WO2020058731A1 - Surgical apparatus with releasable handle - Google Patents

Surgical apparatus with releasable handle Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2020058731A1
WO2020058731A1 PCT/GB2019/052664 GB2019052664W WO2020058731A1 WO 2020058731 A1 WO2020058731 A1 WO 2020058731A1 GB 2019052664 W GB2019052664 W GB 2019052664W WO 2020058731 A1 WO2020058731 A1 WO 2020058731A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
blade
locking pin
receiving slot
handle
elongate body
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2019/052664
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Mike Burrows
Martyn FEARN
John Johnson
Original Assignee
Burcas Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Burcas Limited filed Critical Burcas Limited
Priority to EP19778617.1A priority Critical patent/EP3852654A1/en
Publication of WO2020058731A1 publication Critical patent/WO2020058731A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets
    • A61B17/32—Surgical cutting instruments
    • A61B17/3209—Incision instruments
    • A61B17/3211—Surgical scalpels, knives; Accessories therefor
    • A61B17/3213—Surgical scalpels, knives; Accessories therefor with detachable blades
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets
    • A61B17/32—Surgical cutting instruments
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets
    • A61B17/32—Surgical cutting instruments
    • A61B17/320016—Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets
    • A61B17/32—Surgical cutting instruments
    • A61B17/3209—Incision instruments
    • A61B17/32093—Incision instruments for skin incisions
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets
    • A61B17/32—Surgical cutting instruments
    • A61B17/3209—Incision instruments
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets
    • A61B2017/0046—Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets
    • A61B2017/0046—Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable
    • A61B2017/00464—Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable for use with different instruments
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets
    • A61B17/32—Surgical cutting instruments
    • A61B2017/320044—Blunt dissectors
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets
    • A61B17/32—Surgical cutting instruments
    • A61B2017/320056—Tunnelers

Definitions

  • This invention relates to surgical apparatus and in particular to surgical blades and surgical handles which in combination can be used as surgical cutting instruments.
  • surgical cutting instruments have to be sterile at time of use. It is also known that it is desirable that such instruments need to be as sharp as they are intended to be when they are used. As a result, it is known for surgical cutting instruments to be wholly or partially disposable. This disposability is beneficial because it avoids the risk of cross infection between patients and bluntness of blades but has the disadvantage of the environmental cost of disposal of items that have only been used once. To balance these advantages and disadvantages it is known to dispose of the minimum amount of the apparatus as possible whilst seeking to avoid the risk of cross infection.
  • a surgical handle and a surgical cutting instrument comprising a blade and a handle.
  • a surgical handle suitable for use with a blade having a first end which incorporates at the first end a first end portion having first and second engagement recesses
  • the handle comprises a handle body, a blade receiving slot, and a blade retention means characterised in that the blade receiving slot is a recess that extends into the handle body and which is defined by one or more receiving slot side faces and a receiving slot base face,
  • the blade receiving slot is dimensioned and configured so that the first end portion of the blade may be reversibly moved between an engaged position in which the first end portion of the blade is substantially within the blade receiving slot with the blade receiving slot side and base faces in loose contact with the first end of the blade and a detached position where the first end portion of the blade is not in the blade receiving slot,
  • the blade retention means is comprised of a fixed locking pin and a mobile locking pin, in which
  • a portion of the fixed locking pin extends into the blade receiving slot through a receiving slot side face
  • the mobile locking pin is reversibly moveable between a retracted position in which the mobile locking pin does not extend into the blade receiving slot and a protruding position in which a portion of the mobile locking pin extends into the blade receiving slot through a receiving slot side face, the fixed locking pin and the mobile locking pin are so located and dimensioned that when the first end of the blade is in the engaged position at least a part of the fixed locking pin projects into one of the first or second engagement recesses of the blade, and
  • the handle of the present invention may be used in the following fashion starting from a situation in which there is no blade engaged with the handle:
  • the handle is checked to see if the mobile locking pin is in the retracted position and the mobile locking pin moved to that position if it is not;
  • the first end of the blade is introduced into the blade receiving slot of the handle and moved to the engaged position so that one of the first or second engagement recesses of the first end portion of the elongate body of the blade has a portion of the fixed locking pin introduced into that engagement recess and the first end of the blade is in contact with the base face of the receiving slot;
  • the mobile locking pin is moved from its retracted position to its protruding position and a portion of the mobile locking pin introduced into the other of the first and second engagement recesses;
  • the blade is by prevented from moving from the engaged position to the detached position by the fixed and mobile locking pins projecting into the first and second engagement recesses;
  • the mobile locking pin When it is desired to remove the blade from the handle, the mobile locking pin is moved from its protruding position to its retracted position results in a portion of the mobile locking pin being removed from one of the first and second engagement recesses;
  • step (iii) the movement of the mobile locking pin toward its protruding position pushes the blade toward the fixed locking pin and may thus increase the portion of the fixed locking pin in the engagement recess into which it extends.
  • the mobile locking pin has a longitudinal axis and comprises a shaft with a pin end and a helically threaded portion
  • the handle comprises a helically threaded bore, in which the pin end of the mobile locking pin is adapted to at least partially enter the first or second recess of the blade, the threads of the threaded portion of the mobile locking pin and the threaded bore of the handle are configured to intermesh, and rotation of the mobile locking pin around the mobile locking pin’s longitudinal axis will cause the mobile locking pin to move along the threaded bore in a direction dependent on the direction of rotation of the mobile locking pin.
  • This embodiment is advantageous because the use of the helical thread to move the mobile fixing pin has the result that the location of the mobile locking pin end can be accurately controlled and accidental movement of the mobile locking pin away from its protruding position is unlikely.
  • the threads of the threaded portion of the mobile locking pin and the threaded bore of the handle are dimensioned and configured to be vibration resistant.
  • An example of a vibration resistant thread configuration is taught in US patent no. US4540321 A (Berecz).
  • the mobile locking pin further comprises a second end, and the second end is configured to allow a user to use the second end to rotate the mobile locking pin around its longitudinal axis without the aid of a tool.
  • the second end may be a knurled cylinder, or be otherwise configured to allow a user to readily rotate the mobile locking pin around its longitudinal axis.
  • the handle body is a longitudinally extending body having a longitudinal axis.
  • the handle body is substantially cylindrical.
  • the threaded bore of the handle is substantially co-axial with the longitudinal axis of the handle.
  • the shape of the mouth of the blade receiving slot is any appropriate shape such as, for example and without limitation, triangular, square, rectangular, polygonal, or oval.
  • the handle further comprises at least a second blade receiving slot.
  • each blade receiving slot is so located and orientated that the blade retention means may reversibly retain a blade inserted into any one of the blade receiving slots.
  • each blade receiving slot has different dimensions to the or each other blade receiving slots. This allows the handle to be used with blades which have first end portions of the elongate body that are differently sized from each other. For example, blades of different thickness.
  • the handle comprises two blade receiving slots which are orientated at around 90° to each other. These blade receiving slots may be differently dimensioned.
  • the blade receiving slots may be dimensioned and configured to receive the first end portion of one or more of blades according to the first aspect of the present invention.
  • a surgical cutting apparatus comprising a handle according to the first aspect of the presentinvention and a blade in which the blade comprises an elongate body, the elongate body having a first and a second end with first and second end faces respectively, a longitudinal axis, and at least one cutting edge, characterised in that a first end portion of the elongate body adjacent the first end of the elongate body is defined by the first end face and at least one longitudinally extending face, and the first end portion defines a first and a second engagement recess in one or more surfaces of the first end portion, and the first engagement recess is located on substantially the opposite side of the longitudinal axis of the elongate body to the second engagement recess.
  • the first end portion of the elongate body is defined by one longitudinally extending face.
  • the cross-section of the first end portion is circular, elliptical or of another curved shape where there are no defined edges to the longitudinally extending face.
  • Each of the first and second engagement recesses is defined by at least part of the first end portion of the elongate body.
  • Each engagement recess can be created by moulding, stamping, drilling, cutting, grinding or other like processes appropriate to the material from which the elongate body is formed.
  • the first and second engagement recesses may be of the same shape and dimension as each other or may be of different shapes or dimensions.
  • the first end portion of the elongate body is the portion of the elongate body which is adapted to be engaged with the handle of the first aspect of the present invention.
  • the first end portion of the elongate body is defined by the first end face, and at least two longitudinally extending faces.
  • the first end portion of the elongate body is defined by the first end face, and first, second, third and fourth longitudinally extending faces, the first and third longitudinally extending faces extend between the longitudinal edges of the second and fourth longitudinally extending faces, the distance between the longitudinal edges of the first longitudinally extending face is less than the distance between the longitudinal edges of either the second or fourth longitudinally extending faces, the distance between the longitudinal edges of the third longitudinally extending face is less than the distance between the longitudinal edges of either the second or fourth longitudinally extending faces, and the first engagement recess is located in the first longitudinally extending face and the second engagement recess is located in the third longitudinally extending face.
  • the first end portion of the elongate body has a rectangular cross section.
  • the long dimension of the rectangle is significantly greater than the short dimension of the rectangle. This has the advantage that there is no danger of the first end portion rotating around the longitudinal axis of the elongate body when inserted into any appropriately configured receiving slot in the handle.
  • a rectangular cross section for the first end portion of the elongate body has the further advantage that the first end portion of the elongate body may fit into an appropriately configured receiving slot for the first end portion in either of two orientations. As such a member of the surgical team, if changing the blade of the cutting device does not need to present the blade to the handle in only one orientation. Additionally, or in the alternative, this will be beneficial if the configuration of the handle and blade handed, that is suitable for one of left or right-handed use.
  • one or both of the first and second engagement recess extends across the whole of the face or faces in which they are located. This is particularly convenient from a manufacturing point of view.
  • the cross section of the first end portion of the elongate body may be substantially stadium shaped or other shape with a long first dimension and a second, perpendicular, short dimension in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongate body.
  • the elongate body is comprised of a planar material throughout its length.
  • the elongate body can be cut out of a sheet material.
  • Such elongate bodies will have considerable resistance to twisting around the longitudinal axis of the of the elongate body as well as considerable resistance to bending around an axis perpendicular to the plane of the material. Such rigidity is advantageous where it is important that cuts made by the surgical team occur where it is desired for them to be.
  • the first end portion of the elongate body is comprised of a planar material and at least a portion of the remainder of the elongate body is a rod or a bar.
  • the portion of the elongate body that is not the first end portion may be desired to have only a relatively small dimension in directions lateral to the longitudinal axis of the blade.
  • the material from which the elongate body is formed will be thicker when a portion of the elongate body is a rod or bar than when the blade is substantially planar.
  • the material from which the blade is formed may be 2mm thick in contrast to material of 1mm thick being used for embodiments where the blade is substantially planar.
  • the at least one cutting edge is comprised of the second end of the elongate body. This configuration is partially useful if the cutting apparatus is to be used as a chisel or to cut into a part of the body or a prosthesis.
  • At least one cutting edge is an edge formed on a protrusion extending from the elongate body, the protrusion is proximal to the second end, and the cutting edge on the protrusion tapers in thickness from a first thickness to a second lesser thickness in a direction away from the first end of the elongate body.
  • the cutting edge faces away from the handle into which the blade may be inserted and the blade is used by pushing the blade.
  • the second end of the blade may be used to guide the blade relative to a firm surface or prevent the cutting edge on the protrusion cutting closer to a surface than the distance between the second end of the blade and the cutting edge on the protrusion.
  • At least one cutting edge is an edge formed on a protrusion extending from the elongate body, the protrusion is proximal to the second end, and the cutting edge on the protrusion tapers in thickness from a first thickness to a second lesser thickness in a direction away from the second end of the elongate body.
  • the cutting edge faces toward the handle into which the blade may be inserted and the blade is used by pulling the blade.
  • the second end of the blade may be used to guide the cutting edge relative to a firm surface.
  • the elongate body is planar and the protrusion is substantially in the plane of the elongate body. In some other embodiments of the present invention the elongate body is planar and the protrusion extends out of the plane of the elongate body.
  • a plurality of differently configured blades which may be interchangeably engaged with a single handle.
  • Figure 1 shows a top view of a first embodiment of a blade which forms part of the second aspect of the present invention
  • Figure 2 shows a view of the blade of Figure 1 from the side
  • Figure 3 shows an enlarged top view of the first end portion of the blade of Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 4 shows an enlarged view of the second end portion of the blade of Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a blade which forms part of the second aspect of the present invention
  • Figure 6 shows a top view of a third embodiment of a blade which forms part of the second aspect of the present invention
  • Figure 7 shows a top view of a fourth embodiment of a blade which forms part of the second of the present invention
  • Figure 8 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a handle according to the first aspect of the present invention.
  • Figure 9 shows a side view of the handle of Figure 8 without the inclusion of the blade retaining means
  • Figure 10 shows a side view of the blade retaining means of the handle of Figure 8; and Figure 11 shows an embodiment of a surgical cutting apparatus according to the present invention.
  • a surgical blade (2) is comprised of an elongate body (4) having a first end with a first end face (6) and a second end with a second end face (8).
  • the blade (2) has a longitudinal axis (10) and a cutting edge (12).
  • the blade is planar or flat and has substantially greater dimensions in two of the x, y, and z directions than the third dimension.
  • the blade (2) is metallic, preferably formed from an appropriate grade of steel, and cut out from a sheet of that material.
  • the blade may be treated to improve its qualities, such as hardness or surface finish.
  • the blade may be of a plastic material, ceramic material or other appropriate material.
  • the blade may be moulded or cast or otherwise formed, the method of formation being dependent upon the material to be used for the blade.
  • the blade (2) has a first end portion (14) which is, in the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, integral with the rest of the blade and of a larger dimension than the rest of the blade (2) in the plane of the blade (2) and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (10).
  • the first end portion (14) is defined by its two large faces (20, 22), the first end face (6) and the longitudinally extending faces (16,18) that extend between the two large faces (20, 22).
  • the dimensions of the first end portion may be any appropriate dimensions.
  • the thickness of the first end portion (14) may be may be any appropriate thickness.
  • One dimensioned embodiment of the first end portion (14) is rectangular with the larger dimension of the rectangle in the plane of the blade (2) and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (10) being about 25.00 mm.
  • the shorter dimension of the rectangle, which is parallel with the longitudinal axis (10) is about 13.75mm and the first end portion (14) has a thickness of about 1.00mm. It will be appreciated that this is just one example of the possible dimensions of the first end portion.
  • the first end portion (14) defines a first and second engagement recess (24, 26) in the longitudinally extending faces (16, 18).
  • the first and second engagement recesses (24, 26) extend between the two large faces (20, 22) and have a trapezoidal shape with the longer of the parallel edges of the trapezoid forming the mouth in the edges (16, 18).
  • the first and second recesses (24,26) are located on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis (10) and are equidistant from the first end face (6).
  • Other shapes of engagement recess may be employed in other embodiments of the present invention.
  • the dimensions and configuration of the recesses (24, 26) is that the engagement recesses are isosceles trapezoids with the longer of the parallel sides being about 4.20mm long, the shorter about 3.24mm long, and the distance between the parallel sides being about 2.75mm.
  • the edge of the mouths of the engagement recesses (24, 26) closest to the first end face (6) of the blade (2) are around 2.90mm from the first end face (6).
  • proximal to the second end face (8) of the blade (2) is a protrusion (28) extending from the elongate body (4) in the plane of the elongate body.
  • the edge of the protrusion (28) facing away from the second end face (8) has the form of a cutting edge (12).
  • the cutting edge tapers from the thickness of the elongate body (4) where the cutting edge (12) is closest to the second end (8) to a sharp edge as the distance from the second end (8) increases.
  • the second end (8) is, in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4, blunt. In other embodiments the second end (8) could also comprise a cutting edge.
  • the blade (2) of Figures 1 to 4 is adapted for cutting when movement of the blade is such that the handle is in front of the blade in the direction of travel of the blade.
  • the first end portion (14) of the blade (2) of Figure 5 is dimensionally the same as and has the same configuration as the first end portion of the blade (2) shown in Figures 1 to 4.
  • Proximal to the second end face (8) of the blade (2) of Figure 5 is a protrusion (28) extending from the elongate body (4).
  • the protrusion extends out of the plane of the elongate body.
  • the edge of the protrusion (28) facing toward the second end face (8) has the form of a cutting edge (12).
  • the cutting edge tapers from the thickness of the elongate body (4) where the cutting edge (12) is closest to the first end face (6) to a sharp edge as the distance from the first end face (6) increases.
  • the second end face (8) is, in the current embodiment, blunt. In other embodiments the second end face (8) could also comprise a cutting edge.
  • the blade (2) of Figure 5 is adapted for cutting when movement of the blade is such that the blade is in front of the handle in the direction of travel of the blade.
  • a portion of the blade (2) is formed from a rod or bar (4a) which is integral with the first end portion (14) of the blade (2).
  • the first end portion (14) of the blade (2) of Figure 6 is dimensionally the same and has the same configuration as the first end portion of the blade (2) shown in Figures 1 to 4 in the plane of the two large faces (20, 22).
  • the thickness of the elongate body (4) may the same as that of the blades shown in Figures 1 to 5, but may be thicker. This will lend greater rigidity to the blade (2) to compensate for the blade (2) of Figure 6 being comprised of less material than the blades shown in Figures 1 to 5.
  • the blade shown in Figure 6 has a thickness of around 2.00mm.
  • Proximal to the second end face (8) is a pair of protrusions (28a) extending from the rod or bar (4a).
  • the protrusions extend from the rod or bar (4a) in opposite directions.
  • the edge of each of the protrusions (28a) facing away from the first end face (8) has the form of a cutting edge (12a) and the cutting edge tapers from the thickness of the rod or bar (4a) where the cutting edge (12a) is closest to the first end face (6) to a sharp edge as the distance from the first end face (6) increases.
  • the second end face (8) is, in the embodiment of Figure 6, also a cutting edge (12).
  • the blade (2) of Figure 6 is adapted for cutting when movement of the blade is such that the blade is in front of the handle in the direction of travel of the blade.
  • edges (30) of the protrusions (12a) that do not form a cutting edge are curved.
  • the curvature of the edges (30) is convex. This has the result that after the blade (2) has been pushed / cut into a patient’s body, the curvature of the edges (30) minimises the likelihood of the patient’s body catching on the edges (30) of the protrusions (28a) when the blade (2) is withdrawn from the patient’s body.
  • a portion of the blade (2) is formed from a rod or bar (4a) which is integral with the first end portion (14) of the blade (2).
  • the first end portion (14) of the blade (2) of Figure 7 is dimensionally the same as the first end portion of the blade (2) shown in Figures 1 to 4 in in the plane of the two large faces (20, 22).
  • the thickness of the elongate body (4) may the same as that of the blades shown in Figures 1 to 5, but may be thicker.
  • the blade shown in Figure 7 has a thickness of around 2.00mm.
  • the second end face (8) is a cutting edge (12).
  • the blade (2) of Figure 7 is adapted for cutting when movement of the blade is such that the blade is in front of the handle in the direction of travel of the blade.
  • a surgical handle (40) is comprised of a cylindrical handle body (42) into which extend two blade receiving slots (44, 46).
  • Blade receiving slots (44, 46) are differently dimensioned in that while both Blade receiving slots (44, 46) have rectangular mouths and the long dimension of the slots (44, 46) is the same for both slots, the short dimension of the rectangle is different for slots (44) and (46).
  • the slots are parallel sided and extend from the mouths into the handle body (42).
  • the cylindrical handle body (42) has a diameter of about 17.5mm, the mouth of the slot (44) has
  • the blade receiving slots (44, 46) are of equal depth to each other and have opposing parallel sides.
  • the depth of the slots (44, 46) is suitable to receive the first end portion (14) of a blade of Figures 1 to 7.
  • the depth of the blade receiving slots (44, 46) is 13.75mm.
  • the blade receiving slots (44, 46) are orientated at around 90° to each other. And are positioned so that they intersect with each other in the region of the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical handle body (42).
  • the handle (40) has a bore comprising first and second end bores (50, 52) and a middle bore (48) extending between the first and second end faces (54, 56) of the handle body (42).
  • the first and second end bores (50, 52) and middle bore (48) are co-axial with each other and the handle body (42).
  • the first and second end bores (50, 52) are of a larger diameter than the middle bore (48) and have a helical thread on the inner face of the bores.
  • the middle bore (48) has a smooth inner face.
  • the blade receiving slots (44, 46) intersect with each other in the middle bore (48).
  • a fixed locking pin (58) is comprised of a fixed pin shaft (60), a fixed threaded portion (62), and an end cap (64) in that order from one end to the other.
  • Each of the fixed pin shaft (60), fixed threaded portion (62), and end cap (64) are wholly or substantially cylindrical and are co-axial with each other.
  • the fixed pin shaft (60) is dimensioned so that it is a sliding fit within the middle bore (48) and the end of the fixed pin shaft (60) remote from the threaded portion (62) is frusto-conical.
  • the frusto-conical end of the fixed pin shaft (60) is dimensioned and configured to be a close fit in the recesses (24, 26) of the blade (2) of any of Figures 1 to 7.
  • the fixed threaded portion (62) has a helical thread on its outer surface and the helical thread is dimensioned so that the helical thread can be a sliding fit with the helical thread of the first end bore (50) of the handle body (42).
  • the end cap (64) is adapted to tightly abut the first end face (54) of the handle body (42) and to have the same outer diameter as the handle body (42).
  • the fixed locking pin (58) is fitted to the handle body (42) by inserting the fixed pin shaft (60) into the middle bore (48) through the first end bore (50) until the helical threads of the fixed threaded portion (62) and the first end bore (50) abut.
  • the fixed locking pin (58) is turned around its longitudinal axis so that the helical threads of the fixed threaded portion (62) and the first end bore (50) intermesh and causes the fixed locking pin (58) to move along the middle bore (48) towards the second end (56) of the handle body (42).
  • the fixed locking pin (58) is of an appropriate length that when the end cap (64) tightly abuts the first end face (54) of the handle body (42), the frusto-conical end of the fixed pin shaft (60) projects into the zone of intersection of the blade receiving slots (44, 46).
  • the fixed locking pin (58) may be locked into position by use of a grub screw or other locking means (not shown).
  • a mobile locking pin (66) is comprised of a mobile pin shaft (68), a mobile threaded portion (70), and an end knob (72) in that order from one end to the other.
  • Each of the mobile pin shaft (68), mobile threaded portion (70), and end knob (72) are wholly or substantially cylindrical and are co-axial with each other.
  • the mobile pin shaft (68) is dimensioned so that it is a sliding fit within the middle bore (48) and the end of the mobile pin shaft (68) remote from the mobile threaded portion (70) is frusto-conical.
  • the mobile pin shaft (68) is dimensioned so that it is a sliding fit within the middle bore (48) and the end of the mobile pin shaft (68) remote from the threaded portion (70) is frusto-conical.
  • the frusto-conical end of the mobile pin shaft (68) is dimensioned and configured to be a close fit in the recesses (24, 26) of the blade (2) of any of Figures 1 to 7.
  • the mobile threaded portion (70) has a helical thread on its outer surface and the helical thread is dimensioned so that it is a sliding fit with the helical thread of the second end bore (52) of the handle body (42).
  • the end knob (72) is knurled and adapted to abut the second end face (56) of the handle body (42) and to have the same outer diameter as the handle body (42).
  • the end knob (72) is knurled so that a user can gain a good grip on the knob (72) and rotate it when required. It is important that a good grip can be obtained because, in use, the knurled knob (72) may be covered with slippery substances.
  • the mobile locking pin (66) is fitted to the handle body (42) by inserting the mobile pin shaft (68) into the middle bore (48) through the second end bore (52) until the helical threads of the mobile threaded portion (70) and the second end bore (52) abut.
  • the mobile locking pin (58) is turned around its longitudinal axis so that the helical threads of the mobile threaded portion (70) and the second end bore (52) intermesh and the mobile locking pin (58) is caused to move along the middle bore (48) towards the first end (54) of the handle body (42).
  • the mobile locking pin (66) is of an appropriate length that when the end knob (72) abuts the second end face (56) of the handle body (42) the frusto-conical end of the mobile pin shaft (68) projects into the zone of intersection of the blade receiving slots (44, 46) and is substantially the same distance from the proximal end of the fixed pin shaft (60) as the distance between the short parallel faces of the recesses (24, 26) in the first end portion (14) of the blade (2).
  • the longitudinal extent of the blade receiving slots (44, 46) is an extra length longer than the dimension of the large flat faces (20, 22) of the first end portion (14) of the blade (2) in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the blade (2).
  • the extra length is sufficient, when the mobile pin shaft (68) is not projecting into the zone of intersection of the blade receiving slots (44, 46), to allow the insertion of the first end portion (14) of the blade (2) into one of the blade receiving slots (44, 46) and the first end portion (14) of the blade (2) to be positioned so that one of the recesses (24, 26) has the frusto-conical end of the fixed pin shaft (60) at least partially within that recess.
  • the user will use the end knob (72) to rotate the mobile locking pin to cause the mobile pin shaft (68) to enter the zone of intersection of the blade receiving slots (44, 46) and then the other of the recesses (24, 26) until the frusto- conical end of the mobile pin shaft (68) is within the recess (24, 26) and has pushed the first end portion (14) of the blade (2) toward the frusto-conical end of the fixed pin shaft (60) until it is fully within that recess (22, 26).
  • the end knob (72) will abut the second end face (56) when the first end portion (14) of the blade (2) is tightly held in position between the frusto- conical ends of the fixed and mobile pin shafts (60, 68).
  • the threaded portions of the first and second end bores (50, 52) and the fixed and mobile threaded portions (62, 70) may be configured to be vibration resistant.

Abstract

A surgical handle (40) suitable for use with a blade (2) having a first end (6) which incorporates at the first end a first end portion having first and second engagement recesses (24,26).The handle (40) comprises a handle body (42), a blade receiving slot (44), and a blade retention means (58, 66) characterised in that the blade receiving slot (44) is a recess that extends into the handle body (42) and which is defined by one or more receiving slot side faces and a receiving slot base face.The blade receiving slot (44) is dimensioned and configured so that the first end portion of the blade (2) may be reversibly moved between an engaged position in which the first end portion of the blade is substantially within the blade receiving slot (44) with the blade receiving slot side and base faces in loose contact with the first end of the blade and a detached position where the first end portion of the blade is not in the blade receiving slot. The blade retention means is comprised of a fixed locking pin (58) and a mobile locking pin (66) in which a portion of the fixed locking pin extends into the blade receiving slot (44) through a receiving slot side face, the mobile locking pin is reversibly moveable between a retracted position in which the mobile locking pin does not extend into the blade receiving slot and a protruding position in which a portion of the mobile locking pin extends into the blade receiving slot through a receiving slot side face, the fixed locking pin and the mobile locking pin are so located and dimensioned that when the first end of the blade is in the engaged position at least a part of the fixed locking pin projects into one of the first or second engagement recesses (24, 26) of the blade, and movement of the mobile locking pin from the retracted position to the protruding position causes a part of the mobile locking pin to enter the other of the first or second engagement recesses of the blade.

Description

SURGICAL APPARATUS WITH RELEASABLE HANDLE
This invention relates to surgical apparatus and in particular to surgical blades and surgical handles which in combination can be used as surgical cutting instruments.
It is known that surgical cutting instruments have to be sterile at time of use. It is also known that it is desirable that such instruments need to be as sharp as they are intended to be when they are used. As a result, it is known for surgical cutting instruments to be wholly or partially disposable. This disposability is beneficial because it avoids the risk of cross infection between patients and bluntness of blades but has the disadvantage of the environmental cost of disposal of items that have only been used once. To balance these advantages and disadvantages it is known to dispose of the minimum amount of the apparatus as possible whilst seeking to avoid the risk of cross infection.
According to the present invention there is provided a surgical handle and a surgical cutting instrument comprising a blade and a handle.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a surgical handle suitable for use with a blade having a first end which incorporates at the first end a first end portion having first and second engagement recesses, in which the handle comprises a handle body, a blade receiving slot, and a blade retention means characterised in that the blade receiving slot is a recess that extends into the handle body and which is defined by one or more receiving slot side faces and a receiving slot base face,
the blade receiving slot is dimensioned and configured so that the first end portion of the blade may be reversibly moved between an engaged position in which the first end portion of the blade is substantially within the blade receiving slot with the blade receiving slot side and base faces in loose contact with the first end of the blade and a detached position where the first end portion of the blade is not in the blade receiving slot,
the blade retention means is comprised of a fixed locking pin and a mobile locking pin, in which
a portion of the fixed locking pin extends into the blade receiving slot through a receiving slot side face,
the mobile locking pin is reversibly moveable between a retracted position in which the mobile locking pin does not extend into the blade receiving slot and a protruding position in which a portion of the mobile locking pin extends into the blade receiving slot through a receiving slot side face, the fixed locking pin and the mobile locking pin are so located and dimensioned that when the first end of the blade is in the engaged position at least a part of the fixed locking pin projects into one of the first or second engagement recesses of the blade, and
movement of the mobile locking pin from the retracted position to the protruding position causes a part of the mobile locking pin to enter the other of the first or second engagement recesses of the blade.
The handle of the present invention may be used in the following fashion starting from a situation in which there is no blade engaged with the handle:
i. The handle is checked to see if the mobile locking pin is in the retracted position and the mobile locking pin moved to that position if it is not;
ii. The first end of the blade is introduced into the blade receiving slot of the handle and moved to the engaged position so that one of the first or second engagement recesses of the first end portion of the elongate body of the blade has a portion of the fixed locking pin introduced into that engagement recess and the first end of the blade is in contact with the base face of the receiving slot;
iii. The mobile locking pin is moved from its retracted position to its protruding position and a portion of the mobile locking pin introduced into the other of the first and second engagement recesses;
iv. The blade is by prevented from moving from the engaged position to the detached position by the fixed and mobile locking pins projecting into the first and second engagement recesses;
v. When it is desired to remove the blade from the handle, the mobile locking pin is moved from its protruding position to its retracted position results in a portion of the mobile locking pin being removed from one of the first and second engagement recesses;
vi. The blade is then removed from the receiving slot to the detached position.
Optionally, in step (iii) the movement of the mobile locking pin toward its protruding position pushes the blade toward the fixed locking pin and may thus increase the portion of the fixed locking pin in the engagement recess into which it extends.
In some embodiments of the present invention the mobile locking pin has a longitudinal axis and comprises a shaft with a pin end and a helically threaded portion, and the handle comprises a helically threaded bore, in which the pin end of the mobile locking pin is adapted to at least partially enter the first or second recess of the blade, the threads of the threaded portion of the mobile locking pin and the threaded bore of the handle are configured to intermesh, and rotation of the mobile locking pin around the mobile locking pin’s longitudinal axis will cause the mobile locking pin to move along the threaded bore in a direction dependent on the direction of rotation of the mobile locking pin. This embodiment is advantageous because the use of the helical thread to move the mobile fixing pin has the result that the location of the mobile locking pin end can be accurately controlled and accidental movement of the mobile locking pin away from its protruding position is unlikely.
In some embodiments of the present invention where the handle may be expected to experience vibration as a result of the handle being hammered or from one or more other vibration sources the threads of the threaded portion of the mobile locking pin and the threaded bore of the handle are dimensioned and configured to be vibration resistant. An example of a vibration resistant thread configuration is taught in US patent no. US4540321 A (Berecz).
In some embodiments of the present invention the mobile locking pin further comprises a second end, and the second end is configured to allow a user to use the second end to rotate the mobile locking pin around its longitudinal axis without the aid of a tool. The second end may be a knurled cylinder, or be otherwise configured to allow a user to readily rotate the mobile locking pin around its longitudinal axis.
In some embodiments of the present invention the handle body is a longitudinally extending body having a longitudinal axis. In some embodiments the handle body is substantially cylindrical. In some embodiments the threaded bore of the handle is substantially co-axial with the longitudinal axis of the handle.
It is to be understood that in the context of this invention the shape of the mouth of the blade receiving slot is any appropriate shape such as, for example and without limitation, triangular, square, rectangular, polygonal, or oval.
In some embodiments of the present invention the handle further comprises at least a second blade receiving slot.
In some embodiments of the present invention each blade receiving slot is so located and orientated that the blade retention means may reversibly retain a blade inserted into any one of the blade receiving slots. In some embodiments of the present invention each blade receiving slot has different dimensions to the or each other blade receiving slots. This allows the handle to be used with blades which have first end portions of the elongate body that are differently sized from each other. For example, blades of different thickness.
In some embodiments of the present invention the handle comprises two blade receiving slots which are orientated at around 90° to each other. These blade receiving slots may be differently dimensioned.
The blade receiving slots may be dimensioned and configured to receive the first end portion of one or more of blades according to the first aspect of the present invention.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a surgical cutting apparatus comprising a handle according to the first aspect of the presentinvention and a blade in which the blade comprises an elongate body, the elongate body having a first and a second end with first and second end faces respectively, a longitudinal axis, and at least one cutting edge, characterised in that a first end portion of the elongate body adjacent the first end of the elongate body is defined by the first end face and at least one longitudinally extending face, and the first end portion defines a first and a second engagement recess in one or more surfaces of the first end portion, and the first engagement recess is located on substantially the opposite side of the longitudinal axis of the elongate body to the second engagement recess.
In some embodiments of the present invention the first end portion of the elongate body is defined by one longitudinally extending face. In such embodiments the cross-section of the first end portion is circular, elliptical or of another curved shape where there are no defined edges to the longitudinally extending face.
Each of the first and second engagement recesses is defined by at least part of the first end portion of the elongate body. Each engagement recess can be created by moulding, stamping, drilling, cutting, grinding or other like processes appropriate to the material from which the elongate body is formed.
The first and second engagement recesses may be of the same shape and dimension as each other or may be of different shapes or dimensions. The first end portion of the elongate body is the portion of the elongate body which is adapted to be engaged with the handle of the first aspect of the present invention.
In some embodiments of the present invention the first end portion of the elongate body is defined by the first end face, and at least two longitudinally extending faces.
In some embodiments of the present invention the first end portion of the elongate body is defined by the first end face, and first, second, third and fourth longitudinally extending faces, the first and third longitudinally extending faces extend between the longitudinal edges of the second and fourth longitudinally extending faces, the distance between the longitudinal edges of the first longitudinally extending face is less than the distance between the longitudinal edges of either the second or fourth longitudinally extending faces, the distance between the longitudinal edges of the third longitudinally extending face is less than the distance between the longitudinal edges of either the second or fourth longitudinally extending faces, and the first engagement recess is located in the first longitudinally extending face and the second engagement recess is located in the third longitudinally extending face.
In some preferred embodiments of the present invention the first end portion of the elongate body has a rectangular cross section. In some embodiments the long dimension of the rectangle is significantly greater than the short dimension of the rectangle. This has the advantage that there is no danger of the first end portion rotating around the longitudinal axis of the elongate body when inserted into any appropriately configured receiving slot in the handle. A rectangular cross section for the first end portion of the elongate body has the further advantage that the first end portion of the elongate body may fit into an appropriately configured receiving slot for the first end portion in either of two orientations. As such a member of the surgical team, if changing the blade of the cutting device does not need to present the blade to the handle in only one orientation. Additionally, or in the alternative, this will be beneficial if the configuration of the handle and blade handed, that is suitable for one of left or right-handed use.
In some embodiments of the present invention one or both of the first and second engagement recess extends across the whole of the face or faces in which they are located. This is particularly convenient from a manufacturing point of view.
In other embodiments of the present invention the cross section of the first end portion of the elongate body may be substantially stadium shaped or other shape with a long first dimension and a second, perpendicular, short dimension in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongate body.
In some embodiments of the present invention the elongate body is comprised of a planar material throughout its length. In such embodiments, the elongate body can be cut out of a sheet material. Such elongate bodies will have considerable resistance to twisting around the longitudinal axis of the of the elongate body as well as considerable resistance to bending around an axis perpendicular to the plane of the material. Such rigidity is advantageous where it is important that cuts made by the surgical team occur where it is desired for them to be.
In some embodiments of the present invention the first end portion of the elongate body is comprised of a planar material and at least a portion of the remainder of the elongate body is a rod or a bar. In such embodiments the portion of the elongate body that is not the first end portion may be desired to have only a relatively small dimension in directions lateral to the longitudinal axis of the blade. In some embodiments of the present invention the material from which the elongate body is formed will be thicker when a portion of the elongate body is a rod or bar than when the blade is substantially planar. For example, in embodiments where at least a portion of the elongate body is a rod or a bar the material from which the blade is formed may be 2mm thick in contrast to material of 1mm thick being used for embodiments where the blade is substantially planar.
In some embodiments of the present invention the at least one cutting edge is comprised of the second end of the elongate body. This configuration is partially useful if the cutting apparatus is to be used as a chisel or to cut into a part of the body or a prosthesis.
In some embodiments of the present invention at least one cutting edge is an edge formed on a protrusion extending from the elongate body, the protrusion is proximal to the second end, and the cutting edge on the protrusion tapers in thickness from a first thickness to a second lesser thickness in a direction away from the first end of the elongate body. In such embodiments the cutting edge faces away from the handle into which the blade may be inserted and the blade is used by pushing the blade. In such embodiments the second end of the blade may be used to guide the blade relative to a firm surface or prevent the cutting edge on the protrusion cutting closer to a surface than the distance between the second end of the blade and the cutting edge on the protrusion. In some embodiments of the present invention at least one cutting edge is an edge formed on a protrusion extending from the elongate body, the protrusion is proximal to the second end, and the cutting edge on the protrusion tapers in thickness from a first thickness to a second lesser thickness in a direction away from the second end of the elongate body. In such embodiments the cutting edge faces toward the handle into which the blade may be inserted and the blade is used by pulling the blade. In such embodiments the second end of the blade may be used to guide the cutting edge relative to a firm surface.
In some embodiments of the present invention the elongate body is planar and the protrusion is substantially in the plane of the elongate body. In some other embodiments of the present invention the elongate body is planar and the protrusion extends out of the plane of the elongate body.
In some embodiments of the present invention there are provided a plurality of differently configured blades which may be interchangeably engaged with a single handle.
Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and / or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and / or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and / or combination, unless such features are incompatible. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and/or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner.
The present invention will be further described and explained by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 shows a top view of a first embodiment of a blade which forms part of the second aspect of the present invention;
Figure 2 shows a view of the blade of Figure 1 from the side;
Figure 3 shows an enlarged top view of the first end portion of the blade of Figure 1 ;
Figure 4 shows an enlarged view of the second end portion of the blade of Figure 1 ;
Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a blade which forms part of the second aspect of the present invention;
Figure 6 shows a top view of a third embodiment of a blade which forms part of the second aspect of the present invention; Figure 7 shows a top view of a fourth embodiment of a blade which forms part of the second of the present invention;
Figure 8 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a handle according to the first aspect of the present invention;
Figure 9 shows a side view of the handle of Figure 8 without the inclusion of the blade retaining means;
Figure 10 shows a side view of the blade retaining means of the handle of Figure 8; and Figure 11 shows an embodiment of a surgical cutting apparatus according to the present invention.
In the description of the various embodiments of the present invention set out below elements common to the various embodiments are given the same reference numerals.
With reference to Figures 1 and 2, a surgical blade (2) is comprised of an elongate body (4) having a first end with a first end face (6) and a second end with a second end face (8). The blade (2) has a longitudinal axis (10) and a cutting edge (12). The blade is planar or flat and has substantially greater dimensions in two of the x, y, and z directions than the third dimension. The blade (2) is metallic, preferably formed from an appropriate grade of steel, and cut out from a sheet of that material. The blade may be treated to improve its qualities, such as hardness or surface finish. In other embodiments the blade may be of a plastic material, ceramic material or other appropriate material. The blade may be moulded or cast or otherwise formed, the method of formation being dependent upon the material to be used for the blade.
Wth reference to Figure 3, the blade (2) has a first end portion (14) which is, in the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, integral with the rest of the blade and of a larger dimension than the rest of the blade (2) in the plane of the blade (2) and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (10). The first end portion (14) is defined by its two large faces (20, 22), the first end face (6) and the longitudinally extending faces (16,18) that extend between the two large faces (20, 22). The dimensions of the first end portion may be any appropriate dimensions. The thickness of the first end portion (14) may be may be any appropriate thickness.
One dimensioned embodiment of the first end portion (14) is rectangular with the larger dimension of the rectangle in the plane of the blade (2) and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (10) being about 25.00 mm. The shorter dimension of the rectangle, which is parallel with the longitudinal axis (10) is about 13.75mm and the first end portion (14) has a thickness of about 1.00mm. It will be appreciated that this is just one example of the possible dimensions of the first end portion.
The first end portion (14) defines a first and second engagement recess (24, 26) in the longitudinally extending faces (16, 18). The first and second engagement recesses (24, 26) extend between the two large faces (20, 22) and have a trapezoidal shape with the longer of the parallel edges of the trapezoid forming the mouth in the edges (16, 18). The first and second recesses (24,26) are located on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis (10) and are equidistant from the first end face (6). Other shapes of engagement recess may be employed in other embodiments of the present invention.
In the above mentioned dimensioned embodiment of the present invention, the dimensions and configuration of the recesses (24, 26) is that the engagement recesses are isosceles trapezoids with the longer of the parallel sides being about 4.20mm long, the shorter about 3.24mm long, and the distance between the parallel sides being about 2.75mm. The edge of the mouths of the engagement recesses (24, 26) closest to the first end face (6) of the blade (2) are around 2.90mm from the first end face (6).
With reference to Figure 4, proximal to the second end face (8) of the blade (2) is a protrusion (28) extending from the elongate body (4) in the plane of the elongate body. The edge of the protrusion (28) facing away from the second end face (8) has the form of a cutting edge (12). The cutting edge tapers from the thickness of the elongate body (4) where the cutting edge (12) is closest to the second end (8) to a sharp edge as the distance from the second end (8) increases.
The second end (8) is, in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4, blunt. In other embodiments the second end (8) could also comprise a cutting edge.
The blade (2) of Figures 1 to 4 is adapted for cutting when movement of the blade is such that the handle is in front of the blade in the direction of travel of the blade.
Wth reference to Figure 5, the first end portion (14) of the blade (2) of Figure 5 is dimensionally the same as and has the same configuration as the first end portion of the blade (2) shown in Figures 1 to 4.
Proximal to the second end face (8) of the blade (2) of Figure 5 is a protrusion (28) extending from the elongate body (4). The protrusion extends out of the plane of the elongate body. The edge of the protrusion (28) facing toward the second end face (8) has the form of a cutting edge (12). The cutting edge tapers from the thickness of the elongate body (4) where the cutting edge (12) is closest to the first end face (6) to a sharp edge as the distance from the first end face (6) increases.
The second end face (8) is, in the current embodiment, blunt. In other embodiments the second end face (8) could also comprise a cutting edge.
The blade (2) of Figure 5 is adapted for cutting when movement of the blade is such that the blade is in front of the handle in the direction of travel of the blade.
With reference to Figure 6, a portion of the blade (2) is formed from a rod or bar (4a) which is integral with the first end portion (14) of the blade (2). The first end portion (14) of the blade (2) of Figure 6 is dimensionally the same and has the same configuration as the first end portion of the blade (2) shown in Figures 1 to 4 in the plane of the two large faces (20, 22). The thickness of the elongate body (4) may the same as that of the blades shown in Figures 1 to 5, but may be thicker. This will lend greater rigidity to the blade (2) to compensate for the blade (2) of Figure 6 being comprised of less material than the blades shown in Figures 1 to 5.
In the above mentioned dimensioned embodiment of the present invention the blade shown in Figure 6 has a thickness of around 2.00mm.
Proximal to the second end face (8) is a pair of protrusions (28a) extending from the rod or bar (4a). The protrusions extend from the rod or bar (4a) in opposite directions. The edge of each of the protrusions (28a) facing away from the first end face (8) has the form of a cutting edge (12a) and the cutting edge tapers from the thickness of the rod or bar (4a) where the cutting edge (12a) is closest to the first end face (6) to a sharp edge as the distance from the first end face (6) increases.
The second end face (8) is, in the embodiment of Figure 6, also a cutting edge (12).
The blade (2) of Figure 6 is adapted for cutting when movement of the blade is such that the blade is in front of the handle in the direction of travel of the blade.
The edges (30) of the protrusions (12a) that do not form a cutting edge are curved. The curvature of the edges (30) is convex. This has the result that after the blade (2) has been pushed / cut into a patient’s body, the curvature of the edges (30) minimises the likelihood of the patient’s body catching on the edges (30) of the protrusions (28a) when the blade (2) is withdrawn from the patient’s body.
With reference to Figure 7, a portion of the blade (2) is formed from a rod or bar (4a) which is integral with the first end portion (14) of the blade (2). The first end portion (14) of the blade (2) of Figure 7 is dimensionally the same as the first end portion of the blade (2) shown in Figures 1 to 4 in in the plane of the two large faces (20, 22). The thickness of the elongate body (4) may the same as that of the blades shown in Figures 1 to 5, but may be thicker.
This will lend greater rigidity to the blade (2) to compensate for the blade (2) of Figure 7 being comprised of less material than the blades shown in Figures 1 to 5.
In the above mentioned dimensioned embodiment of the present invention the blade shown in Figure 7 has a thickness of around 2.00mm.
The second end face (8) is a cutting edge (12). The blade (2) of Figure 7 is adapted for cutting when movement of the blade is such that the blade is in front of the handle in the direction of travel of the blade.
Wth reference to Figure 8, a surgical handle (40) is comprised of a cylindrical handle body (42) into which extend two blade receiving slots (44, 46). Blade receiving slots (44, 46) are differently dimensioned in that while both Blade receiving slots (44, 46) have rectangular mouths and the long dimension of the slots (44, 46) is the same for both slots, the short dimension of the rectangle is different for slots (44) and (46). The slots are parallel sided and extend from the mouths into the handle body (42).
In the above mentioned dimensioned embodiment of the present invention the cylindrical handle body (42) has a diameter of about 17.5mm, the mouth of the slot (44) has
dimensions of around 27.85mm x 1.20mm, and the mouth of the slot (46) has dimensions of around 27.85mm x 2.20mm.
The blade receiving slots (44, 46) are of equal depth to each other and have opposing parallel sides. The depth of the slots (44, 46) is suitable to receive the first end portion (14) of a blade of Figures 1 to 7.
In the above mentioned dimensioned embodiment of the present invention the depth of the blade receiving slots (44, 46) is 13.75mm. The blade receiving slots (44, 46) are orientated at around 90° to each other. And are positioned so that they intersect with each other in the region of the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical handle body (42).
With reference to Figures 9 and 10, the handle (40) has a bore comprising first and second end bores (50, 52) and a middle bore (48) extending between the first and second end faces (54, 56) of the handle body (42). The first and second end bores (50, 52) and middle bore (48) are co-axial with each other and the handle body (42).
The first and second end bores (50, 52) are of a larger diameter than the middle bore (48) and have a helical thread on the inner face of the bores. The middle bore (48) has a smooth inner face. The blade receiving slots (44, 46) intersect with each other in the middle bore (48).
A fixed locking pin (58) is comprised of a fixed pin shaft (60), a fixed threaded portion (62), and an end cap (64) in that order from one end to the other. Each of the fixed pin shaft (60), fixed threaded portion (62), and end cap (64) are wholly or substantially cylindrical and are co-axial with each other. The fixed pin shaft (60) is dimensioned so that it is a sliding fit within the middle bore (48) and the end of the fixed pin shaft (60) remote from the threaded portion (62) is frusto-conical. The frusto-conical end of the fixed pin shaft (60) is dimensioned and configured to be a close fit in the recesses (24, 26) of the blade (2) of any of Figures 1 to 7.
The fixed threaded portion (62) has a helical thread on its outer surface and the helical thread is dimensioned so that the helical thread can be a sliding fit with the helical thread of the first end bore (50) of the handle body (42). The end cap (64) is adapted to tightly abut the first end face (54) of the handle body (42) and to have the same outer diameter as the handle body (42).
The fixed locking pin (58) is fitted to the handle body (42) by inserting the fixed pin shaft (60) into the middle bore (48) through the first end bore (50) until the helical threads of the fixed threaded portion (62) and the first end bore (50) abut. The fixed locking pin (58) is turned around its longitudinal axis so that the helical threads of the fixed threaded portion (62) and the first end bore (50) intermesh and causes the fixed locking pin (58) to move along the middle bore (48) towards the second end (56) of the handle body (42). The fixed locking pin (58) is of an appropriate length that when the end cap (64) tightly abuts the first end face (54) of the handle body (42), the frusto-conical end of the fixed pin shaft (60) projects into the zone of intersection of the blade receiving slots (44, 46). The fixed locking pin (58) may be locked into position by use of a grub screw or other locking means (not shown).
A mobile locking pin (66) is comprised of a mobile pin shaft (68), a mobile threaded portion (70), and an end knob (72) in that order from one end to the other. Each of the mobile pin shaft (68), mobile threaded portion (70), and end knob (72) are wholly or substantially cylindrical and are co-axial with each other. The mobile pin shaft (68) is dimensioned so that it is a sliding fit within the middle bore (48) and the end of the mobile pin shaft (68) remote from the mobile threaded portion (70) is frusto-conical. The mobile pin shaft (68) is dimensioned so that it is a sliding fit within the middle bore (48) and the end of the mobile pin shaft (68) remote from the threaded portion (70) is frusto-conical. The frusto-conical end of the mobile pin shaft (68) is dimensioned and configured to be a close fit in the recesses (24, 26) of the blade (2) of any of Figures 1 to 7.
The mobile threaded portion (70) has a helical thread on its outer surface and the helical thread is dimensioned so that it is a sliding fit with the helical thread of the second end bore (52) of the handle body (42). The end knob (72) is knurled and adapted to abut the second end face (56) of the handle body (42) and to have the same outer diameter as the handle body (42). The end knob (72) is knurled so that a user can gain a good grip on the knob (72) and rotate it when required. It is important that a good grip can be obtained because, in use, the knurled knob (72) may be covered with slippery substances.
The mobile locking pin (66) is fitted to the handle body (42) by inserting the mobile pin shaft (68) into the middle bore (48) through the second end bore (52) until the helical threads of the mobile threaded portion (70) and the second end bore (52) abut. The mobile locking pin (58) is turned around its longitudinal axis so that the helical threads of the mobile threaded portion (70) and the second end bore (52) intermesh and the mobile locking pin (58) is caused to move along the middle bore (48) towards the first end (54) of the handle body (42). The mobile locking pin (66) is of an appropriate length that when the end knob (72) abuts the second end face (56) of the handle body (42) the frusto-conical end of the mobile pin shaft (68) projects into the zone of intersection of the blade receiving slots (44, 46) and is substantially the same distance from the proximal end of the fixed pin shaft (60) as the distance between the short parallel faces of the recesses (24, 26) in the first end portion (14) of the blade (2). The longitudinal extent of the blade receiving slots (44, 46) is an extra length longer than the dimension of the large flat faces (20, 22) of the first end portion (14) of the blade (2) in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the blade (2). The extra length is sufficient, when the mobile pin shaft (68) is not projecting into the zone of intersection of the blade receiving slots (44, 46), to allow the insertion of the first end portion (14) of the blade (2) into one of the blade receiving slots (44, 46) and the first end portion (14) of the blade (2) to be positioned so that one of the recesses (24, 26) has the frusto-conical end of the fixed pin shaft (60) at least partially within that recess. In use, once the first end portion (14) of the blade (2) has been located in one of the blade receiving slots (44, 46) as described above, the user will use the end knob (72) to rotate the mobile locking pin to cause the mobile pin shaft (68) to enter the zone of intersection of the blade receiving slots (44, 46) and then the other of the recesses (24, 26) until the frusto- conical end of the mobile pin shaft (68) is within the recess (24, 26) and has pushed the first end portion (14) of the blade (2) toward the frusto-conical end of the fixed pin shaft (60) until it is fully within that recess (22, 26). The end knob (72) will abut the second end face (56) when the first end portion (14) of the blade (2) is tightly held in position between the frusto- conical ends of the fixed and mobile pin shafts (60, 68). The threaded portions of the first and second end bores (50, 52) and the fixed and mobile threaded portions (62, 70) may be configured to be vibration resistant.

Claims

1. A surgical handle suitable for use with a blade having a first end which incorporates at the first end a first end portion having first and second engagement recesses, in which the handle comprises a handle body, a blade receiving slot, and a blade retention means characterised in that
the blade receiving slot is a recess that extends into the handle body and which is defined by one or more receiving slot side faces and a receiving slot base face,
the blade receiving slot is dimensioned and configured so that the first end portion of the blade may be reversibly moved between an engaged position in which the first end portion of the blade is substantially within the blade receiving slot with the blade receiving slot side and base faces in loose contact with the first end of the blade and a detached position where the first end portion of the blade is not in the blade receiving slot,
the blade retention means is comprised of a fixed locking pin and a mobile locking pin, in which
a portion of the fixed locking pin extends into the blade receiving slot through a receiving slot side face,
the mobile locking pin is reversibly moveable between a retracted position in which the mobile locking pin does not extend into the blade receiving slot and a protruding position in which a portion of the mobile locking pin extends into the blade receiving slot through a receiving slot side face,
the fixed locking pin and the mobile locking pin are so located and dimensioned that when the first end of the blade is in the engaged position at least a part of the fixed locking pin projects into one of the first or second engagement recesses of the blade, and
movement of the mobile locking pin from the retracted position to the protruding position causes a part of the mobile locking pin to enter the other of the first or second engagement recesses of the blade.
2 A handle according to claim 1 in which the handle body is a longitudinally extending body having a longitudinal axis and the blade receiving slot has a slot mouth that is has a long dimension which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle body.
3. A handle according to claim 1 or 2 in which the mobile locking pin has a longitudinal axis and comprises a shaft with a pin end and a helically threaded portion, and the handle comprises a helically threaded bore, in which
the pin end of the mobile locking pin is adapted to at least partially enter the first or second engagement recess of the blade, the threads of the threaded portion of the mobile locking pin and the threaded bore of the handle are configured to intermesh,
and rotation of the mobile locking pin around the mobile locking pin’s longitudinal axis will cause the mobile locking pin to move along the threaded bore in a direction dependent on the direction of rotation of the mobile locking pin.
4. A handle according to claim 3 in which the threads of the threaded portion of the mobile locking pin and the threaded bore of the handle are dimensioned and configured to be vibration resistant.
5. A handle according to claim 3 or 4 in which the mobile locking pin further comprises a second end, and the second end is configured to allow a user to rotate the mobile locking pin around its longitudinal axis without the aid of a tool.
6 A handle according to any of claims 2 to 5 in which the mobile locking pin has a longitudinal axis which is substantially co-axial with the longitudinal axis of the handle.
7. A handle according to any of claims 1 to 6 in which the handle further comprises at least a second blade receiving slot.
8. A handle according to claim 7 in which each blade receiving slot has different dimensions to the or each other blade receiving slot.
9. A handle according to any of claim 7 or 8 in which there are two blade receiving slots orientated at around 90° to each other.
10. A surgical cutting apparatus comprising a handle according to any of claims 1 to 9 and a blade in which the blade comprises an elongate body, the elongate body having a first and a second end with first and second end faces respectively, a longitudinal axis, and at least one cutting edge, characterised in that a first end portion of the elongate body adjacent the first end of the elongate body is defined by the first end face and at least one
longitudinally extending face, and the first end portion defines a first and a second engagement recess in one or more surfaces of the first end portion, and the first
engagement recess is located on substantially the opposite side of the longitudinal axis of the elongate body to the second engagement recess.
11. A surgical cutting apparatus according to claim 10 in which the first end portion of the elongate body of the blade is defined by the first end face, and at least two longitudinally extending faces.
12. A surgical cutting apparatus according to claim 10 in which the first end portion of the elongate body of the blade is defined by the first end face, and first, second, third and fourth longitudinally extending faces,
the first and third longitudinally extending faces extend between the longitudinal edges of the second and fourth longitudinally extending faces,
the distance between the longitudinal edges of the first longitudinally extending face is less than the distance between the longitudinal edges of either the second or fourth longitudinally extending faces,
the distance between the longitudinal edges of the third longitudinally extending face is less than the distance between the longitudinal edges of either the second or fourth longitudinally extending faces, and
the first engagement recess is located in the first longitudinally extending face and the second engagement recess is located in the third longitudinally extending face
13. A surgical cutting apparatus according to claim 12 in which one or both of the first and second engagement recesses extends from the second to the fourth longitudinally extending face
14. A surgical cutting apparatus according to any of claims 10 to 13 in which the cross section of the first end portion of the elongate body of the blade is substantially rectangular or substantially stadium shaped in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongate body.
15. A surgical cutting apparatus according to any of claims 10 to 14 in which the elongate body of the blade is comprised of a planar material throughout its length, or the first end portion of the elongate body is comprised of a planar material and at least a portion the remainder of the elongate body is a rod or a bar.
16. A surgical cutting apparatus according to any of claims 10 to 15 in which at least one cutting edge of the blade is comprised of the second end of the elongate body, is an edge formed on a protrusion extending from the elongate body where the protrusion is proximal to the second end and the cutting edge on the protrusion tapers in thickness from a first thickness to a second lesser thickness in a direction away from the first end of the elongate body, or an edge formed on a protrusion extending from the elongate body where the protrusion is proximal to the second end and the cutting edge on the protrusion tapers in thickness from a first thickness to a second lesser thickness in a direction away from the second end of the elongate body.
17. A surgical cutting apparatus according to any of claims 10 to 16 in which the elongate body of the blade is planar and the protrusion is in substantially the same plane as the elongate body, or the elongate body is planar and the protrusion extends out of the plane of the elongate body.
18. A surgical cutting apparatus according to any of claims 10 to 17 comprising a plurality of differently configured blades which may be interchangeably engaged with a single handle.
PCT/GB2019/052664 2018-09-21 2019-09-23 Surgical apparatus with releasable handle WO2020058731A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP19778617.1A EP3852654A1 (en) 2018-09-21 2019-09-23 Surgical apparatus with releasable handle

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB1815383.3A GB201815383D0 (en) 2018-09-21 2018-09-21 Surgical apparatus
GB1815383.3 2018-09-21
GB201818170A GB2575132A (en) 2018-09-21 2018-11-07 Surgical apparatus
GB1818170.1 2018-11-07

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WO2020058731A1 true WO2020058731A1 (en) 2020-03-26

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GB (2) GB201815383D0 (en)
WO (1) WO2020058731A1 (en)

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EP3256063A1 (en) * 2015-02-13 2017-12-20 Heartware, Inc. Combined tunneling tools

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GB275816A (en) * 1926-10-02 1927-08-18 James Ernest Arnold Improvements in surgical knives and lancets
US1888489A (en) * 1932-01-09 1932-11-22 Robert E Brown Knife
GB846877A (en) * 1956-01-03 1960-08-31 Swann Morton Sales Ltd Improvements in surgical and other knives having detachable blades
US10959738B2 (en) * 2016-08-30 2021-03-30 Shukla Medical Osteotome
CN108238798A (en) * 2016-12-23 2018-07-03 昆山源科弘森金属科技有限公司 Surgical knife manufacturing method
CN106725749B (en) * 2017-02-17 2023-07-21 湖南博科医疗科技有限公司 Micro-surgical knife with replaceable blade and blade angle adjusting function
CN207707976U (en) * 2017-06-08 2018-08-10 钟志锋 A kind of No. 36 ceramic scalpels
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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2528941A (en) * 1948-10-13 1950-11-07 Conlon Mfg Company Means for extracting the nail used for the intramedullary fixation of a fractured bone
US4540321A (en) 1978-11-16 1985-09-10 Microdot Inc. Anti-vibration thread form
US4509516A (en) * 1983-02-24 1985-04-09 Stryker Corporation Ligament tunneling instrument
WO2009014739A1 (en) * 2007-07-23 2009-01-29 Heartware, Inc. Improved surgical tool
EP3256063A1 (en) * 2015-02-13 2017-12-20 Heartware, Inc. Combined tunneling tools

Also Published As

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GB201815383D0 (en) 2018-11-07
EP3852654A1 (en) 2021-07-28
GB2575132A (en) 2020-01-01
GB201818170D0 (en) 2018-12-19

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