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The present invention is directed to an ultrasonic surgical blade
including a top surface, a bottom surface and a cutting-edge. The
cutting-edge is defined by a cutting-surface intermediate the top
surface and the bottom surface, and the top surface has a width
greater than the width of the bottom surface. The blade may be straight
or curved. In one embodiment of the invention, at least a portion
of the cutting-surface is substantially parallel to at least a portion
of the top surface. In still another embodiment of the invention
first and second side-walls intersect the top surface to form first
and second cutting-edges that may be sharp or blunt. Alternately,
a second cutting-edge may be defined by a second cutting surface
intermediate the top and bottom surfaces. Depending on the angle
between the intermediate cutting-surface and the top surface, the
cutting-edge may be sharp or blunt. In yet another embodiment of
the present invention, a central ridge is provided on the bottom
surface of the blade to eliminate blade burrowing and improve precision
during coagulation. The cutting-edge is optimized to increase cutting
speed of the blade while providing desirable hemostasis. The invention
is of particular benefit for breast surgery, due to its cutting
and coagulation characteristics.
A retractable surgical blade includes a handle defining a channel
and a surgical blade member. The handle has a front portion and
a back portion. The front portion defines a channel which confines
the surgical blade member. The back portion includes a front wall
and may be solid. The surgical blade member includes a slider to
which is secured a surgical blade. The slider has a portion which
engages the channel so that the surgical blade member can move from
a cutting position in which the surgical blade projects from the
handle and can be employed in a surgical procedure to a parked position
in which the surgical blade is disposed in the channel. When in
the parked position, the surgical blade is unable to cut or stab
persons associated with the surgical procedure. The device may include
a locking device to lock the surgical blade member in the parked
position. An associated method of performing a surgical procedure
is also disclosed.
A surgical blade for use in ophthalmic surgery has distal cutting
edges formed by a pair of anterior-to-posterior bevels which meet
at an angle greater than 90.degree. and preferably 140.degree.,
resulting in a blade with a surface area greater than that of similarly
dimensioned prior art blades. An anterior shoulder is positioned
intermediate the distal and proximal ends of the blade to direct
the blade to dimple down when the blade has been inserted into the
cornea a sufficient distance to bring the shoulder into contact
with the corneal tissue, allowing the surgeon to make a reproducible,
leak-free incision by using a straight-in hand motion. The distal
cutting surface is rounded at its lateral edges to avoid snagging
the incision when the blade is passed through the cornea.
A disposable case for deposing surgical blades includes a surgical
blade removal device for removing a blade from a surgical knife
handle. The case has an upper half and a bottom half connected by
hinge means for allowing the upper half and the bottom half to be
opened or closed, and also includes latches for securing the upper
half and the bottom half together. Magnetic means are provided on
the bottom half for retaining the blades thereon, with counting
indicia provided thereon for designating and counting the blades
that are to be disposed. A pad is provided on the outer surface
of the upper half for receiving an adhesive tape, wherein the adhesive
tape may be peeled from the pad and secured onto portions of the
upper half and the bottom half to secure the case in a closed position.
The blade removal device comprises a blade seat for receiving the
blade, a handle seat for receiving the handle, a dividing wall provided
between the blade seat and the handle seat and having a sharp curved
edge for separating the blade from the handle, and a restraining
wall for restraining the blade from rearward movement once the blade
has been positioned in the blade seat and the handle withdrawn rearwardly.
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