IP Library Granted Patent US 10,251,720
Granted Patent B1
US 10,251,720 · App. 15/489,024 · Granted Apr 9, 2019

Surgical scalpel handle assembly system and method for requiring a verification process

Inventor: Steven M. Hacker (Delray Beach, FL)
Assignee: Nano 2.0 Business Press, LLC
A61B50/20A61B1/06A61B17/3211B26B5/001A61B2017/32113Y10T403/7007
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,251,720
App. No.
15/489,024
Granted
Apr 9, 2019
Kind
B1
Abstract

A surgical scalpel handle assembly system and method that requires a surgeon to actively perform a verification process known as a “time out” verification process but specifically requires sequentially moving a series of actuator knobs on a scalpel handle upon affirming each criterion embedded in the scalpel handle. The required sequential confirmation of each criterion unlocks and ejects a blade holder from a scalpel handle to a position fully engaged and ready for blade attachment, surgery and in cutting position. The assembly system and method includes exposed visual indicia on the handle that indicates green exposed visual indices upon affirming verification of “time out” criteria and thus triggering the deployment of a fully exposed, engaged, and in a ready for surgery for blade attachment in handle.

Claims (26)

1. A surgical scalpel handle and a blade holder assembly for requiring the performance of a verification process to ready the surgical scalpel handle for surgery comprising:

a scalpel handle; and

a blade holder;

wherein the scalpel handle comprises:

a top exterior surface;

a bottom exterior surface substantially parallel to the top exterior surface;

two sidewalls, a first end and a second end disposed substantially perpendicular to and between the top exterior surface and the bottom exterior surface;

a hollow interior cavity defined as the space between the top exterior surface, the bottom exterior surface, the two sidewalls, the first end and the second end;

a blade holder slot in the first end;

a battery disposed in the hollow interior cavity comprising a positive terminal and a negative terminal;

a positive lead wire connected to the positive terminal;

a negative lead wire connected to the negative terminal;

a plurality of windows disposed on the top exterior surface of the scalpel handle, each window of the plurality of windows corresponding to a step in the verification process;

a plurality of sequential sliding elements comprising a first sequential sliding element that is the most distal of the sequential sliding elements from the first end of the scalpel handle, a final sequential sliding element that is the most proximate of the sequential sliding elements to the first end of the scalpel handle and one or more intermediate sequential sliding elements situated between the first sequential sliding element and the final sequential sliding element, wherein the plurality of sequential sliding elements are disposed in the hollow interior cavity of the scalpel handle,

wherein each of the sequential sliding elements comprises a first side wall and a second side wall, wherein the first side wall of the first sequential sliding element and each of the intermediate sequential sliding elements comprises a first guide rail groove, wherein the second side wall of each of the intermediate sequential sliding elements and the final sequential sliding element comprises a second guide rail groove,

wherein the first side wall of the first sequential sliding element and each of the intermediate sequential sliding elements further comprises a first detent element disposed on each of the first and intermediate sequential sliding elements, wherein the second side wall of each of the intermediate sequential sliding elements and the final sequential sliding element comprises a second detent element disposed on each of the sequential and final sliding elements, wherein the first detent element of each of the first and intermediate sequential sliding elements is in sliding cooperation with the second guide rail groove of the adjacent intermediate or final sequential sliding element that is more proximal to the first end of the scalpel handle, wherein the second detent element of each of the sequential sliding elements is in sliding cooperation with the first guide rail groove of each of the sequential sliding elements that is more distal from the first end of the scalpel handle, whereupon each sequential sliding element moves within the respective first guide rail groove and second guide rail groove between an initial position distal from the first end of the scalpel handle and a final position proximal the first end of the scalpel handle;

an illumination device disposed on the distal end of the final sequential sliding element, wherein the illumination device is attached to the negative lead wire, wherein the illumination device is viewable through the window corresponding to the final position of said final sequential sliding element in the hollow interior;

a first lead and a second lead disposed on each end of the plurality of sequential sliding elements, wherein the first lead and second lead of each of the plurality of sequential sliding elements is connected by an electrically conductive material, wherein the first lead of the first sequential sliding element is attached to the positive lead wire; and

a plurality of actuators extending through one of the plurality of windows in the top exterior surface of the scalpel handle, each of the actuators attached to and in movable correspondence with one of the plurality of sequential sliding elements, whereupon movement of each of the actuators from the second end of the scalpel handle toward the first end of the scalpel handle moves the corresponding one of the sequential sliding elements in the direction of the first end of the scalpel handle from its initial position distal from the first end of the scalpel handle to its final position proximate the first end of the scalpel handle, whereupon movement of each of the sequential sliding elements ceases when the first detent element of the sequential sliding element being moved engages with the second detent element of the adjacent sequential sliding element, whereupon the second lead of each sequential sliding element electrically mates with the first lead of the adjacent sequential sliding element, whereupon a circuit is formed by movement of all of the sequential sliding elements to each of their final positions and lighting the illumination device,

wherein the blade holder is disposed in the hollow interior cavity of the scalpel handle on the end of the final sequential sliding element proximal the first end of the scalpel handle, wherein movement of the actuator corresponding to the final sequential sliding element causes the final sequential sliding element to move toward the first end of the scalpel handle, whereupon the blade holder is moved through the blade holder slot, whereupon movement of the blade holder through the blade holder slot causes a lock pin disposed on the blade holder to engage in a lock pin engagement hole disposed in a wall of the hollow interior cavity, whereupon the movement of the blade holder is blocked from returning into the hollow interior cavity.

2. The surgical scalpel handle and blade holder assembly of claim 1 , wherein the illumination device comprises a green LED bulb.

3. The surgical scalpel handle and blade holder assembly of claim 2 , wherein the number of the plurality of sequential sliding elements corresponds to a predetermined number of verification pre-operative criteria.

4. The surgical scalpel handle and blade holder assembly of claim 2 , further comprising interactive instructional inscriptions on the top exterior surface of the scalpel handle that correspond to each of the verification pre-operative criteria.

5. The surgical scalpel handle and blade holder assembly of claim 2 , wherein the number of verification pre-operative criteria comprise three criteria.

6. The surgical scalpel handle and blade holder assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a reset access hole in the bottom exterior surface of the scalpel handle allowing access to the lock pin that is engaged in the lock pin engagement hole, whereupon depression of the lock pin causes movement of the blade holder back into the hollow interior cavity whereupon the blade holder and plurality of sequential sliding elements are reset to their initial positions most distal from the first end of the scalpel handle prior to movement of movement of the plurality of sequential sliding elements.

7. The surgical scalpel handle and blade holder assembly of claim 1 , further comprising commercial messaging and signage displayed on the exterior of the scalpel handle.

Assignments (3)
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Dec 10, 2025
From: NANO SURGICAL LLC
To: NANO SURGICAL INC.
Reel/Frame 073166/0967 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 20, 2021
From: NANO 2.0 BUSINESS PRESS, LLC
To: NANO SURGICAL LLC
Reel/Frame 057848/0917 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 16, 2019
From: HACKER, STEVEN M, MD
To: NANO 2.0 BUSINESS PRESS, LLC
Reel/Frame 048357/0013 →
Continuity (1)
Continuation In Part 14078559 · Nov 13, 2013