Patent Application
20160128712
A scar resulting from an incision made by a surgeon in a first operation is usually minor if the boundaries of the skin along opposite sides of the incision have been properly closed following surgery. Usually, there are no differences in contour between the edges of the skin along the line of the incision, because they were produced at the same time by a single cutting device.
However, often it is necessary to perform additional operations at substantially the same site of the scar, such as for a Cesarean section. Put differently, one or more additional incisions are made along the line of the original incision, resulting in the formation of scar tissue. And with each repetition of the incision the width and height of the scar tissue increases, causing the scar to become unsightly.
Conventional operational procedure adopted for the removal of such scar tissue is to employ a single conventional scalpel and to cut through the skin along lines respectively disposed at opposite sides of the scar tissue. The skin between the corresponding ends of such lines is cut through and then the skin between the lines is then removed.
This procedure is often difficult and unsatisfactory because the skin immediately following the cut made by the scalpel pulls away irregularly, there being scar tissue along one side of the incision and virgin tissue along the other side, and after the scar tissue is removed the edges of the skin to be drawn together by sutures are not complementary in linear contour nor are they straight.
For this reason, an unsightly scar may be unavoidable and the difficulty of properly suturing or uniting the irregular edges of the virgin skin is time consuming and difficult.
Surgeons have, from time-to-time, tried to overcome the above difficulties attendant upon removing scar tissue by attempting to hold a pair of scalpels in one hand and to make the incision along parallel paths at the same time.
Obviously this is a difficult procedure and a hazardous one. The points of the blades of the scalpels should be positioned and held to cut the same depth at the same time. To attempt to hold a pair of separate scalpels is awkward at best, and there is imminent danger of slippage of one or the other with unacceptable risks to the patient.
Double-bladed scalpels have been developed to enable a physician to make two spaced-apart-parallel incisions simultaneously. These scalpels usually contained two blades in fixed relative position to each other for producing strips of one fixed width. Other scalpels were developed in which the distance of separation between the cutting edges of the blades were adjustable manually for making incisions of different widths.
Unfortunately, very few of these scalpels were commercially developed nor adopted by surgeons in the field. As a result, most surgeons are faced with the same problems encountered by surgeons over several decades when attempting to cut through scar tissue. That is, most surgeons today use a single scalpel to make incisions along scar tissue, and are no better equipped to remove scar tissue than over 50 years ago.
Example double-bladed scalpels and constituent parts are described. In one example, a sleeve for creating a single unitary double-bladed scalpel from two conventional independent scalpels is disclosed.
Also described is a doubled-bladed scalpel with a single dedicated handle. The handle may include an integrated sleeve.
Also described, are scalpels containing fastening mechanisms disposed thereon and/or therein for coupling two scalpels together to form a single unitary double-bladed scalpel. The fastening mechanisms allow a surgeon to use each scalpel as a single unit when not fastened to another scalpel.
In one aspect, a pair of conventional scalpels are joined side-by-side by an elastomeric-tubular sleeve. The sleeve is adapted to slide over the two conventional scalpels. When the sleeve is disposed over the housing of the scalpels, they are held in place in fixed relation to each other. That is, the sleeve secures the two scalpels in side-by-side alignment and in fixed-parallel relation with each other. The sleeve prevents the blades of each scalpel from independently moving with respect to the other. An inner surface of the sleeve may have a geometric shape contoured to fit snuggly and coextensively around the housings of two scalpels. The inner surface of the sleeve may be smooth or include a gripping pattern. The inner surface of the sleeve may also be lubricated with silicone or other material to permit the sleeve to be slid over the housings of the scalpels without too much resistance. However, friction generated by shear forces between the inner surface of the sleeve, and outer surfaces of the housings for the scalpels, retains the sleeve in place after it is slid in into place over the scalpels.
The sleeve may have varying longitudinal lengths sufficient to hold and join two scalpels together in fixed relation to each other. Typically, the distal end of the sleeve is aligned (or in close proximity thereto) with a distal end, i.e., front/blade end, of each scalpel's housing. In one example, the sleeve is about an inch in length, but may be shorter or longer as appreciated by those skilled in the art after having the benefit of this disclosure.
An outer surface of the sleeve comprises one or more surface patterns and/or gripping elements that permits the surgeon to tactilely grip, and readily feel the contours of the surface pattern/gripping elements through the surgeon's gloves. As appreciated by those skilled in the art after having the benefit of this disclosure, the surface pattern may improve stability and minimize slippage during use of the scalpels.
In one embodiment, the surface pattern includes a transverse lip that may extend across the width of the sleeve at a location toward a distal end of the sleeve. The transverse lip serves as a guard for preventing the surgeon's fingers from accidently sliding forward toward the blade area when exerting downward pressure on the scalpels during surgery. The transverse lip may be tubular in shape, and be disposed around the sleeve.
In one embodiment, the surface pattern may also include a center protrusion on a facing surface of the sleeve. The center protrusion may be further located along a center-longitudinal axis of the sleeve when the sleeve is slid over the scalpels. The center protrusion may be elevated above other protrusions on the surface pattern, and/or be of a pattern type, and/or length, which allows the surgeon to readily detect where the center line of the joined scalpels reside. In other words, the center protrusion is generally aligned with a center-longitudinal axis of both scalpels when joined together by the sleeve.
In one embodiment, the sleeve may include varying geometric contours, such as an hour-glass shape, or may include rings or other geometric shapes for enhanced gripping. If the sleeve includes an hour-glass shape, the aforementioned transverse lip may be replaced by an upper-most ramp (i.e. flared portion) of the hour-glass shaped sleeve.
In another embodiment, the sleeve includes a fastening device to permit the sleeve to be wrapped around the housings of two-paired scalpels instead of slid over the scalpels. The fastening device may include a clasp, or hook and clasp fasteners (i.e., Velcro®).
In another embodiment, the sleeve and/or the housing of each scalpel include suitable interconnection devices to permit the scalpels to be snapped together in a fixed relationship to each other. For example, a first scalpel may include one or more female apertures defined on a first side of the housing. A second scalpel may include male members defined on a second side of the housing opposite the female apertures for insertion therein.
In one example, the sleeve may include a clip to secure the scalpels side-by-side. In this example, the sleeve may or may not include an upper surface or gripping features as well as the transverse lip.
In yet another embodiment, the width between each cutting blade of each scalpel may be adjusted before the sleeve is fastened around the scalpels. For instance for scars that are narrow (i.e., approximately 2 mm in width), it may be possible to simply join the two scalpels together via the sleeve. But for wider scars (i.e., 4 mm), a small grommet or other material may be sandwiched between the two inner portions of each housing of both scalpels to widen the distance between the blades of each scalpel, before the sleeve is slid over or wrapped around the scalpels.
In another implementation, the sleeve may form a permanent-integrated grip of a single-handle-double-bladed scalpel. That is, the scalpel includes only one handle (instead of two conventional handles secured together) having two parallel blades extending from a distal end of the handle. In this example, the width of between the blades of the scalpel may be preconfigured at different widths ranging in size from about 2 mm to 5 mm.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below. This summary is not necessarily intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it necessarily intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
The foregoing outlines examples of this disclosure so that those skilled in the relevant art may better understand the detailed description that follows. Additional embodiments and details will be described hereinafter. Those skilled in the relevant art should appreciate that they can readily use any of these disclosed embodiments as a basis for designing or modifying other structures or functions for carrying out the invention, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Reference herein to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “an implementation” “an example” or similar formulations herein, means that a particular feature, structure, operation, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment, is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, different appearances of such phrases or formulations herein do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, various particular features, structures, operations, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.
The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.
Sleeve 104 is adapted to fit around or slide over housings (i.e., the handles) (hereinafter generally referred to as reference number 106) of scalpels 102. Sleeve 104 is positioned near blades 108(1), 108(2). Sleeve 104 secures scalpels 102 (
Sleeve 104 may be constructed of any suitable elastomeric material that is strong and rigid enough to frictionally engage and hold both scalpels in fixed relation to each other. For instance, sleeve 104 may be constructed of a resilient material, such as thermoplastic elastomer, rubber, vinyl, polyester, resilient plastic, a silicone material, a composite material, or any other suitable materials for the purpose of securing two scalpels as well as to provide a stable and comfortable grip to a surgeon.
As depicted in
Referring back to
The outer gripping surface of sleeve 104 is depicted in
Gripping elements 304 allow a surgeon to comfortably grip double-bladed scalpels 102 while minimizing slippage during use of the scalpels. In some implementations, a surgeon may discern the contours of gripping elements 304 through surgical gloves. In one example each gripping element 304 adjacent gripping elements are spaced apart at least ⅛ inch from each other, and longitudinally extend at least ¼ inch away from surface 302. Each gripping element 304 is compressible by an average female squeezing the gripping elements 304.
In one embodiment, surface pattern 304 also includes a transverse lip 306 that may extend across the width of sleeve 104 at a location toward a distal end 110 of sleeve 104. Transverse lip 306 serves as a guard for preventing the surgeon's fingers from accidently sliding forward toward the blade area when exerting downward pressure on the scalpels during surgery. Transverse lip 306 may be tubular in shape or a plurality of other geometric shapes (rounded, pointed, square, etc.), and may be disposed circumferentially around sleeve 104. As appreciated by those skilled in the art, an indentation (i.e., a groove) (not shown) may also serve as a finger guard in lieu of, or in conjunction with lip 306.
Referring to
Sleeve 104 may include varying geometric contours. For instance, as depicted in
A holder may be used to secure two scalpels in side-by-side relation forming a double-bladed scalpel. As best illustrated in
Holder assembly 602 allows a surgeon to quickly and easily attach two conventional scalpels into chambers 606(1), 606(2). The exact dimensions and configurations of each chamber 606 are pre-molded, and selected to conform to the shape of scalpels selected by the surgeon.
Holder assembly 602 may be produced from semi-flexible, molded plastic. However, as appreciated by those skilled in the art after having the benefit of this disclosure, other materials with similar characteristics can be used in place of a plastic, such as rubber.
In one embodiment, each chamber is approximately the same dimension or slightly smaller than housings 106. Accordingly, each housing 106 may be slidably inserted into chamber 606 or removed therefrom. Alternatively, each chamber 606 may snap-fit over or around a housing 106 of a scalpel 102 when pressed into each chamber 606 via openings 608(1), 608(2). Because each chamber 606 is resilient and semi-rigid, it may flex and expand slightly to receive a housing 106 of scalpel 102 therein. One or more holding tabs 612(1), 612(2), 612(3), 614(4) in conjunction with inner wall(s) 615 of each chamber 606 retain and secure each scalpel 102 inside chambers 606. As appreciated by those skilled in the art, it may be possible use less than four holding tabs. In addition, there may be only a single center-inner wall 615 (i.e., a shared-center support wall) separating the first and second chambers from each other.
In another embodiment, a scalpel may also include male and female snap parts. For example,
Snaps parts 804, 806 may be any suitable snap fastener widely used in different industries such as batteries, clothes, and the like. The snaps may be comprised of metal or other suitable materials such as semi-flexibly plastic. Snap parts 804, 806 may be an integrated-molded feature of each scalpel 802 or may be attached thereto by glue or other fastening means.
In the depicted examples of
In addition, although female/male snap parts are shown, it is also appreciated that other fastening mechanisms, such as brackets, clips, magnets, and related fasteners may be employed, in lieu of or in addition to snaps, along the side wall of each scalpel.
Still further, although female and male fastening mechanism are only shown on one side wall 808, 810 of each scalpel 802, it is possible that fastening mechanisms may be included on the right and left side walls of each scalpel to ensure there is always mating pair of scalpels in which to form a double-bladed scalpel.
In addition, a first scalpel may include one or more female apertures defined on a first side of the housing. A second scalpel may include male members defined on a second side of the housing opposite the female apertures for insertion therein. In one example, the interconnecting female and male system may be similar to lockable ball and socket joints in place of sockets. Thus, the terms male snap parts and female-snap parts, as used herein, are intended to include ball and socket fastening devices and their equivalents.
A double-bladed scalpel may also have an integrated sleeve 104. That is, as best illustrated in
Still referring to
Blades 108(1), 108(2) are preferably fixedly mounted in handle 1006 in a permanent manner, such as for a single-use scalpel, but could also be removably attached to handle 1006. Handle 1006 is typically an integrally solid rigid material. For instance, handle 1006 may be formed integrally of solid rigid material, such as rigid (or semi-rigid) plastic resins, metal, or other suitable materials.
Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as illustrative forms of implementing the claims.
