Combination dispenser-disposal cartridge for a surgical blade

U.S. Patent Dec. 25, 1979 Sheet 2 of 2 4,180,162 1 2

of steps involved in the engagement of a surgical blade

COMBINATION DISPENSER-DISPOSAL with a scalpel handle;

CARTRIDGE FOR A SURGICAL BLADE FIGS. 11A-11C are a series of sectional plan views

corresponding to the elevation views of FIGS.

This invention relates to a combination dispenser-dis- 5 10A-10C; and

posal cartridge for a surgical blade and constitutes an FIGS. 12A-12B are a series of sectional plan views of

improvement on the invention described in my issued the cartridge of FIG. 2 showing the steps of stripping a

U.S. Pat. No. 4,106,620 issued Aug. 15, 1978. used blade from a scalpel handle for disposal with the

In my issued U.S. Pat. No. 4,106,620, I disclose a cartridge, dispenser for storing at least one sharpened surgical 10 At present, disposable surgical scalpel blades are blade, dispensing the blade and, according to a further commercially available in several sizes, produced by embodiment, a dispenser which includes a separate various manufacturers. They can be obtained commercompartment for separating used blades from a scalpel cially in sterile or non-sterile packaging. These blades handle and storing them for disposal. While the inven- are adapted to fit conventional metal scalpel handles of tion disclosed in my issued patent functions efficiently 15 various sizes t0 form ITM"** used for a vanetv of Pur" for the purposes described therein, it has subsequently Poses in hospitals (surgery, pathology laboratories, appeared highly desirable to provide a cartidge for etc-)> m research laboratories and in science departmore efficiently storing and dispensing a single blade meJ*s m "j*1?TM school.s ,and universities, which would also function as a disposal cartridge, spe- The tVP'cal commercially available surgical blade has cially adapted to receive and store a single used blade 20 a sharpened tip and cutting edge portion and a shank for disposal. Additionally, it has appeared desirable to Port!on rearwardly therefrom The shank provide a blade storage-dispensing and disposal car- Portion of the blade is provided with an elongate apertridge which was more amende to mass production of ture whldl 18 fshaPed and adapted to receive a mating the cartridge itself and which is specially configured to elonfte ^s formed on the forward or attaching tip of permit machine loading of the new blades into the re- a ... a" te"_ dl aem rt re Qf tbe bjade ceptade and to permit sealing of the receptacle to main- has /^ed'rear po'rtion^nd Tnarrowed forward tain sterile conditions therewith portion. The widened rear portion of the aperture ini

Accordingly, it is the pnncipal object of the presen ^ ^ a i HboSs of the scaf d handle

invention to provide a combination dispenser-disposal 3Q and'guides the boss forward into the narrowed forward

cartridge for a single surgical blade. ion of the aperture. The boss is undercut such that

Yet another object of the invention is to provide such {he ed of the narrowed forward ortion of the aper.

a combination cartridge which is specially adapted for tUfe are d between the scal j handk and the

mass production by conventional plastic marketing undercut surface of the boss. When the boss is com

techniques. 35 pletely inserted within the blade aperture, the rear edge

Yet another object of the invention is to provide such of the blade aperture snaps under the undercut surface

a combination dispenser-disposal cartridge which is at the rear of the engaging boss, thus achieving locking

specially adapted for machine loading of the surgical engagement between the blade and the scalpel handle,

blade therewith. To remove the blade from the scalpel handle, the rear

These and other, further, and more specific objects 40 edge 0f t^e biade js lifted away from the handle to

and advantages of the invention will be apparent to disengage the rear end of the blade aperture from the

those skilled in the art from the following detailed de- rear end 0f the boss. The blade is then pushed forward

scription thereof, taken in conjunction with the draw- untji tne undercut boss clears the narrowed forward

ings, in which: portion of the blade aperture, permitting the blade to be

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a combina- 45 lifted completely clear of the handle,

tion cartridge, constructed in accordance with the prin- Briefly, in accordance with the present invention, I

cipals of the present invention; provide a combination dispenser-disposal cartridge for

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cartridge of FIG. a surgical blade. The cartridge is specially adapted for

1 with the box and cover components fully assembled; machine loading of the blade and comprises an elongate

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the box portion of the 50 open-topped box including floor, side walls and end

cartridge of FIG. 1 taken along section line 3—3 walls and having an aperture in one end wall. Blade

thereof, and showing a surgical blade positioned there- positioning means are formed integrally with the box

with; portion and include a slot extending upwardly from the

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the box portion of the floor of the box alongside the aperture which is dimen

cartridge of FIG. 3 taken along section line 4—4 55 sioned to receive the shank end of a surgical blade and

thereof; blade tip holding members extending upwardly from

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the lower surface of the the floor of the box which are spaced apart to receive

cover member of the cartridge of FIG. 1; and frictionally engage the tip and at least a portion of

FIG. 6 is an elevation view of the cover member of the cutting edge of the blade. The slot and blade tip

FIG. 5; 60 holder cooperate to position the blade such that the

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view of the box member shank portion thereof curvingly extends from the tip

of FIG. 3 taken along section line 7—7 thereof; rearwardly to the shank. A cover member is provided

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the cover member of having downwardly projecting positioning studs which

FIG. 6 taken along section line 8—8 thereof; cooperate with mating recesses in the side walls of the

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the box member of FIG- 65 box to position the cover on the open top of the box

3 taken along section line 9—9 thereof; member. The cartridge also includes members which

FIGS. 10A-10C are a series of sectional elevation cooperate to strip a used surgical blade from the scalpel

views of the cartridge of FIG. 2 showing the sequence handle and retain the blade within the cartridge for