WO2000007509A1

WO2000007509A1 - Device for handling cutting blades or the like

Info

Publication number: WO2000007509A1
Application number: PCT/FR1999/001903
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vojin Jeremijevic
Original assignee: Device Research & Development (Drd)
Priority date: 1998-08-06
Filing date: 1999-08-02
Publication date: 2000-02-17
Also published as: AU5168199A; EP1196100A1; FR2781999B1; FR2781999A1

Abstract

The invention concerns devices for handling a cutting blade (1) or the like capable of being mounted on the end of a handle (2) and removed therefrom. The device is essentially characterised in that it comprises a base (21) defining a plane (22) whereon the cutting blade (1) can be supported, at least a pin (23), means (24) for interlocking the pin with the base (21), said pin projecting relative to the plane (22) and having a shape substantially matching the bottom of a first perforated portion (8) produced in the cutting blade (1), first means (26) for maintaining the blade (1) pressed on the base (21) by pressing on the blade in one point (27) of the blade located between a second perforated portion (9) produced in the blade and the end (4) comprising the cutting edge (5), and a recess (28) produced in the base (21) between the pin (23) and the first maintaining means (26), said recess (28) bordering the pin (23) and having dimensions determined on the basis of the length of the perforations (8 and 9) and the dimensions of the handle (2) end. The invention is useful for handling cutting blades to set them on a surgical knife handle or for removing them from said handle.

Description

Device for handling cutting blades or the like

The present invention relates to devices for handling cutting blades or the like which find a particularly advantageous application in the medical field for placing the blades on the scalpel handles and for removing them. In many areas it is necessary to use cutting instruments. This is the case in surgery where practitioners or the like use in particular scalpels consisting of the assembly of a handle and a cutting blade. A scalpel is a precision instrument. It must be perfectly balanced in the surgeon's hand and its handle generally has an ergonomic shape adapted to the surgeon's hand. The cost price of such a scalpel is therefore relatively high.

However, a single operation generally requires the use of several scalpels. The surgeon must in fact use blades of different shapes and dimensions adapted to the different phases of the operation or change the blade relatively often in order to always work with a cutting wire of excellent quality.

Given the cost price of a scalpel as schematically described above, it is unthinkable to have to change the scalpel each time it is necessary to change the blade, especially since a used blade can not be reused and must be disposed of.

Thus, scalpels with interchangeable blades have been developed. These scalpels comprise an ergonomic handle comprising means for, at will, placing a blade at the end of the handle or removing it. Such means of association between a handle and a scalpel blade have been developed and standardized.

Figures 1 to 3 attached to this description schematically represent a scalpel blade alone (Figure 1) and a blade mounted in association with the end of a scalpel handle (Figures 2 and 3) like those which are currently commonly used . The surgeon thus has at his disposal, for each operation, the desired number of sterilized blades and presented in sealed packages, and can at will replace the blade in place on the scalpel handle with a new blade. However, the installation of a cutting blade on the end of a scalpel handle and its replacement by a new blade are relatively delicate and require a certain dexterity. In addition, despite all the precautions that can be taken by those responsible for installing and replacing these blades, the risk of injury is relatively large. This drawback is aggravated when the blade to be replaced has been used in an intervention on a patient.

The object of the present invention is therefore to produce a device for handling cutting blades, which makes it possible to overcome the drawbacks mentioned above.

More specifically, the subject of the present invention is a device for handling a cutting blade or the like capable of being mounted on the end of a handle and removed from this end, the cutting blade comprising a plate of very small thickness. relative to its width, the plate being terminated, at a first end, by a cutting wire, an oblong breakthrough made in the plate substantially along the longitudinal axis of the blade, the oblong breakthrough comprising at least two parts, a first part relatively wide and with opposite longitudinal edges substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, this first piercing part being able to cooperate with a bulged portion produced on the end of the handle, and a second part in continuity with the first, this second part of breakthrough with two opposite longitudinal edges defined on two non-parallel lines, forming an angle between them, the apex of which is located on the side of the end of the plate comprising the cutting wire, the two edges of this second breakthrough being able to slide in two complementary grooves made in the end of the handle in continuity with the swollen portion, the device being characterized by the fact that it includes:

- a base defining a plane on which is able to rest the blade, - at least one stud,

means for securing the stud to the base, said stud projecting from said plane and having a shape substantially complementary to the bottom portion of the first piercing part,

first means for holding the blade substantially flattened in the plane defined by the base, these first means for holding the blade coming to bear on the blade at at least one point on said blade situated between the second part of the breakthrough and the end having the cutting wire, and

a clearance made in the base between the stud and the first means for holding the blade, this clearance bordering the stud and having dimensions determined as a function of the length of the breakthrough made in the blade and of the dimensions of the end of the handle.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear in the course of the following description given with reference to the drawings annexed by way of illustration, but in no way limiting, in which:

Figure 1 shows a top view of a blade adapted to be mounted on one end of a scalpel handle or the like and to be removed from said handle using the handling device according to the invention including an embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 7,

Figures 2 and 3 show, respectively in side view and in top view, the blade according to Figure 1 mounted in cooperation with a scalpel handle or the like, Figures 4 and 5 show two perspective views of a mode for producing the device according to the invention, FIG. 4 representing the device in its original configuration in which it is suitable for being used to mount the blade on the handle of a scalpel or the like, FIG. 5 representing the device when the one of its constituent elements is in an intermediate position between its position in the original configuration of the device and that in which it allows the blade to be removed from the handle of a scalpel,

Figure 6 shows a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the assembly "scalpel handle-blade-handling device" to explain how it is possible to mount a blade on the handle of a scalpel using the device according to the invention, and

Figure 7 shows a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the assembly "scalpel handle-blade-handling device" to explain how it is possible to remove a blade from the handle of a scalpel using the device according to the invention.

The Applicant wishes to specify that the figures represent only one example of an embodiment of the object according to the invention, but that there may be other embodiments which meet the definition of this invention. It further specifies that, when, according to the definition of the invention, the object of the invention comprises "at least one" element having a given function, the embodiment described may include several of these elements.

It also specifies that, if the embodiment of the object according to the invention as illustrated comprises several elements of identical function and that if, in the description, it is not specified that the object according to this invention must necessarily include a particular number of these elements, the subject of the invention may be defined as comprising "at least one" of these elements.

The device according to the invention applies to the manipulation of a cutting blade 1 or the like as illustrated in FIG. 1 capable of being mounted on one end 20 of a handle 2, for example a scalpel handle as illustrated in the Figures 2 and 3, and to be removed.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the cutting blade 1 comprises a plate 3 of a very small thickness relative to its width to have a certain flexibility in bending. This plate is terminated, at a first 4 of its two ends, by a cutting wire 5. An oblong breakthrough 6 is made in the plate substantially along the longitudinal axis 7 of the blade. The oblong opening comprises, as visible in FIG. 1, at least two parts 8, 9, a first part 8 relatively wide and with opposite longitudinal edges 10, 11 substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 7, this first part of opening 8 being able to cooperate with a bulged portion 12 produced on the end of the handle 2, and a second part 9 in continuity with the first 8, this second piercing part 9 comprising two longitudinal edges 13, 14 defined on two non-parallel lines 15, 16 forming between them an angle, the apex 17 of which is situated on the side of the end 4 of the plate comprising the cutting wire 5, the two edges 13, 14 of this second piercing part being able to slide in two grooves 18, 19 complementary made in the end of the handle 2 in continuity with the bulged portion 12.

The structural characteristics of the cutting blades and of the handles capable of carrying them for producing scalpels being specified, the device for handling the blades for the purpose defined above comprises, with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7, a base 21 defining a plane 22 on which is adapted to rest the blade 1, at least one stud 23, means 24 for securing this stud with the base 21, this stud protruding from the plane 22 and having a shape substantially complementary to the bottom portion of the first piercing part 8, of the first means 26 for holding the blade 1 substantially flat in the plane 22 defined by the base 21, these first holding means coming to bear on the blade at at least one point 27 of the blade located between the second piercing part 9 and the end 4 comprising the cutting wire 5, and a clearance 28 produced in the base 21 between the stud 23 and the first holding means 26, this clearance 28 bor dant the nipple 23 and having dimensions determined as a function of the length of the breakthrough 6 made in the blade 1 and the dimensions of the end of the handle 2. In an advantageous embodiment, the device further comprises second means 29 for laterally holding the blade 1 in a direction substantially perpendicular to its longitudinal axis 7. These second holding means 29 are advantageously constituted by at least two lugs 30, 31 secured to the base 21 while being substantially perpendicular to the plane of this base and located on either side of the stud 23 at a distance from one another substantially equal to the width of the plate taken at the level of the first piercing part 8.

In a possible embodiment, the first means 26 for holding the blade 1 substantially flat in the plane 22 defined by the base consist of at least one small tab 60 pivotally mounted on the base 21 and hook means 61 for keep the small tab folded back on the base by pinching the blade 1 between it and the base, as more particularly visible in FIG. 4. Of course, several of these small legs can be provided in order to maintain blades whose ends would have different shapes, straight lines as shown in solid lines, curves as shown in broken lines, etc.

The structural features described above allow the handling device to be used to easily place a blade 1 on one end 20 of a handle 2, for example of a scalpel. The positioning of the blade is carried out, with particular reference to FIG. 6, as follows:

It is firstly specified that the end 20 of the handle 2 does not carry a blade and therefore that the two grooves 18, 19 are free, and that the device is in its original configuration, like that illustrated in FIG. 4 , with a blade 1 held on the base 21 as described above.

To place a blade 1 at the end 20 of the handle, the user must first hold the base, for example with one hand, while, with the other hand, he presents the end 20 of the handle 2 slightly inclined, as in FIG. 6, so that the two grooves are respectively opposite the ends of the two edges 13, 14 of the second piercing part 9. This position is illustrated in FIG. 6. The user then pushes the handle (arrow Fi) so that the two edges 13, 14 of the second piercing part respectively penetrate to the bottom of the two grooves 18, 19. This penetration is possible thanks to the presence of the clearance 28 produced in the base 21 , and facilitated by the flexibility of the blade, the second end 41 of which can even be slightly raised relative to the plane of the base while being guided by the lug 23 and the two pins 30, 31. When the two edges 13, 14 of the second piercing part 9 are fully inserted into the two grooves 18, 19, the user performs a certain rotation of the handle in the dextrorsum direction according to arrow F2- The blade is partly driven in this rotation and, with a spring effect of the blade, the first breakthrough part 8 is housed around the bulged portion 12 of the end 20 of the handle 2, then the blade emerges from the two small retaining tabs 60.

The blade 1 has thus been positioned at the end of the handle 2 to form an assembly like that which is illustrated in the two figures 2 and 3, without the user having had to touch the blade and therefore avoiding any risk of injury. and other disadvantages mentioned above.

The device according to the invention also makes it possible to safely remove the blade from the handle.

To this end, the device comprises, in addition to the characteristics described above, a flange wall 40 integral with the base 21, offset from the plane 22 defined by the base.

A notch 42 is made in the rim wall. This notch is of a dimension adapted, in particular, to the dimension and to the shape of the part 62 of the handle which is connected to the end 20 defined above, so that this part 62 can easily be placed in this notch.

The device also comprises means for positioning the blade 1, when it is integral with the end 20 of the handle 2 and that the part 62 of the handle 2 is in the notch 42, on the base 21 so that its second end 41 opposite its first end 4 carrying the cutting wire 5 abuts against a portion of the rim wall 40 adjacent to at least one of the two edges 43, 44 of the notch 42, and means 45 for exerting a bearing force on this second end 41 of the blade so as to keep the blade pressed against the base 21.

In a preferred embodiment, the means for positioning the blade 1, when it is integral with the end of the handle 2, on the base 21 so that its second end 41 opposite its first end 4 abuts against part of the rim wall 40 adjacent to at least one of the two edges 43, 44 of the notch 42 are formed by at least two second lugs integral with the base 21, these second lugs being substantially perpendicular to the plane 22 of the base and located at a distance from each other substantially equal to the width of the blade 1 taken at its first pierced part 8. Advantageously, to obtain a simpler embodiment, these second pins are constituted by the first pins 30, 31 defined above. The rim wall 40 is then disposed offset relative to the plane 22 of the base on the same side, relative to this plane, as the pins. So that the blade 1 placed at the end 20 of the handle 2 can be perfectly pressed against the plane of the base 21, the means 24 for securing the stud 23 with the base 21 are advantageously constituted by a flexible tab 50, the stud 23 then being secured to one end 51 of tab 50, the other end 52 of this tab being secured to base 21. This tab is fixed to base 21 so that it is substantially contained in the plane 22 and able to undergo a rotation about an axis 53 substantially contained in the plane 22 so that the stud 23 can retract when positioning the blade 1, when it is integral with the end of the handle 2, on the base 21, as shown in FIG. 7. This axis 53 is preferably chosen so as to be substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 7 of the blade 1 when it is pressed against the base as illustrated in FIG. 4.

In the illustrated embodiment, the clearance 28, the function of which has been defined above, is largely produced in the flexible tab 50, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the means 45 for exerting a pressing force on the second end 41 of the blade 1 so as to keep it pressed against the base 21 and against the edge wall portion 40, when it is on the handle 2, comprise a flap 46, means 47 for mounting the flap in rotation relative to the base, for example a hinge, at least one finger 48 secured to the flap 46 so that, during the rotation of this flap relative to the base 21, the finger 48 comes to bear on a point 49 of the second end 41 of the blade. Of course, the length of the finger is at least equal to the thickness of the bulged portion 12 of the handle 2 so that its end can come into contact with the blade 1 without abutting against the end 20 of the handle 2, as can be understood from examining Figure 7.

So that this bearing force can be maintained in a constant manner, the device advantageously includes means 54 for securing the flap 46 with the base 21 when it has pivoted relative to it, that is to say when the finger 48 is in contact with the blade 1. These means 54 can for example be constituted by at least one hook 55 secured to one of the two flap-base elements - in the embodiment illustrated the hook is integral with the shutter - and a hooking orifice 56 made in the other of the two shutter-base elements - that is to say in the base for the embodiment illustrated - this hooking orifice 56 being able to cooperate with the hook 55. The structural characteristics described above allow the device according to the invention to be used to easily remove a blade 1 from the end 20 of a handle 2. This operation is carried out, by reference more particularly in FIG. 7, as follows:

It is firstly specified that the handle and the blade are in a configuration like that which is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

To remove the blade from the end of the handle, the user first has the "blade-handle" assembly so that the part 62 defined above of the handle is placed in the notch 42, that the end 41 of the blade comes into contact with the edge wall portion 40 which is close to at least one of the two edges 43, 44 of the notch 42, and that the bulged portion 12 of the end of the handle comes position itself on the stud 23 which, under the pressure to which the end 20 of the handle is subjected, retracts to take the position illustrated in FIG. 7.

When the end of the handle carrying the blade is thus positioned, the flap 46 is pivoted, FIG. 5, until the finger 48 comes into contact with the end 41 of the blade 1 (arrow Pi) and the hooks 55 are fixed in the attachment holes 56, FIG. 7.

When the device is in this configuration, the user lifts the handle in a substantially dextrorsum rotation (arrow P2), FIG. 7, and thus releases the bulged portion 12 from the first piercing part 8. He then pulls on the handle (arrow P3) relative to the device and thus releases, by sliding, the grooves 18 and 19 respectively from the two edges 13 and 14 of the second piercing part 9.

The handle is then completely disengaged from the blade which remains trapped in the device, the stud 23 coming up, being placed in the first piercing part 8, as in the case of FIGS. 4 and 6.

In the example described above, the bulged portion 12 of the end 20 of the handle 2 is extracted from the first piercing part 8 of the blade 1 by lifting the handle 2. However, it is understood that this latter result can be obtained by exerting pressure on the end 41 by means, for example, of the finger 48 secured to the flap 46, the handle being kept fixed relative to the base 21. In this case, it is necessary to provide, in this base, opposite this end 41, a recess so that it can disengage from the swollen portion 12. When the blade 1 is thus disengaged from this swollen portion, it suffices to exert traction on the handle 2 in a direction substantially contained in the plane of the base 21 and parallel to the longitudinal axis 7 of the blade.

In the example described with reference to FIG. 7, the finger 48 is integral with the flap 46. However, in another embodiment, this finger 48 can be made integral with the flange wall 40 to form a shoulder. In this case, to remove the blade 20 from the handle 2, the blade is secured to the handle 2 on the plane of the base 21 as described above, but in addition, the "handle-blade" assembly is moved backwards. so that the end 41 of the blade comes, on the one hand into contact with the edge wall portion 40 which is close to at least one of the two edges 43, 44 of the notch 42, and on the other hand under the finger 48 secured to the rim wall. To remove the blade, the two movements? 2 ^and ? 3 described above are exerted on the handle 2 in succession.

On reading the present description, it appears that to remove a blade from the end of the handle of a scalpel, the user does not in any case need to touch the blade. The use of the device according to the invention makes it possible to eliminate any risk of cutting and therefore of infection, transmission of disease, etc. in the case of a used blade. The blade thus trapped in the device can be eliminated according to the usual methods which will not be described here, since they are not the subject of the present invention.

The device according to the invention also has the advantage of having an extremely low cost price because it can be very easily produced by molding, in one piece, with a material such as plastic or the like.

In practical terms, this device can be offered to users with a blade already placed on the base as shown in particular in Figure 4, in a protective blister. In the case of a scalpel cutting blade, the latter will of course have been sterilized for example by gamma radiation or the like, as will the device on which it will have been placed and the blister pack under vacuum. The device and the blister will be used for disposal of the slide after use.

Claims

R E V E N D I C A T I O N S

1- Device for handling a cutting blade (1) or the like capable of being mounted on one end of a handle (2) and removed from this end, the cutting blade comprising a plate (3) of very small thickness relative to its width, the plate being terminated, at a first end (4), by a cutting wire (5), an oblong breakthrough (6) made in the plate substantially along the longitudinal axis (7) of the blade, the oblong opening having at least two parts (8, 9), a first part (8) relatively wide and with opposite longitudinal edges (10, 11) substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis (7), this first opening part (8 ) being able to cooperate with a bulged portion (12) produced on the end of the handle (2), and a second part (9) in continuity with the first (8), this second piercing part (9) having two edges longitudinal opposites (13, 14) defined on two non-parallel lines (15, 16) form ant between them an angle whose apex (17) is situated on the side of the end (4) of the plate (3) comprising the cutting wire (5), the two edges (13, 14) of this second breakthrough being capable to slide in two complementary grooves (18, 1) made in the end of the handle (2) in continuity with the bulged portion (12), the device being characterized in that it comprises:

- a base (21) defining a plane (22) on which is able to rest the blade (1),

- at least one stud (23),

- Means (24) for securing the stud to the base (21), said stud projecting from said plane (22) and having a shape substantially complementary to the bottom portion of the first pierced part (8) ,

- First means (26) for holding the blade (1) substantially flat in the plane (22) defined by the base (21), these first means for holding the blade coming to bear on the blade at at least one point (27) of said blade located between the second piercing part (9) and the end (4) comprising the cutting wire (5), and

- A clearance (28) made in said base (21) between said stud (23) and said first holding means (26), this clearance (28) bordering said stud (23) and having dimensions determined as a function of the length of said breakthrough (6) and of the dimensions of the end of the handle (2).

2- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises second means (29) for laterally holding said blade (1) in a direction substantially perpendicular to its longitudinal axis (7).

3- Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the second holding means (29) of said blade are constituted by at least two first pins (30, 31) integral with said base (21), these two first pins ( 30, 31) being substantially perpendicular to the plane of said base and located on either side of said stud (23) at a distance from one another substantially equal to the width of the plate taken at the level of the first part breakthrough (8).

4- Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it further comprises:

a rim wall (40) integral with the base (21), this rim wall being offset relative to the plane (22) defined by the base, - a notch (42) produced in the rim wall,

- Means for positioning the blade (1), when it is integral with the end of the handle (2), on the base (21) so that its second end (41) opposite its first end (4) bearing the cutting wire (5) abuts against a portion of the rim wall (40) adjacent to at least one of the two edges (43, 44) of the notch (42), and

- Means (45) for exerting a pressing force on the second end (41) of the blade (1) so as to keep said blade pressed against the base (21).

5- Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the means for positioning the blade (1), when it is integral with the end of the handle (2), on the base (21) so that its second end (41) opposite its first end carrying the cutting wire abuts against a portion of the rim wall (40) adjacent to at least one of the two edges (43, 44) of the notch (42) are formed by at least two second lugs integral with the base (21), the two said second lugs being substantially perpendicular to the plane (22) of the base and located at a distance from each other substantially equal to the width of the blade (1) taken at its first piercing part (8).

6- Device according to claims 3 and 5, characterized in that said second pins are constituted by said first pins (30, 31), the flange wall (40) being offset from the plane (22) of the base on the same side ^ relative to this plane, as said pins. 7- Device according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the means (45) for exerting a pressing force on the second end (41) of the blade (1) so as to maintain said plated blade on the base (21) and against said edge wall portion comprise a flap (46), means (47) for mounting said flap in rotation relative to said base (21), at least one finger (48) secured of the flap (46) so that, during the rotation of this flap (46) relative to the base (21), said finger (48) comes to bear on a point (49) of the second end (41) of the blade, the length of said finger being at least equal to the thickness of the bulged portion (12) of the handle (2).

8- Device according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the means (24) for securing the stud (23) with the base (21) to be able to be projecting relative to the plane (22 ) defined by the base, are constituted by a flexible tab (50), the stud (23) being integral with one end (51) of the tab (50), the other end (52) of this tab being integral of the base (21) so that the tab (50) is substantially contained in the plane (22) defined by the base and that it is capable of undergoing rotation about an axis (53) substantially contained in the plane (22) so that the stud (23) can retract when positioning the blade (1) on the base when it is secured to the end of the handle (2) (Fig. 7).

9- Device according to one of claims 7 and 8, characterized in that it comprises means (54) for securing the flap (46) with the base (21) when it has pivoted relative to the base and that the finger (48) is in contact with the blade (1). 10- Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the means (54) for securing the flap with the base when it has pivoted and the finger is in contact with the blade are constituted by at least one hook (55) integral with one of the two flap-base elements and a hooking orifice (56) capable of cooperating with said hook (55) produced on the other of the two flap-base elements.