GB1602712A - Stitchcutters for removing surgical sutures - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO STITCH-CUTTERS FOR REMOVING SURGICAL SUTURES (71) We, HENLEYS MEDICAL SUPPLIES LIMITED, a British Company of Alexandra Works, Clarendeon Road, Hornsey, London and WILFRED RICHARD WEAVER, a British Subject of 2 Clifton Avenue, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to improvements in or relating to stitchcutters for removing surgical sutures.

A known stitchcutter comprises a small allmetal, disposable steel knife having a shaft for holding in the hand and a blade having a curved or hooked portion provided with a cutting edge.

The stitchcutter knife is stamped from steel sheet and is planar.

One known stitch-cutter of this kind has a relatively short shaft and, while this economises on the use of steel, the short shaft makes the cutter difficult to handle and means that the user's hand is in the close proximity to the sutures being removed, so that there is the possible risk of infection.

Another known stitch cutter of this kind has a relatively long shaft and, whilst being easier to handle and more hygenic, is relatively expensive because of the extra steel used in the extended shaft.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cheap, hygenic and convenient stitch cutter and accordingly the invention provides a surgical suturecutter knife having an integral steel shaft and blade and a holder in the form of an elongate member of plastics material hav ing a longitudinal slot which is dimensioned to receive the shaft of the cutter and extends from one end of the plastics member, means being provided in the slot for retaining the inserted shaft of the cutter.

In an embodiment of the invention the holder is in the form of a substantially rec tangular strip-like member having a cutter shaft receiving portion formed with the longitudinal slot parallel to the major faces of the member.

Conveniently, the retaining means in the slot comprises a protuberance projecting transversely from the member into the slot for engagement with a notch or aperture provided in the shaft of the cutter.

Preferably, the protuberance projects into the slot from one major wall of the slot perpendicularly to the said wall for engagement in an aperture in the shaft of the cutter. A window may be formed in the other major wall of the slot opposite the protuberance on the one wall.

The protuberance may be elongate in the direction of insertion of the cutter shaft in the shaft-receiving portion of the holder. Advantageously, the height of the elongate protuberance is tapered in the direction of insertion of the cutter shaft.

In order that the invention may be readily understood, embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a back view of a holder of a surgical suturer cutter knife embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a front view of the holder of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through the holder on the line III-III of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a view corresponding to Figure 2 with the knife inserted; Figure 5 is a front view of the holder of another surgical suture-cutter knife embodying the invention; and Figure 6 is a cross-section through the holder of Figure 5 on the line VI-VI.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 3, a holder 1 of a first embodiment of a surgical suture-cutter knife according to the invention comprises a strip-like plastics member made by injection moulding. The holder 1 comprises a handle portion 2 and a shaft-receiving portion 3. The handle portion 1 is formed with a rectangular recess 4 which may be used to receive an adhesive name label. The shaft-receiving portion 3 is formed with an elongate rectangular slot 5 which is parallel to the major faces of member 1 and extends longitudinally of the holder 1 between an open end 6 of the portion 3 and a transverse stop wall 7 at the other end of the portion 3.

A front wall 8 of the holder portion is formed with a window 9 opposite a portion of rear wall 10 projecting into the slot 5. As shown in Figure 3, the height of protuberance 11 increases in the direction from open end 6 to stop wall 7.

A rectangular notch 12 is formed in the end of front wall 8 forming a bar 13 between window 9 and notch 12. A small window 14 is also formed in front wall 8 adjacent to stop wall 7, forming a land 15 between windows 9 and 14.

Windows 16 and 17 are also formed in rear wall 10 in correspondence with bar 13 and land 15 respectively.

Figure 4 shows the holder 1 with a stitchcutter knife 18 inserted therein, a rectangular shaft portion 19 of the knife 18 being received in the slot S with its end against stop wall 7 and an elongate aperture 20 in the shaft portion engaged over the protuberance 11. The blade 21 of the knife 18 projects from open end 6 of the holder and has a curved or hooked cutter portion 22 provided with a cutting edge 23. It will be seen that the holder may be used with a relatively short shafted knife 18 to provide an assembly which is easily handled and hygenic.

The additional cost of the holder 1 is considerably less than that of shaft portion 19 to a corresponding extent.

The holder of the second embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 5 and 6 is essentially similar to the holder of the first embodiment in overall concept. However, the front wall 8' of the shaft-receiving portion 3' is provided with a large window 24 extending between stop wall 7 and a bar 25 formed between window 24 and a second smaller window 26, the window 26 defining a second bar 27 at the open end 6.

Figure 6 shows the detailed construction of part of portion 3', showing that the protuberance 11' has a constant height over a part 28 of its length and a sloping part 29 nearest end 6 of the slot, the angle a of slope of part 29 being about 10 . The rear wall of portion 3' is formed with a window 32 opposite bar 25 and a notch 33 at end 6 of the slot, a bar 31 opposite window 26 thereby being formed.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A surgical suture cutter knife having an integral steel shaft and blade and a holder in the form of an elongate member of plastics material having a longitudinal slot which is dimensioned to receive the shaft of the cutter and extends from one end of the plastics member, means being provided in the slot for retaining the inserted shaft of the cutter.

2. A knife according to claim 1, wherein the holder is in the form of a substantially rectangular strip-like member having a cutter shaftreceiving portion formed with the longitudinal slot parallel to the major faces of the member.

3. A knife according to claim 2, wherein the retaining means in the slot comprises a protuberance projecting transversely from the member into the slot for engagement with a notch or aperture provided in the shaft of the cutter.

4. A knife according to claim 3, wherein the protuberance projects into the slot from one major wall of the slot perpendicularly to the said wall for engagement in an aperture in the shaft of the cutter.

5. A knife according to claim 4, wherein a window is formed in the other major wall of the slot opposite the protuberance on the one wall.

6. A knife according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the protuberance is elongate in the direction of insertion of the cutter shaft in the shaftreceiving portion of the holder.

7. A knife according to claim 6, wherein the height of the elongate protuberance increases in the direction of insertion of the cutter shaft.

8 . A surgical suture-cutter knife substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 or Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. A front wall 8 of the holder portion is formed with a window 9 opposite a portion of rear wall 10 projecting into the slot 5. As shown in Figure 3, the height of protuberance 11 increases in the direction from open end 6 to stop wall 7. A rectangular notch 12 is formed in the end of front wall 8 forming a bar 13 between window 9 and notch 12. A small window 14 is also formed in front wall 8 adjacent to stop wall 7, forming a land 15 between windows 9 and 14. Windows 16 and 17 are also formed in rear wall 10 in correspondence with bar 13 and land 15 respectively. Figure 4 shows the holder 1 with a stitchcutter knife 18 inserted therein, a rectangular shaft portion 19 of the knife 18 being received in the slot S with its end against stop wall 7 and an elongate aperture 20 in the shaft portion engaged over the protuberance 11. The blade 21 of the knife 18 projects from open end 6 of the holder and has a curved or hooked cutter portion 22 provided with a cutting edge 23. It will be seen that the holder may be used with a relatively short shafted knife 18 to provide an assembly which is easily handled and hygenic. The additional cost of the holder 1 is considerably less than that of shaft portion 19 to a corresponding extent. The holder of the second embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 5 and 6 is essentially similar to the holder of the first embodiment in overall concept. However, the front wall 8' of the shaft-receiving portion 3' is provided with a large window 24 extending between stop wall 7 and a bar 25 formed between window 24 and a second smaller window 26, the window 26 defining a second bar 27 at the open end 6. Figure 6 shows the detailed construction of part of portion 3', showing that the protuberance 11' has a constant height over a part 28 of its length and a sloping part 29 nearest end 6 of the slot, the angle a of slope of part 29 being about 10 . The rear wall of portion 3' is formed with a window 32 opposite bar 25 and a notch 33 at end 6 of the slot, a bar 31 opposite window 26 thereby being formed. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A surgical suture cutter knife having an integral steel shaft and blade and a holder in the form of an elongate member of plastics material having a longitudinal slot which is dimensioned to receive the shaft of the cutter and extends from one end of the plastics member, means being provided in the slot for retaining the inserted shaft of the cutter.

2. A knife according to claim 1, wherein the holder is in the form of a substantially rectangular strip-like member having a cutter shaftreceiving portion formed with the longitudinal slot parallel to the major faces of the member.

3. A knife according to claim 2, wherein the retaining means in the slot comprises a protuberance projecting transversely from the member into the slot for engagement with a notch or aperture provided in the shaft of the cutter.

4. A knife according to claim 3, wherein the protuberance projects into the slot from one major wall of the slot perpendicularly to the said wall for engagement in an aperture in the shaft of the cutter.

5. A knife according to claim 4, wherein a window is formed in the other major wall of the slot opposite the protuberance on the one wall.

6. A knife according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the protuberance is elongate in the direction of insertion of the cutter shaft in the shaftreceiving portion of the holder.

7. A knife according to claim 6, wherein the height of the elongate protuberance increases in the direction of insertion of the cutter shaft.

8 . A surgical suture-cutter knife substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 or Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.