movement between an advanced position in which the blade (106) is covered and a retracted position in which the blade (106) is exposed. The guard (107) may be moved with one hand, and without requiring the surgeon, nurse and/or assistant to take his or her eyes away from the patient or the instrumentation during a surgical procedure. A two-position resiliently-biased manually-releasable detent means (113) is provided between the handle (101) and the guard (107). A closed longitudinal slot (122, 123) on the guard (107) cooperates with a pin (121) on the handle (101) to limit the sliding movement of the guard (107)--independently of the detent action therebetween--and accommodates the mechanical loading forces. Preferably, the guard (107) comprises an inverted U-shaped channel member telescopically mounted within the hollow handle (101 ) for sliding movement therein.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael R. Abidin
- 👤 Steven P. Lehmbeck
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:49
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/32; A61B17/3209; A61B17/3211; A61B17/3213; A61B17/3217; A61B2017/32113
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
A guarded scalpel, comprising a handle, a blade on the handle, a guard telescopically mounted within the handle for sliding movement therein, stop means between the guard and the handle and limiting the sliding movement of the guard within the handle, the stop means providing a bearing guide for the guard and including a pin carried transversely of the handle and received in a closed longitudinal slot formed in a side wall of the guard, the guard having a first advanced position in which the blade is substantially covered, and the guard further having a second retracted position in which the blade is exposed, and two-position resiliently-biased detent means between the guard and the handle for defining the respective first and second positions of the guard on the handle, the detent means being independent of the stop means and the detent means including a detent button extending upwardly above the handle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
151 words
A guarded scalpel, comprising a handle, a blade on the handle, a guard telescopically mounted within the handle for sliding movement therein, stop means between the guard and the handle and limiting the sliding movement of the guard within the handle, the stop means providing a bearing guide for the guard and including a pin carried transversely of the handle and received in a closed longitudinal slot formed in a side wall of the guard, the guard having a first advanced position in which the blade is substantially covered, and the guard further having a second retracted position in which the blade is exposed, and two-position resiliently-biased detent means between the guard and the handle for defining the respective first and second positions of the guard on the handle, the detent means being independent of the stop means and the detent means including a detent button extending upwardly above the handle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The guarded scalpel of claim 1, wherein the guard comprises a substantially inverted U-shaped channel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
159 words
A guarded scalpel, comprising a handle, a blade on the handle, a guard telescopically mounted within the handle for sliding movement therein, stop means between the guard and the handle and limiting the sliding movement of the guard within the handle, the guard having a first advanced position in which the blade is substantially covered, and the guard further having a second retracted position in which the blade is exposed, and two-position resiliently, biased detent means between the guard and the handle for defining the respective first and second positions of the guard on the handle, the detent means being independent of the stop means, wherein the guard comprises a substantially U-shaped channel, and wherein the stop means comprises at least one pin mounted on the handle transversely thereof, and wherein the channel has a pair of side walls, at least one of which has a closed longitudinal slot formed therein and receiving the pin carried by the handle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
159 words
A guarded scalpel, comprising a handle, a blade on the handle, a guard telescopically mounted within the handle for sliding movement therein, stop means between the guard and the handle and limiting the sliding movement of the guard within the handle, the guard having a first advanced position in which the blade is substantially covered, and the guard further having a second retracted position in which the blade is exposed, and two-position resiliently, biased detent means between the guard and the handle for defining the respective first and second positions of the guard on the handle, the detent means being independent of the stop means, wherein the guard comprises a substantially U-shaped channel, and wherein the stop means comprises at least one pin mounted on the handle transversely thereof, and wherein the channel has a pair of side walls, at least one of which has a closed longitudinal slot formed therein and receiving the pin carried by the handle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
153 words
A guarded scalpel, comprising a handle, a blade on the handle, a guard telescopically mounted within the handle for sliding movement therein, the guard having a first advanced position in which the blade is substantially covered, and the guard further having a second retracted position in which the blade is exposed, two-position resiliently-biased detent means between the guard and the handle for defining the respective first and second positions of the guard on the handle, the guard comprising a substantially inverted U-shaped channel having a top wall and further having respective parallel side walls extending downwardly from the top wall and protecting against inadvertent contact with the blade in the advanced position of the guard and bearing guide means between the guard and the handle and including at least one pin carried transversely of the handle and received in at least one longitudinal slot formed in a respective side wall of the guard.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
153 words
A guarded scalpel, comprising a handle, a blade on the handle, a guard telescopically mounted within the handle for sliding movement therein, the guard having a first advanced position in which the blade is substantially covered, and the guard further having a second retracted position in which the blade is exposed, two-position resiliently-biased detent means between the guard and the handle for defining the respective first and second positions of the guard on the handle, the guard comprising a substantially inverted U-shaped channel having a top wall and further having respective parallel side walls extending downwardly from the top wall and protecting against inadvertent contact with the blade in the advanced position of the guard and bearing guide means between the guard and the handle and including at least one pin carried transversely of the handle and received in at least one longitudinal slot formed in a respective side wall of the guard.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The guarded scalpel of claim 4, further including a thumb-actuated detent button carried by the top wall of the guard and extending thereabove.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
200 words
A guarded scalpel, comprising a handle, a blade on the handle, a guard telescopically mounted within the handle for sliding movement therein, the guard having a first advanced position in which the blade is substantially covered, and the guard further having a second retracted position in which the blade is exposed, two-position resiliently-biased detent means between the guard and the handle for defining the respective first and second positions of the guard on the handle, the guard comprising a substantially inverted U-shaped channel having a top wall and further having respective parallel side walls, the side walls extending downwardly from the top wall and protecting against inadvertent contact with the blade in the advanced position of the guard, a manually-manipulatable button carried by the top wall of the guard and disposed above the handle, and stop means between the guard and the handle and limiting the sliding movement of the guard within the handle, the stop means being independent of the detent means, and the stop means providing a bearing guide for the guard and including at least one pin carried transversely ok the handle and received in respective longitudinal slots formed in the respective side walls of the guard.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
200 words
A guarded scalpel, comprising a handle, a blade on the handle, a guard telescopically mounted within the handle for sliding movement therein, the guard having a first advanced position in which the blade is substantially covered, and the guard further having a second retracted position in which the blade is exposed, two-position resiliently-biased detent means between the guard and the handle for defining the respective first and second positions of the guard on the handle, the guard comprising a substantially inverted U-shaped channel having a top wall and further having respective parallel side walls, the side walls extending downwardly from the top wall and protecting against inadvertent contact with the blade in the advanced position of the guard, a manually-manipulatable button carried by the top wall of the guard and disposed above the handle, and stop means between the guard and the handle and limiting the sliding movement of the guard within the handle, the stop means being independent of the detent means, and the stop means providing a bearing guide for the guard and including at least one pin carried transversely ok the handle and received in respective longitudinal slots formed in the respective side walls of the guard.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
203 words
A guarded scalpel, comprising a handle, a blade on the handle, a guard telescopically mounted within the handle for sliding movement therein, the guard having a first advanced position in which the blade is substantially covered, and the guard further having a second retracted position in which the blade is exposed, two-position resiliently-biased detent means between the guard and the handle for defining the respective first and second positions of the guard on the handle, the guard comprising a substantially inverted U-shaped channel having a top wall and further having respective parallel side walls, the side walls extending downwardly from the top wall and protecting against inadvertent contact with the blade in the advanced position of the guard, a manually-manipulatable button carried by the top wall of the guard and disposed above the handle, and stop means between the guard and the handle and limiting the sliding movement of the guard within the handle, the stop means being independent of the detent means, wherein the stop means comprises a pin carried by the handle transversely thereof, and wherein at least one of the side walls of the channel has a closed longitudinal slot formed therein and receiving the pin mounted on the handle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
203 words
A guarded scalpel, comprising a handle, a blade on the handle, a guard telescopically mounted within the handle for sliding movement therein, the guard having a first advanced position in which the blade is substantially covered, and the guard further having a second retracted position in which the blade is exposed, two-position resiliently-biased detent means between the guard and the handle for defining the respective first and second positions of the guard on the handle, the guard comprising a substantially inverted U-shaped channel having a top wall and further having respective parallel side walls, the side walls extending downwardly from the top wall and protecting against inadvertent contact with the blade in the advanced position of the guard, a manually-manipulatable button carried by the top wall of the guard and disposed above the handle, and stop means between the guard and the handle and limiting the sliding movement of the guard within the handle, the stop means being independent of the detent means, wherein the stop means comprises a pin carried by the handle transversely thereof, and wherein at least one of the side walls of the channel has a closed longitudinal slot formed therein and receiving the pin mounted on the handle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
The guarded scalpel of claim 7, wherein the handle is substantially hollow and includes respective side walls and a central longitudinal upstanding section, and wherein the inverted U-shaped channel is slidably guided between the central longitudinal upstanding section and the side walls of the handle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
175 words
A guarded scalpel, comprising a substantially tubular handle, a forwardly-projecting cleat carried by the handle, the cleat having a longitudinal rib formed thereon, a blade having a longitudinal slot receiving the longitudinal rib on the cleat, thereby removably mounting the blade on the cleat, an inverted channel-shaped guard slidably mounted telescopically within the handle, wherein the guard has an advanced position in which the blade is covered, and wherein the guard further has a retracted position in which the blade is uncovered, the guard having a top wall and further having a pair of substantially-parallel side walls depending therefrom, at least one of the side walls of the guard having a longitudinal slot, at least one pin carried transversely by the handle and riding in the longitudinal slot in the one side wall of the guard, resiliently-biased detent means between the guard and the handle, thereby defining the advanced and retracted positions of the guard, and the detent means including a thumb-actuatable detent button carried by the top wall of the guard and extending thereabove.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
175 words
A guarded scalpel, comprising a substantially tubular handle, a forwardly-projecting cleat carried by the handle, the cleat having a longitudinal rib formed thereon, a blade having a longitudinal slot receiving the longitudinal rib on the cleat, thereby removably mounting the blade on the cleat, an inverted channel-shaped guard slidably mounted telescopically within the handle, wherein the guard has an advanced position in which the blade is covered, and wherein the guard further has a retracted position in which the blade is uncovered, the guard having a top wall and further having a pair of substantially-parallel side walls depending therefrom, at least one of the side walls of the guard having a longitudinal slot, at least one pin carried transversely by the handle and riding in the longitudinal slot in the one side wall of the guard, resiliently-biased detent means between the guard and the handle, thereby defining the advanced and retracted positions of the guard, and the detent means including a thumb-actuatable detent button carried by the top wall of the guard and extending thereabove.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
113 words
A guarded surgical scalpel, comprising a substantially tubular handle, a guard including a U-shaped channel telescopically mounted within the handle for relative longitudinal sliding movement therein, detent means between the guard and the handle and including a detent member carried by the guard and further including a first longitudinal slot formed in the handle and having a pair of spaced-apart detent pockets receiving the detent member, thereby defining alternate and retracted positions of the guard with respect to the handle, at least one pin carried by the handle transversely thereof, and the guard having a second longitudinal slot formed therein, parallel to the first longitudinal slot in the handle, and receiving the pin.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
113 words
A guarded surgical scalpel, comprising a substantially tubular handle, a guard including a U-shaped channel telescopically mounted within the handle for relative longitudinal sliding movement therein, detent means between the guard and the handle and including a detent member carried by the guard and further including a first longitudinal slot formed in the handle and having a pair of spaced-apart detent pockets receiving the detent member, thereby defining alternate and retracted positions of the guard with respect to the handle, at least one pin carried by the handle transversely thereof, and the guard having a second longitudinal slot formed therein, parallel to the first longitudinal slot in the handle, and receiving the pin.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-05-01 | 1998-10-31 | 1999-05-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-05-01 | 2002-10-31 | 2003-05-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-05-01 | 2006-10-31 | 2007-05-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |