US2455008A

US2455008A - Surgical cast cutter

Info

Publication number: US2455008A
Application number: US572683A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arthur J Hood
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1945-01-13
Filing date: 1945-01-13
Publication date: 1948-11-30
Anticipated expiration: 1965-11-30

Description

' A. J. H000 SURGICAL CAST CUTTER Nov. so, 1948.

- 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1 Filed Jan. 13, 1945 gwumvkv Z-bur JJ-Cobd Nov. 30, 1948.

A. J. HOOD SURGICAL CAST CUTTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 15, 1945 awe/whom flribur JJ-flood WW v Patented Nov. 30, I 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Arthur J. Hood, Reno, Nev.

Application January 13, 1945, Serial No. 572,683

This invention relates generally to surgical cast cutters for east removal and in particular represents a modification of the device shown in my co-pending application for United States patent, Serial No. 515,641, filed December 27, 1943.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cast cutter which is convenient to use and with a minimum of annoyance to the patient; the device nevertheless being constructed so that a relatively great cutting or shearing action may be imparted to the cast being removed. 7

Another object is to provide, in a cast cutter having pivotally connected jaw operating handles, a unique stop arrangement operative to limit relative movement of the handles in a jaw closing direction; such stop, after limiting such movement, thereafter tending to cause the jaws to elevate at the forward end, preventing-digging into the patients flesh under the cast.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a cast cutter which includes cooperating jaws having a novel cutting edge arrangement operative to assure a clean cleavage between the parts of the cast being out.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device, and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the cast cutter with the jaws closed.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, showing the jaws in open position.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the cast cutter.

Figure 4 is a cross section on line l-4 of Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the present embodiment of my cast cutter comprises a straight, elongated lower handle I which includes, in integral relation at its forward end, a relatively narrow, elongated, parallel-sided cutting bar or fixed jaw 2, said jaw forming the lower jaw of the device. The lower edge of the jaw 2 is substantially straight at its rear end portion, but the forward end portion thereof curves gently upwardly to a point 3; the jaw being relatively thin at the point 3 for insertion between the cast to be cut and the adjacent flesh of the patient. The upper edge of the jaw 2 is substantially straight j 4 Claims. (01. 30-173) 2 throughout its length except at the forward end where it has a slight upward curvature. The handle l and jaw 2 are in substantial longitudinal alinement.

The jaw 2 adjacent its rear end supports a transverse pivot pin 4 on which a movable upper jaw 5 is vertically swingably mounted at the rear end of the latter; said upper jaw 5 being elon-- gated, comprising a pair of spaced apart parallel, sides 6 which sides closely straddle the lower jaw 2 rearwardly of the forward end of said jaw 5. At its forward end the upper jaw 5 includes a cross web I which connects the sides *6.

The sides 6 are exteriorly bevel sharpened along their lower edges, as at 8, while the cross web 7 is interiorly bevel sharpened at its lower edge as at 9; the sharpened edges 8 cooperating with the adjacent sides of the lower fixed jaw 2 in shearing relation, while the sharpened edge 9 of the cross web 1 cooperates in cutting relation with the upper edge of the forward portion or tip of said jaw 2. As clearly shown, the sharpened edges 8 of the upper jaw 5 extend forwardly, as at H), to a termination some distance ahead of the cross web 1, and the jaw 2 is of sufficient length to cooperate with said cutting edges for their full length, including the projection beyond said cross web.

In order to relieve the cut-out ribbon of the cast, as cut by the device, the sides 6, as well as the cross web I, of the upper jaw 5 flare upwardly and outwardly, as shown.

The movable jaw 5 is forcefully actuated relative to the lower fixed jaw 2, as follows:

6. An upper handle Ii, normally disposed in rearwardly and upwardly diverging relation to the handle l,'is formed at its forward end with a fork [2 which is straight-sided and opens toward the jaw 2. The jaw 2 is formed intermediate its ends with an integral, rigid and upstanding ear l3 which projects into the fork l2 and is pivotally connected to the latter by a cross pin [4. A link I5 is disposed at its lower end between the sides of the jaw 5 intermediate the ends of the latter adjacent but to the rear of the ear IS; the link [5 being attached to the jaw 5 by means of a cross pin l6 which extends between said sides At its upper end the link l5 projects into the fork l2 on handle H and is connected to said fork by another cross pin ll. When the jaws '2 and 5 are in closed position, as in Fig. 1, the link I I5 is parallel to the ear l3, while there is a downwhich time the upper handle II is raised and swung forwardly. It will be seen that when the upper handle is lowered from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 1 the upper jaw is forcefully swung downward in cooperative, cast shearing or cutting relation to the lower jaw 2. Upon occurrence of such relative cutting movement of the jaws the cutting edges 8, and the cutting edge 9, efiectively shear a ribbon section from the cast, while the projecting portions IQ of the sharpened edges 8 effect a positive cleavage of any shreds which may tend to remain connected to the cast at the forward end of the device.

A downwardly projecting stop I8 is fixed on the under side of the handle I adjacent but to the rear of the link l5 and said stop is of a length to abut against the upper edge of the fixed lower jaw 2 when the

jaws

2 and 5 are in fully closed position. When the device is in use and after the stop I8 has engaged the jaw 2, further depression on the upper handle l I by the operator causes the front end or nose of the device to tend to rise, which prevents said portion of the device from digging into the flesh of the patient when each ribbon section is cut and removed from the cast.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful and upon which Letters Patent is desired: 1 a

l. A cast cutter comprising a lower handle, a lower jaw projecting forwardly in rigid relation from the lower handle, an upper jaw comprising a pair of spaced apart parallel sides which straddle the lower jaw, means pivoting the upper jaw adjacent its rear end on the lower jaw for cooperating, cast cutting movement, an ear projecting upwardly in rigid relation from the lower jaw intermediate its ends and between the sides of the upper jaw, an upper handle disposed above and in vertical alinement with the lower handle, a fork on the forward end of the upper handle, said ear projecting into the fork adjacent its forward end, a cross pin pivoting said: ear in the fork, a rigid link projecting at its upper end into the fork to the rear of the ear, another cross pin pivoting the link in the fork, said link depending from said other cross pin between the sides of the upper jaw, and a separate cross pin pivoting the lower end portion of the link in said lower jaw.

2. In a cast cutter which includes a lower tongue-like jaw, an upper jaw comprising a pair of spaced apart parallel sides straddling said lower jaw, a cross web between said sides adjacent the forward end thereof, and means pivotally connecting said jaws adjacent the rear of the upper jaw for cooperative cast cutting movement; downwardly facing cutting edges formed on the lower edges of said sides and cross web, and said sides and cross web being formed with their inner faces inclined upwardly and outwardly.

3. In a cast cutter which includes a lower tongue-like jaw, an upper jaw comprising a pair of spaced apart parallel sides straddling said lower jaw, a cross web between said sides adjacent the forward end thereof, and means pivotally connecting said jaws adjacent the rear of the upper jaw for cooperative cast cutting movement; downwardly facing cutting edges formed on the lower edges of said sides and cross web, the cutting edges on said sides extending forwardly to a termination some distance beyond the cross web cutting edge, and the lower jaw being of a length to cooperate with said side cutting edges for the full length thereof.

4. A cast cutter comprising a relatively straight first handle, a cutting jaw fixed to the lower end of said handle and projecting at an obtuse angle therefrom to permit said jaw to be projected between the cast and the body of the wearer of the cast with the handle then angling away from the body of such wearer, a second cutting jaw pivoted to the first jaw for cooperative cutting action therewith, a second handle, linkage between the second handle and the jaws operable to move such jaws together for cooperative cutting movement, said second handle lying in a common operating plane with the first handle and angling away from the same when the jaws are closed together, a fixed stop on the second handle adapted to engage the first handle after the jaws have moved together to complete the cast cutting operation, whereby the entire tool may then be rocked by the operator to lift the outer ends of the jaws away from contact with the body of the wearer of the cast.

ARTHUR J. HOOD.

REFERENCES CITED The'following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS