SCALPEL GUIDE
Scalpel guides for use with a tool guide of a surgical system are described. In one version, the scalpel guide includes a body defining a first guide slot sized and shaped to receive a body of a scalpel to guide a blade of the scalpel along a central axis without any lateral movement of the scalpel. The body also defines a second guide slot arranged such that the body of the scalpel inserted in the second guide slot is guided vertically by the sides of the second guide slot and allowed to move horizontally across the channel along the trajectory plane. Other versions of the scalpel guide are also described.
1 . A scalpel guide, comprising
a body having a first face and a second face, the body sized and shaped to be at least partially inserted into an aperture of a tool guide of a surgical system, the body having a shoulder extending outwardly from a portion of the body, the shoulder having a lower face, the body having a first central axis extending through a center of the body, the body having an outer peripheral surface extending from the lower face of the shoulder to the second face of the body;
the body having a first side and a second side spaced apart from each other forming a first guide slot extending through the body from the first face to the second face, the first guide slot having a second central axis, the first guide slot sized and shaped to receive a body of a scalpel and guide a blade of the scalpel along the second central axis; and
the body having a third side and a fourth side spaced apart from each other forming a second guide slot having a third central axis, the second guide slot having a channel extending through the body from the first face to the second face with sides of the channel defined by the third side and the fourth side, the channel defining a trajectory plane that extends through a center of the channel transversely and intersects the third central axis, wherein the second guide slot is arranged such that the body of the scalpel inserted in the second guide slot is allowed to move horizontally across the channel along the trajectory plane throughout a length of the second guide slot.
2 . The scalpel guide of claim 1 , wherein the second guide slot intersects the first guide slot and is arranged in an orthogonal orientation relative to the first guide slot.
3 . The scalpel guide of claim 1 , wherein the second guide slot intersects the outer peripheral surface of the body.
4 . The scalpel guide of claim 1 , wherein the outer peripheral surface of the body is configured to matingly engage an inner surface of the tool guide, the inner surface of the tool guide defining the aperture.
5 . (canceled)
6 . (canceled)
7 . (canceled)
8 . (canceled)
9 . (canceled)
10 . (canceled)
11 . (canceled)
12 . A scalpel guide, comprising:
a body having a first face, a second face opposite the first face, a guide slot extending between the first face and the second face, and a first central axis extending through a center of the body,
the body including a shoulder extending outwardly from a portion of the body from the first face of the body to a lower face of the shoulder;
the guide slot being formed in and extending through the body from the first face to the second face, the guide slot defined by a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a third side, and a fourth side opposite the third side, the guide slot having a second central axis substantially coaxially aligned with the first central axis of the body, the guide slot defining a trajectory plane that extends through a center of the guide slot parallel with the first side and the second side and intersecting the second central axis;
the body further comprising:
a seat section extending from the lower face of the shoulder toward the second face of the body, the seat section sized and shaped to be at least partially inserted into an aperture of a tool guide; and
an elongated portion extending from the second face toward the seat section, the elongated portion having a marker surface that is an extension of the first side of the guide slot and offset a predetermined distance from the trajectory plane.
13 . The scalpel guide of claim 12 , wherein the scalpel guide further comprises a tension section between the seat section and the elongated portion, the tension section having a tension element configured to hold tension between the body and the tool guide when the tension section is positioned within the aperture of the tool guide.
14 . The scalpel guide of claim 13 , wherein the tension section further comprises an angled portion that extends from the marker surface of the elongated portion at a predetermined angle up through the tension section.
15 . The scalpel guide of claim 12 , wherein the body of the scalpel guide is a first body, and wherein the predetermined distance the marker surface is offset from the trajectory plane is half of a width of a second body of a scalpel.
16 . The scalpel guide of claim 15 , wherein the width of the second body of the scalpel is 4 millimeters.
17 . The scalpel guide of claim 1 , wherein the first guide slot is configured to restrict the scalpel to movement only along the second central axis while limiting movement of the scalpel along a horizontal axis.
18 . The scalpel guide of claim 1 , wherein the second guide slot is sized and shaped to allow an incision to be made in a patient that has a length longer than an inside diameter of the aperture of the tool guide.
19 . The scalpel guide of claim 1 , wherein the body is cylindrical and configured to be rotatable within the aperture of the tool guide to align the trajectory plane with a specific anatomical structure of a patient.
20 . The scalpel guide of claim 1 , wherein the channel has a uniform width extending from the first face of the body to the second face of the body.
21 . The scalpel guide of claim 1 , wherein a length of an incision allowed by the second guide slot is controllable by adjusting a height between the second face of the body and a patient.
22 . The scalpel guide of claim 12 , further comprising an insertion marker formed in the body, wherein the seat section extends from the lower face of the shoulder to the insertion marker.
23 . The scalpel guide of claim 12 , further comprising a trajectory marker formed in the marker surface, the trajectory marker aligned with but offset from the first central axis of the body.
24 . The scalpel guide of claim 13 , wherein the tension element comprises a first spring element having a first protrusion and a second spring element having a second protrusion, the first protrusion and the second protrusion extending outwardly beyond an outer diameter of the seat section.
25 . The scalpel guide of claim 14 , wherein the predetermined angle is between twenty-five degrees and sixty degrees.
26 . The scalpel guide of claim 12 , wherein the seat section is cylindrical and has an outer diameter substantially the same as an inner diameter of the aperture of the tool guide.
27 . The scalpel guide of claim 12 , wherein the guide slot is tapered such that an opening of the guide slot at the elongated portion is wider than the guide slot at the first face.
28 . The scalpel guide of claim 1 , further comprising a handle.
29 . The scalpel guide of claim 28 , further comprising guide prongs attached to and/or extending from the handle