Surgical blade abstract
A package assembly for a surgical blade comprising a U-shaped member
formed of resilient material such as plastic foam and a surgical
blade assembled into the foam between the legs forming the U-shaped
member. The foam member protects the cutting edge of the blade during
packaging and subsequent handling, and the legs of the U-shaped
member may be easily bent to one side to allow grasping of the blade
by a blade holder to remove it from the package for use.
Surgical blade claims
I claim:
1. A surgical blade package comprising a base, a surgical blade
having a support portion retained in the base, said blade having
a tang extending upwardly from the support portion and away from
the base, a cutting portion disposed on the end of the tang, and
a pair of resilient legs extending upwardly from opposite ends of
the base forming an open area therebetween so that the cutting portion
is disposed in said open area.
2. A surgical blade package comprising two pieces of material held
together with a surgical blade retained therebetween, said blade
having a base and cutting portion disposed above the base, and resilient
means having spaced legs extending from the base and so positioned
that the cutting portion of the blade is disposed between said legs
and below the ends thereof.
3. A surgical blade package assembly comprising a blade holder
formed of resilient material and comprising a base and spaced legs
extending from the base in generallly the same direction forming
an open area therebetween, and a surgical blade held by said holder,
said blade having a support portion retained in the base portion
of the blade holder, a tang portion extending therefrom and a cutting
portion disposed on the tang portion, said cutting portion being
disposed in said open area between the legs and below a line connecting
the extreme ends of said legs.
4. A surgical blade package assembly comprising a blade holder
formed of superimposed layers of resilient material having a base
and upstanding legs disposed in spaced relation forming an open
area therebetween, and a blade assembly therewith said blade having
a portion retained between the layers of the base, a tang extending
upwardly from said portion, and a cutting portion disposed on the
tang and in the open area between the legs.
5. A package assembly as set out in claim 4 in which the blade
holder is formed of resilient plastic foam.
Surgical blade description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The manufacture of surgical blades of the type which are supplied
in individual packages presents a problem in packaging, in that
it is essential that the cutting edge not be touched after sharpening.
However, the blades must be handled both by manufacturing personnel
and the surgeon, and must be maintained in a sterile condition in
the package.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides a surgical blade packaging assembly, in
which a plastic foam structure retains a surgical blade, the foam
being shaped to protect the cutting edge of the blade from being
touched during normal handling of the package, yet allows easy removal
of the blade by the surgeon by a so-called "blade breaker."
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a surgical blade package assembly
embodying the features of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of support onto which the assembly of
FIG. 1 has been mounted.
FIG. 3 is a view taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the asembly of FIG. 1 illustrating
the means of removing the blade from the assembly.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawing there is illustrated a surgical blade
package assembly 10 which comprises a structure 12 formed of resilient
material such as polyurethane foam, and a surgical blade 14 assembled
therewith.
The structure 12 comprises a base portion 16 and a pair of upstanding
legs 18 at the ends of the base. In a preferred embodiment of the
invention, the structure 12 is formed of two portions 12a and 12b
of similar shape, superimposed and held together by any convenient
means such as adhesive.
The blade 14 may be of a type similar to that disclosed in a co-pending
application Ser. 678866 filed Apr. 21 1976 by John R. Beaver and
George J. Kozlowski and assigned to the same assignee as this application,
and comprises a base portion 20 an upstanding tang portion 22
and a cutting portion 24 having a cutting edge 26 extending generally
horizontally between the legs 18.
During assembly of the foam portions 12a and 12b, the blade may
be positioned between the pieces when they are fastened together,
so that thereafter the blade is securely retained in the foam structure.
The dimensions of the foam and blade are such that the cutting portion
24 is disposed below the upper ends of the legs 18.
The package assembly 10 may be assembled onto a support card 28
and retained therein by a clear plastic blister-pack sheet 30 having
a suitable pocket 32 enclosing the foam package 10. The card may
be provided with information on the product and instructions for
use (not shown).
In a commercial embodiment of the invention, the package may be
sterilized after assembly in any well-known manner, such as by exposure
to ethylene gas.
When the blade is to be used by the surgeon, after removal from
the blister-pack, the foam package may be grasped at the base by
one hand, and the tang 22 grasped with a "blade breaker"
34 which is a surgical tool normally used for grasping and breaking
off shards of carbon steel or stainless steel razor blades for surgical
use.
The fact that the legs 18 are formed of flexible material allows
a leg to be easily bent aside to allow the blade breaker 34 to grasp
the tang at the correct orientation.
By firmly holding the base 20 of the blade and slightly twisting
the blade-breaker, the tang 22 will break away from the base 20.
The structure of the blade breaker 34 is such that the blade is
thereafter firmly held in the end thereof properly orientated for
use in a surgical cutting procedure.
The foam structure surrounding the blade allows the assembly to
be readily handled, or laid on a surface, without any danger of
the cutting edge being touched before the blade is grasped by the
blade breaker. The assembly, even if inadventently dropped onto
a table or floor, will protect the cutting edge from damage.
Although in the illustrated embodiment the structure 12 is formed
of two pieces of superimposed U-shaped plastic foam, it will be
understood that other materials and other configurations could be
used, provided that the blade is held securely therein, and is so
shaped that the cutting edge of the blade is protected and provision
is made for allowing the blade breaker to grasp the tang at the
proper angle.
Since certain other obvious modifications may be made in the illustrated
embodiment of the invention without departing from the scope thereof,
it is intended that all matter contained herein be interpreted in
an illustrative and not a limiting sense.
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