Surgical blade abstract
A hollow housing is provided including a top wall defining at least
one upwardly opening new blade magazine receiving recess therein
and a vertical slot therethrough. The housing top wall further includes
a pivoted cam lever closely adjacent the slot and by which a surgical
blade releasably mounted from a surgical blade support shank may
be stationarily clamped relative to the top wall to enable one handed
manipulation of the support shank in a manner to disengage the latter
from the surgical blade.
Surgical blade claims
What is claimed as new is as follows:
1. A surgical blade disposal apparatus including a hollow receptacle
defined in part by a first wall having inner and outer sides, said
first wall having a slot formed therein defining a pair of opposite
sides, one of said opposite sides including a notch therein, said
receptacle defining laterally spaced abutments extending outwardly
of said outer side at opposite end portions of said one side of
said slot, and laterally spaced clamp structure shiftably supported
from said first wall outwardly of said outer side and including
laterally spaced clamp surfaces opposing and registered with said
abutments, said clamp surfaces being movable toward and away from
said abutments for clamping against and releasing from said abutments,
respectively, a longitudinally slotted blade extending through said
slot with the slot of said blade registered with said notch.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said receptacle includes a
base and a hollow, downwardly opening cover removably secured to
said base, of said cover, said first wall comprising a top wall.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said clamp structure comprises
a rotary cam mounted from said first wall for angular displacement
relative thereto.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said cover top wall defines
at least one deep, upwardly opening recess therein, and an upwardly
opening compartmented surgical blade magazine removably received
in said recess.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said compartmented surgical
blade magazine includes support structure for supporting heel end
upstanding surgical blades therein in laterally spaced relation
with said heel ends projecting outwardly of said support structure.
6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said base includes underside
accessible latch structure shiftable between unlatched and latched
positions for releasably latching said cover to said base.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said abutments include outer
ends projecting outwardly of said first wall a distance sufficient
to abut a handle of a surgical knife blade support shank projecting
inward through said slot in registry with said notch when said handle
is spaced slightly outwardly of said first wall.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said receptacle includes a
base and a hollow, downwardly opening cover removably secured to
said base, said first wall comprising a top wall.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said clamp structure comprises
a rotary cam mounted from said first wall for angular displacement
relative thereto.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said cover top wall defines
at least one deep, upwardly opening recess therein, and an upwardly
opening compartmented surgical blade magazine removably received
in said recess.
11. A surgical blade disposal apparatus including a first wall
having inner and outer sides, said first wall having a slot formed
therein defining a pair of opposite sides, one of said opposite
sides including a notch therein, said apparatus defining laterally
spaced abutments extending outwardly of said outer side at opposite
end portions of said one side of said slot, and laterally spaced
clamp structure shiftably supported from said first wall outwardly
of said outer side and including laterally spaced clamp surfaces
opposing and registered with said abutments, said clamp surfaces
being movable toward and away from said abutments for clamping against
and releasing from said abutments, respectively, a longitudinally
slotted blade extending through said slot with the slot of said
blade registered with said notch.
12. The surgical blade disposal apparatus of claim 11 wherein said
clamp structure comprises a rotary cam mounted from said first wall
for angular displacement relative thereto.
13. The surgical blade disposal apparatus of claim 12 wherein said
rotary cam includes a pair of laterally spaced bifurcations carried
by one end of an elongated lever pivotally mounted from said first
wall.
Surgical blade description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a hollow housing including structure
for supporting new, unused scalpel blades therefrom and also structure
for removing used scalpel blades from a scalpel handle shank as
well as a substantially fully closed storage chamber in which to
contain used scalpel blades after they have been removed. The blade
removable structure is in operative association with a used blade
receiving opening formed in the top of the housing and a used blade
to be removed from a scalpel handle shank is initially positioned
within the opening in a manner such that when removal of a used
blade is effected, the used blade is free to fall by gravity into
the interior of the housing.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
Various different forms of surgical blade dispensers and disposal
devices heretofore have been provided such as those disclosed in
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3002607 4106620 4120397 4180162 4395807
4730376 4746016 4903390 5088173 and 5361902.
While these previously known apparatuses include some of the general
structural and operational features of the instant invention, the
specific blade removal structure of the instant invention enabling
a one handed blade removal operation and the specific new blade
support structure enabling a one handed new blade attachment operation
are not disclosed by the above mentioned prior art references.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The surgical blade dispenser and disposal apparatus of the instant
invention is in the form of a hollow housing including a top wall.
The top wall includes blade support structure for supporting a plurality
of new surgical blades therefrom in position to be operationally
engaged by the shank of a scalpel handle through utilization of
a one handed operation. The top wall further includes an opening
formed therethrough for entrance of used blades by gravity into
an interior used blade storage compartment within the housing and
the top wall of the housing also includes blade removal structure,
in operative association with the blade receiving opening, for effecting
blade removal from a scalpel handle shank through utilization of
a one handed operation.
By providing a surgical blade dispenser and disposal apparatus
of this type a person conducting an autopsy may quickly and conveniently
change surgical blades with his or her hand and fingers spaced at
least one inch remote from the cutting edge of a used blade being
discarded or a new blade being attached to the scalpel shank.
The main object of this invention is to provide a surgical blade
dispenser and disposal apparatus defining a receptacle for used
scalpel blades.
Another object of this invention is to provide a used blade receptacle
including used blade removal structure.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a used blade
receptacle for containing used blades in a safe and fully enclosed
manner.
A further object of this invention is to provide a receptacle for
used blades including used blade removal structure and also provided
with new blade support structure enabling a scalpel handle blade
shank to be operatively engaged with a new blade and utilized to
remove the new blade from the blade support structure through utilization
of a one handed operation.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a receptacle
for used blades operative to effectively remove a scalpel blade
from a scalpel handle shank through utilization of a one hand operation.
A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated
herein is to provide a surgical blade dispenser and disposal apparatus
in accordance with the preceding objects and which will conform
to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction
and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically
feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.
These together with other objects and advantages which will become
subsequentially apparent reside in the details of construction and
operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference
being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein
like numerals refer to like parts throughout.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the combined dispenser and disposal
apparatus of the instant invention and illustrating one new blade
magazine removably supported in one of the two magazine receiving
recesses formed in the removable top of the apparatus and with a
removable cover for the blade magazine illustrated in exploded position,
a surgical knife handle and shank being illustrated in phantom lines
in position for removable engagement with a new surgical blade;
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the blade dispenser
and disposal apparatus taken substantially upon a plane indicated
by the section line 2--2 of FIG. 1 illustrating one new blade support
structure of one of the new blade magazines shown in elevation and
the cover of the second new blade magazine illustrated in exploded
position;
FIG. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the surgical
blade dispenser and disposal apparatus taken substantially upon
a plane indicated by the section line 3--3 of FIG. 1 and passing
through the used blade receiving opening formed in the top wall
of the blade dispenser and disposal apparatus;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken
substantially upon a plane indicated by the section line 4--4 of
FIG.1 illustrating the manner in which a used surgical blade is
downwardly inserted into the used blade receiving opening at the
beginning of a blade disposal operation;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view similar
to FIG. 4 but illustrating the used blade in its initial clamped
disposal position and with the surgical blade handle and support
shank angularly displaced to a blade release position immediately
prior to upward disengagement of the support shank from the used
blade and counterclockwise angular displacement of the cam lever
to a release position for gravity release of the used surgical blade
down into the used blade compartment of the dispenser and disposal
apparatus; and
FIG. 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken substantially
upon a plane indicated by the section line 6--6 of FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10
generally designates the surgical blade dispenser and disposal apparatus
of the instant invention. The apparatus 10 includes a base 12 downwardly
over which a downwardly opening cover or housing 14 is removably
positionable, the base 12 including 90.degree. angularly displaceable
latches 16 for removably securing the cover or housing 14 to the
base 12.
The combination of the base 12 and the housing 14 defines a hollow
receptacle including a first wall 18 comprising the top wall of
the housing 14 and defining a pair of upwardly opening recesses
20 in which surgical blade magazines 22 are receivable, the magazines
22 including yieldable latches 24 cooperating with extensions 26
of the recesses 20 for releasably securing the magazines 22 within
the recesses 20.
The first or top wall 18 also has a vertical slot 28 formed therein
defining a pair of opposite sides 30 and 31. The side 30 includes
a vertical notch 32 defining a pair of laterally spaced abutments
34 extending outwardly of the outer side 36 of the first or top
wall 18 with the spacing between the laterally spaced abutments
34 registered with the notch 32. The abutments 34 comprise horizontally
laterally spaced vertical ridges defined on an abutment plate 38
projecting upwardly and outwardly of the outer side 36 of the first
or top wall 18 and opposite side margins of the abutment plate 38
include horizontally directed and laterally spaced apart mounting
flanges 40 between which a bifurcated cam lever 42 is pivotally
mounted as at 44. The lever 42 is swingable between an inoperative
substantially vertical position and the operative horizontal position
thereof illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5 abutted against an upwardly
projecting stop pin 46 carried by and projecting upwardly from the
first or top wall 18.
With attention now invited more specifically to FIGS. 1 and 3 of
the drawings, it may be seen that a plurality of surgical blades
48 may be carried in each magazine 22 the blades 48 each being
received in an individual upstanding and upwardly opening slot 50
defined by the corresponding magazine 22. Each surgical blade receiving
slot 50 includes an enlarged portion 52 defining an area of greater
width of the slot and the blade mounting shank 54 of a surgical
blade handle 56 is downwardly receivable in each enlarged portion
52 along side the corresponding surgical blade 48. The surgical
blades 48 are of conventional design and include a longitudinal
slot 58 including greater and smaller dimension ends 60 and 62.
The mounting shank 54 is conventional in design and includes narrow
opposite side grooves 64 see FIG. 5 in which those portions of
the corresponding blade 48 disposed on opposite sides of the small
dimension end 62 of the slot 58 engage, this cooperating structure
of the mounting shank 54 and blades 48 being old and well known.
Each of the magazines 22 includes a removable downwardly opening
cover 68 therefor to protect the blades 48 and when a new blade
48 is required, the corresponding cover is lifted and the shank
54 supported from the handle 56 is downwardly inserted into the
corresponding enlarged portion 52 with the shank 54 slightly inclined
downwardly toward the blade 48 to be engaged. The free end of the
shank 54 is then engaged with those portions of the blade defining
the opposite sides of the small dimension end 62 which blade portions
are received in the grooves 64. As downward movement of the shank
54 continues the blade 48 flexes until the upper end of the greater
dimension end 60 registers with the upper end 70 of the laterally
enlarged portion 72 of the shank 54 in which the grooves 64 are
formed. At this point, the resiliency of the blade 48 snaps the
upper end of the blade 48 into engagement with the upper side surface
76 of the mounting shank 54 above the enlarged portion 72 to thus
lock the blade 48 to the mounting shank 54. Thereafter, the handle
56 is upwardly displaced to withdraw the mounting shank 54 and the
attached new blade 48 from the associated slot 50 of the magazine
22.
When it is desired, on the other hand, to remove a used blade 48
from the mounting shank 54 the handle 56 is used to insert the
mounting shank 54 and the used blade 48 down into the slot 28. The
initial positioning of the shank 54 and blade 48 in the slot 28
is illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings with the lever 42 in the
position thereof illustrated in FIG. 4 and the laterally enlarged
portion 72 of the shank 54 received in the notch 32. Thereafter,
the handle 56 is further displaced downwardly from the position
thereof illustrated in FIG. 4 until the lower end of the handle
56 abuts the upper end of the abutment plate 38 and/or one of the
flanges 40. Thereafter, the free end of the cam lever 42 is swung
downwardly from the position thereof illustrated in FIG. 4 toward
the position illustrated in FIG. 5 in order to tightly clamp the
blade 48 against the abutments 34 the cam end of the lever 42 being
bifurcated to include bifurcations 80 and 82 see FIG. 1 which
bifurcations are registered with the abutments 34 with the spacing
between the bifurcations 80 and 82 being registered with the notch
32.
The pivoted end of the lever 42 thus tightly clamps those portions
of the blade 48 on opposite sides of the small dimension end 62
of the slot 58 against the abutments 34. At this point, the handle
56 is laterally displaced to the right as viewed in FIG. 4 to generally
the position thereof illustrated in FIG. 5 whereupon the lower
end of the blade 48 is flexed and the upper end of the enlarged
portion 72 is laterally displaced outwardly of the greater dimension
end 60 of the slot 58. Thereafter, an upward force is applied to
the handle 56 in order to upwardly withdraw the latter and thus
the lower end portion of the slotted enlarged portion 72 upwardly
from engagement with the blade 48. This of course completely disengages
the mounting shank 54 from the used blade 48. After upward withdrawal
of the mounting shank 54 from the slot 28 has been completed, the
free end of the lever 42 may be swung upwardly from the position
thereof illustrated in FIG. 5 to the position illustrated in FIG.
4 whereupon the used blade 48 projecting through the slot 28 will
be released for falling by gravity downwardly through the slot 28
and into the used blade receiving chamber 86 defined within the
interior of the housing 14.
Of course, if a new blade 48 is desired on the shank 54 a new
blade from the magazine 22 is selected and the mounting shank 54
is engaged therewith in the manner hereinabove set forth.
The underside of the base 12 is provided with resilient feet 88
for support from any suitable supporting surface and, if desired,
such supporting surface may include suction cups (or suction cups
may be provided on the bottom of the base 12) for releasably securely
fastening the base 12 to a suitable support surface. In this case,
the mounting of a new blade on the mounting shank 54 may be accomplished
by a one hand operation and the removal of a used blade 48 from
the mounting shank 54 also may be accomplished through utilization
of a one handed operation. Such operation will of course be of great
benefit to a single person conducting an autopsy.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles
of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes
readily will occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown
and described, and, accordingly, all suitable modifications and
equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the
invention. |