Trimming Knife Guard Geometry to Prevent Specimen Catching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing trimming knives with rectangular blades have squared leading and trailing corners that can inadvertently catch or drag through specimens during cutting, particularly during backward strokes, leading to potential specimen damage.

Innovation Solution

A trimming knife design featuring a handle with a blade guard or insert that provides a smooth transition between the blade's cutting edge and handle, inhibiting the trailing corner from catching on the specimen by guiding it onto the cutting edge, and allowing for easy blade replacement and disposal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a rectangular blade with squared corners is used, then the blade structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the trailing corner catches or drags through the specimen during backward strokes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblade structure simplicityVSAvoidspecimen damage from corner catching

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies curvature by rounding the trailing corner of the blade and providing a curved transition surface on the blade guard. This curved geometry eliminates the sharp corner that causes specimen catching, allowing smooth passage of the specimen during backward strokes while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a blade guard with curved transition edge is added, then specimen damage is prevented, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespecimen damage preventionVSAvoidblade guard structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the blade guard with the handle by providing a curved transition edge that integrates smoothly between the blade and handle. This integration reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall structure while still providing the necessary curved surface to prevent specimen catching.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the trailing corner is modified to prevent catching, then specimen damage is reduced, but the blade design becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespecimen damage from trailing cornerVSAvoidblade corner geometry

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the trailing corner by providing a rounded corner geometry instead of a sharp square corner. This curved modification to the blade itself, combined with the curved transition edge on the blade guard, eliminates the harmful catching effect while maintaining a simple overall blade design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS12479116B2Trimming knife

Publication Date: 2025.11.25 CANCER DIAGNOSTICS INC

AI summary

In one aspect, a trimming knife is provided that includes a blade and a handle. The blade has a straight leading edge, a straight trailing edge, a straight lower cutting edge, and squared leading and trailing corners between the straight leading and trailing edges and the straight lower cutting edge. The handle includes a gripping portion, a spine to receive the blade, and a blade guard configured to protect the squared trailing corner of the blade with the blade received in the spine.