Surgical knife safety handle
View Patent ↗A surgical knife safety device having a handle, a blade connected to the handle, and a guard carried by the handle for sliding movement between a retracted position in which the blade is exposed for use, and an extended position for covering the sharp cutting edge of the blade. In the retracted position, an enlarged guard radius is provided at the distal end of the handle to allow improved handle control and blade orientation. The enlarged guard radius is positioned to allow the user to firmly grip a large distal handle portion which is preferably molded as a single piece with the blade holder, preventing unwanted blade or handle movement due to guard mechanism tolerances. A spring, such as leaf spring, and a pair of detents or slots are provided to fix the guard in the extended or retracted position, and provide resistance during movement between the two positions. Additionally, an antitravel mechanism is incorporated in the guard to prevent accidental retraction from the fully extended position.
1. A surgical knife safety handle device for both ophthalmic and non-ophthalmic applications, comprising:
a handle body having a distal end, a proximal end and a housing extending along a longitudinal axis between said distal and proximal ends, said housing defining a chamber therein, said chamber open at said distal end of said handle body and having a user actuator mechanism extending from said proximal end of said handle body;
a knife holder at said distal end of said handle body;
at least one movable guard engaged with a guard positioning mechanism for longitudinal movement between a fully extended position and a fully retracted position with respect to said handle body, said guard having a proximal end, and an enlarged distal end for at least partially enclosing a knife blade attachable to said knife holder, and a guard body extending along a longitudinal axis between said distal and proximal ends of said guard; and
said guard positioning mechanism slidably mounted in said chamber and controlled by said user actuator mechanism for said longitudinal movement.
2. A surgical knife safety handle device for both ophthalmic and non-ophthalmic-applications as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said user actuator mechanism further comprises:
a first engaged position having an audible response, said first engaged position securing said at least one movable guard into at least one of said fully extended position and said fully retracted position with respect to said handle body; and
a second engaged position having an audible response, said second engaged position securing said at least one movable guard into at least one of said fully extended position and said fully retracted position with respect to said handle body.
3. A surgical knife safety handle device for both ophthalmic and non-ophthalmic applications as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said user actuator mechanism further comprises:
a first linear segment for controlling a first movable guard; and
a second linear segment for controlling a second moveable guard.
4. A surgical knife safety handle device for both ophthalmic and non-ophthalmic applications as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said user actuator mechanism further comprises:
a first linear segment for controlling a first movement of said movable guard; and
a second linear segment for controlling a second movement of said moveable guard.
5. A surgical knife safety handle device for both ophthalmic and non-ophthalmic applications as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said guard includes at least one of a circular, triangular, square and box shaped enlarged distal end.
6. A surgical knife safety handle device for both ophthalmic and non-ophthalmic applications as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said handle body comprises a substantially cylindrical housing.
7. A surgical knife safety handle device for both ophthalmic and non-ophthalmic applications as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said user actuator mechanism slidably extends from said proximal end of said handle body.
8. A surgical knife safety handle device for both ophthalmic and non-ophthalmic applications as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said knife holder comprises a post extending from said distal end of said handle body along said longitudinal axis.