A scalpel blade remover assembly

Abstract

A scalpel blade remover assembly comprising: one or more cartridges, each cartridge including a scalpel blade remover; and a stand having a holder attached to a base, the holder able to hold the one or more cartridges, the base extending both forwardly and rearwardly of the holder, wherein the base allows the holder to move between a first angled position and a second substantially vertical position.

Description

TITLE"A SCALPEL BLADE REMOVER ASSEMBLY "FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a scalpel blade remover assembly for removing scalpel blades from scalpel handles.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The applicant of the current invention has been revolutionary in the development of scalpel blade removers in the medical industry. The applicant developed a single-use scalpel blade remover to remove scalpels from scalpel blade handles with an audible click. This invention is disclosed in International Patent Application No. PCT / AU2004 / 000533 and is hereby incorporated in reference.

[0003] The applicant utilised this invention commercially in a scalpel blade remover assembly that includes three separate cartridges, each containing a scalpel blade remover. These cartridges are mounted in a stand so that three scalpel blades can be removed using only a single scalpel blade remover assembly. The stand has a pivotally movable flap attached to a holder. The pivotally movable flap is movable between an open and a closed position. When the pivotally movable flap is in the open position, it allows the holder to sit upright on a horizontal surface, allowing a user of a scalpel to remove a scalpel blade from a scalpel handle using one of the cartridges without having to touch the stand. That is, a single hand can be used to remove the scalpel blade.

[0004] Each cartridge is mounted to the holder of the stand in a bay located on the holder. The holder has three bays to mount the three cartridges. To assemble the scalpel blade remover assembly, the cartridges are slid into their respective bays on the holder where they are held. This scalpel blade remover assembly has been commercially used throughout the world for well over 15 years.

[0005] During that time, there have been some issues that have been identified by the applicant. When removing a scalpel blade from a scalpel handle, the holder is angled with respect to the horizontal surface (typically a surgical cart or drape). To remove the scalpel blade from the scalpel handle, the holder needs to be substantially vertical with respect to the horizontal surface, which involves tilting the holder. This requires some dexterity, especially when attempting to do this single-handedly. The stand can also slide across the horizontal surface. Further, a scalpel blade can become caught between the holder and the cartridge when being inserted into the cartridge by missing the insertion point in the cartridge. All of the above can tempt a user to grip the stand in order to remove the scalpel blade, which carries a sharps risk.

[0006] Another potential issue with the scalpel blade assembly is that if it is dropped prior to use, the cartridges can become dislodged from the stand. This is not ideal, as they need to be replaced within the stand by one of the operating staff, which can cause one of the operating staff to have to re-scrub.OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is an object of the invention to overcome and / or alleviate the abovementioned problems and / or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] In one form, although not necessarily the only or broadest form, the invention resides in a scalpel blade remover assembly comprising: one or more cartridges, each cartridge including a scalpel blade remover; and a stand having a holder attached to a base, the holder able to hold the one or more cartridges, the base extending both forwardly and rearwardly of the holder, wherein the base allows the holder to move between a first angled position and a second substantially vertical position.

[0009] The base may support the holder when in the first angled position. The basemay also be used to assist in supporting the holder in the second substantially vertical position.

[0010] The base may include a pivotally movable flap, the flap being moveable between an open position and a closed position such that when the flap is in the open position, the flap extends outwardly from the holder. Typically, the pivotally movable flap may extend rearwardly of the holder when in the open position.

[0011] The base may include one or more feet. Typically, two or more of the feet support the holder when in the first angled position. Preferably, all of the feet support the holder when in the first angled position. The bottoms of all of the feet may lie in the same first plane. One or more feet may be located on the pivotally moveable flap.

[0012] The base may also include one or more forward projections that extend forwardly of the holder. The one or more forward projections may extend outwardly from holder in opposite direction to the flap when flap is in the open position. The projections may be attached to holder.

[0013] One or more feet in combination with the one or more forward projections, may support the holder when in the second substantially vertical position. Preferably, two of the feet of the holder in combination two or more forward projections support the holder when in the second substantially vertical position.

[0014] In another form, the invention although not necessarily the only or broadest form, the invention resides a stand for use in a scalpel blade remover assembly, the stand comprising: a holder attached to a base, the holder able to hold one or more cartridges, and the base extending both forwardly and rearwardly of the holder , wherein the base allows the holder to move between a first angled position and a second substantially vertical position.

[0015] In another form, although not necessarily the only or broadest form, the invention resides in a scalpel blade remover assembly comprising: one or more cartridges, each cartridge including a scalpel blade remover; anda stand having a holder able to hold the one or more cartridges, wherein the holder and / or the one or more cartridges have one or more locking members to prevent unwanted removal of the one or more cartridges from the holder.

[0016] The one or more locking members may be located on the holder. The one or more locking members may be located on a retainer strap located on the holder. The locking members may be located on the underside of the retainer strap.

[0017] Preferably the locking member is in the form of a latch. Normally, the latch is deformable. Alternatively, the retaining strap is deformable. The latch may be in the form of a ramped latch.

[0018] A person skilled in the art would appreciate that each locking member may be of other forms, such as a barb, a deformable catch, clip, clasp, or the like.

[0019] The one or more locking members may also be located on the one or more cartridges of the cartridge. A locking member located on a cartridge may engage with a locking member on the holder. A locking member located on a cartridge may engage with a locking member on the retainer strap.

[0020] A cartridge may have a locking member in the form of a catch. The catch a may engage with a latch located on a retainer strap.

[0021] In another form, the invention although not necessarily the only or broadest form, the invention resides a stand for use in a scalpel blade remover assembly, the stand comprising: a holder able to hold the one or more cartridges, each cartridge including a scalpel blade remover; wherein the holder has one or more locking members to prevent unwanted removal of the one or more cartridges from the holder.

[0022] In yet another form, although not necessarily the only or broadest form, the invention resides in a scalpel blade remover assembly comprising: one or more cartridges, each cartridge including a scalpel blade remover; anda stand having a holder able to hold the one or more cartridges, wherein the holder includes one or more tabs that overlap the one or more cartridges to hold the one or more cartridges to the holder.

[0023] One or more tabs are typically located adjacent through holes located within the holder. Typically, there are the same number of through-holes as cartridges. One or more tabs may be located adjacent to the top of the through holes.

[0024] Typically the tab is deformable. The tab may be of any suitable shape to engage the cartridge. Preferably, the tab is arrow-shaped. However, it would be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the tab may be of other shapes such as rectangular, square, triangular, semi-circular or a combination of those shapes.

[0025] The tabs may also be used to guide a scalpel blade into one or more openings of the cartridges.

[0026] In another form, the invention although not necessarily the only or broadest form, the invention resides a stand for use in a scalpel blade remover assembly, the stand comprising: a holder able to hold the one or more cartridges, each cartridge including a scalpel blade remover; wherein the holder includes one or more tabs that overlap the one or more cartridges when the cartridges are located on the holder to hold the one or more cartridges to the holder.

[0027] Further features of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description below.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

[0029] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a scalpel blade remover assembly with a flapof a stand in a closed position according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0030] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a stand with a flap in a closed position according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0031] Figure 3 is a perspective view of a scalpel blade remover assembly shown in Figure 1 with the flap in an open position according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0032] Figure 4 is a further perspective view of a scalpel blade remover assembly shown in Figure 1 with the flap in an open position.

[0033] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the stand shown in Figure 1 with the flap in an open position;

[0034] Figure 6 is a further perspective view of the stand shown in Figure 1 with the flap in an open position;

[0035] Figure 7 is a perspective view of a scalpel blade remover assembly shown in Figure 1 with the flap between an open and closed position according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0036] Figure 8 is a perspective view of a stand shown in Figure 1 with the flap between an open position and closed position according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0037] Figure 9 is a sectional perspective view of a scalpel blade remover assembly shown in Figure 1 with the flap in an open position according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0038] Figure 10 is a further sectional perspective view of a scalpel blade remover assembly shown in Figure 1 with the flap in an open position; and

[0039] Figure 11 is a further sectional perspective view of a scalpel blade remover assembly shown in Figure 1 with the flap in an open position.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0040] Figures 1 to 8 show a scalpel blade remover assembly 10 and associated stand 100 that is used to remove scalpel blades. The scalpel blade remover assembly 10 is formed from single stand 100 and three cartridges 200.

[0041] The stand 100 is used to both mount the cartridges 200 and to provide a stand for the cartridges 200 to enable a user to quickly and easily insert a scalpel blade into the cartridges 200. The stand 100 is formed from a base 105 that includes a pivotally movable flap 110 that is pivotally attached to a holder 120. The pivotally movable flap 110 is able to be rotated from a closed position as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2, to an open position as shown in Figure 3 to 6. The pivotally movable flap 110 has four feet 111 underneath a platform 112 as shown more clearly in Figure 7 and Figure 8. The two feet 111 located adjacent the holder 120 have a planar supporting surface 113.

[0042] The holder 120 includes a planar rear wall 121 from which two sidewalls 122, an end wall 123 and two guide walls 124 extend outwardly. A retainer strap 125 is attached to and extends between the two sidewalls 122. The retainer strap is also connected to the two guide walls 124. Several through-holes 126 are located adjacent a top of the rear wall 121 .

[0043] The base 105 also includes a number of forward projections 130 that extend outwardly from the sidewalls 122. The forward projections 130 are used to support the stand 100 in use. The forward projections 130 are located adjacent the bottom of the sidewalls 122. It would be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that additional forward projections 130 can extend outwardly from the two guide walls 124. The additional forward projections 130 would also be located adjacent the bottom of the guide walls 122. The forward projections 130 are also located adjacent at the bottom of the holder 120 adjacent the end wall 123. It would be appreciated that the forward projections 130 may be located on solely the sidewalls or solely on the guide walls 124 or a combination of some or all of the sidewalls 122 and some or all of the guide walls 122.

[0044] A series of locking members 140 are located on an underside of the retainer strap 125. The locking members 140 are used to lock the cartridges 200 to stand. A locking member 140 is located on the retainer strap 125 between each sidewall 122 and each guide wall 124. A locking member 140 is also located on the retainer strap 125 between each of the guide walls the guide wall 124. Each locking member 140 is in the form of a ramped latch 141 .

[0045] A tab 150 is located adjacent to the top of each through-hole 126. The tab 150 is arrow-shaped. However, it would be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the tab may be of other shapes such a rectangular, square, triangular, semi-circular or a combination of those shapes.

[0046] Each cartridge 200 is used to remove a single scalpel blade from a scalpel handle. Accordingly, each cartridge 200 includes a scalpel blade remover 210 as described in International Patent Application No. PCT / AU2004 / 000533. Each cartridge 200 is the same cartridge that is currently being produced by the applicant and used in their single-use scalpel blade removers product under the trademarks BladeCARTRIDE™, BladeSINGLE™, BladeCASSETTE™ and BladeNeedle SYSTEM™. It would be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the shape of the cartridge may be modified.

[0047] To produce the scalpel blade remover assembly 10, the cartridges 200 are attached to the stand 100. This is achieved by locating a cartridge 200 between a sidewall 122 and a guide wall 124 or between the guide walls 124. A lower end of the cartridge 200 is located between the retained strap 125 and the rear wall 121. When the cartridge 200 is in this position, the cartridge 200 is pushed downwardly so that the ramped latch 141 on the retainer strap 125 deforms or moves slightly to allow a catch 210 on the cartridge 200 to move past the ramped latch 141 as shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11 Once the catch 210 moves past the ramped latch 141 , the ramped latch snaps back to its original position to lock the cartridge 200 in place. The cartridge 200 cannot be removed without considerable effort. The ramped latch 141 prevents the cartridge 200 from being removed from the stand 100 when a scalpel blade is being removed from a scalpel blade handle.

[0048] Once the cartridge 200 is locked to the stand 100, the tab 150 is able to be located within a slot 220 adjacent a leaf spring 230 of the cartridge 200 located within the cartridge 100. This provides another way in which to secure the cartridge 200 to the stand 100. The through holes 126 are still sufficiently large to allow the leaf spring 230 of the cartridge to operate in its manner. The tab 150 also provides the advantage of providing a visual indicator to a user where to locate the scalpel blade. Further, it also covers a gap between the cartridge 200 and the planar rear wall 121 so a user cannot accidentally insert the scalpel blade to the gap.

[0049] The above steps are repeated until all the cartridges 200 are locked to the stand 100.

[0050] In use, the stand 100 is unfolded by rotating the pivotally movable flap 110 away from the holder 120 to the open position. In this position, the pivotally movable flap 110 provides support for the holder 120 on a horizontal surface such as a surgical cart or drape. The feet 111 provide a secure footing for the base 105 in this position with all the feet 111 contacting the horizontal surface. That is, the base 105 provides four points of contact. Hence the bottom of all the feet lie in the same first plane.

[0051] In this position, the holder 120 extends upwardly from the horizontal surface at a first angle position. In this position, the scalpel blade can be initially inserted into the top of a cartridge 200, which is made easier by the tab 150.

[0052] Once the scalpel blade is initially inserted, the scalpel blade can be used to move the holder 120 into a substantially second substantially vertical position to make the further insertion of the scalpel blade into the cartridge 200. In this second substantially vertical position, the forward projections 130 and the supporting surfaces 113 on the front feet 111 support the holder 120 on the horizontal surface as well as prevent the holder 120 from over-rotating. That is, the forward projections 130 provide both a stop and support when the holder 120 is in the second substantially vertical position. This is achieved by having a planar supporting surface on the front feet 111 (i.e. the feel located adjacent the holder) lying in the same second plane as the bottomof the forward projections 130. That is, the base 105 utilising the combination of the front feet 111 and the forward projections 130 provide four point of contact.

[0053] Once the scalpel blade is removed from its respective handle, the holder 120 can be moved back to its first angled position, where it is supported by the flap 110.

[0054] It would be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the addition of the forward projections 130, locking members 140 and tabs 150 provide a substantial improvement to the known stand and known scalpel blade remover assembly.

[0055] The new scalpel blade assembly 10, with the new stand 100, locks the cartridges securely to the holder 120 so they cannot be displaced if the scalpel blade assembly 10 is dropped. The tabs 150 add to the cartridges being held securely by the holder 120 and assist with the insertion of the scalpel blade in the cartridge 200. Finally, the base 105 enables the holder to be supported in both first angled position in which the holder 120 is at rest, and the second substantially vertical position to enable a scalpel blade to be removed from a scalpel blade handle using the cartridges 200.

[0056] In this specification, the terms "comprise", "comprises", "comprising" or similar terms are intended to mean a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a system, method, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include those elements solely but may well include other elements not listed.

[0057] In this specification, terms such as upward, downward, horizontal, and vertical, and their grammatical derivatives, are used to describe the invention in its normal orientation and are not to be construed to limit the invention to any particular orientation.

[0058] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

[0059] It should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications may be made to the embodiments described without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:1 . A scalpel blade remover assembly comprising: one or more cartridges, each cartridge including a scalpel blade remover; and a stand having a holder attached to a base, the holder able to hold the one or more cartridges, the base extending both forwardly and rearwardly of the holder , wherein the base allows the holder to move between a first angled position and a second substantially vertical position.

2. The scalpel blade remover assembly of claim 1 wherein The base support the holder when in the first angled position.

3. The scalpel blade remover assembly of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the base is used to assist in supporting the holder in the second substantially vertical position.

4. The scalpel blade remover assembly of any one of the preceding claims wherein the base includes a pivotally movable flap, the flap being moveable between an open position and a closed position such that when the flap is in the open position, the flap extends outwardly from the holder.

5. The scalpel blade remover assembly of claim 4 wherein the pivotally movable flap extends rearwardly of the holder when in the open position.

6. The scalpel blade remover assembly of any one of the preceding claims wherein the base includes one or more feet to support the holder when in the first angled position.

7. The scalpel blade remover assembly of claim 6 wherein the bottoms of all of the feet lie in the same first plane.

8. The scalpel blade remover assembly of claim 6 wherein one or more feet are located on the pivotally moveable flap.

9. The scalpel blade remover assembly of claim any one of the preceding claims wherein the base includes include one or more forward projections that extend forwardly of the holder.

10. The scalpel blade remover assembly of claim 10 wherein the one or more forward projections may extend outwardly from holder in opposite direction to the flap when flap is in the open position.

11. The scalpel blade remover assembly of claim 9 wherein the projections are attached to holder.

12. The scalpel blade remover assembly of claim 9 wherein the one or more feet in combination with the one or more forward projections, support the holder when in the second substantially vertical position.

13. A stand for use in a scalpel blade remover assembly, the stand comprising a holder attached to a base, the holder able to hold one or more cartridges, and the base extending both forwardly and rearwardly of the holder wherein the base allows the holder to move between a first angled position and a second substantially vertical position.

14. A scalpel blade remover assembly comprising: one or more cartridges, each cartridge including a scalpel blade remover; and a stand having a holder able to hold the one or more cartridges, wherein the holder and / or the one or more cartridges have one or more locking members to prevent unwanted removal of the one or more cartridges from the holder after the one or more cartridges are located within the holder.

15. The scalpel blade remover assembly of claim 14 wherein the one or more locking members are located on the holder.

16. The scalpel blade remover assembly of claim 14 or claim 15 wherein the one or more locking members are located on a retainer strap located on the holder.

17. The scalpel blade remover assembly of claim 16, wherein the locking members are located on the underside of the retainer strap.

18. The scalpel blade remover assembly of any one of claims 14 to 17 wherein the locking member is in the form of a latch.

19. The scalpel blade remover assembly of claim 18 wherein either the latch or the retaining strap is deformable.

20. The scalpel blade remover assembly of claim 18 wherein the latch is in the form of a ramped latch.

21. The scalpel blade remover assembly of any one of claims 14 to 20 wherein the one or more locking members are located on the one or more cartridges of the cartridge.

22. The scalpel blade remover assembly of claim 22 wherein a locking member located on a cartridge engages with a locking member on the holder.

23. The scalpel blade remover assembly of claim 22 wherein a locking member located on a cartridge engages with a locking member on the retainer strap.

24. The scalpel blade remover assembly of claim 22 wherein a cartridge has a locking member in the form of a catch and the catch a engages with a latch located on a retainer strap.

25. A stand for use in a scalpel blade remover assembly, the stand comprising: a holder able to hold the one or more cartridges, each cartridge including a scalpel blade remover; wherein the holder has one or more locking members to prevent unwanted removal of the one or more cartridges from the holder after the one or more cartridges are located within the holder.

26. A scalpel blade remover assembly comprising:one or more cartridges, each cartridge including a scalpel blade remover; and a stand having a holder able to hold the one or more cartridges, wherein the holder includes one or more tabs that overlap the one or more cartridges to hold the one or more cartridges to the holder after the one or more cartridges are located within the holder.

27. The scalpel blade remover assembly of claim 26 wherein the one or more tabs are located adjacent through holes located within the holder.

28. The scalpel blade remover assembly of claim 27 wherein there are the same number of through holes as cartridges.

29. The scalpel blade remover assembly of claim 27 or 28 wherein one or more tabs are located adjacent to the top of the through holes.

30. The scalpel blade remover assembly of any one of claims 26 to 29 wherein the tab is deformable.

31. The scalpel blade remover assembly of any one of claims 26 to 30 wherein the tab is arrow-shaped.

32. The scalpel blade remover assembly of any one of claims 26 to 31 wherein the tabs are used to guide a scalpel blade into one or more openings of the cartridges.

33. A stand for use in a scalpel blade remover assembly, the stand comprising: a holder able to hold the one or more cartridges, each cartridge including a scalpel blade remover; wherein the holder includes one or more tabs that overlap the one or more cartridges when the cartridges are located on the holder to hold the one or more cartridges to the holder.

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