Importance

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Abstract

This invention relates to an improved guarded surgical scalpel having a movable guard that can be retracted to expose the blade and that can be extended to cover the sharp cutting edge of the blade. The guard is telescopically mounted inside the blade handle and includes a deflectable top wall portion that holds a detent pin or that defines a radially extending flange. This detent pin or flange engages a slot having upturned ends formed in at least one side wall of the blade handle. The detent pin or flange is biased upwardly into the upturned ends of the slot to hold the guard in the retracted or extended position. The blade can include a tang having a notch formed therein. The distal end of one sidewall of the guard can be formed with a complementary notch such that when the distal end of the sidewall of the guard engages the proximal end of the blade, forward movement of the guard forces the blade off of the scalpel. A lifter wedge is provided to urge the proximal end of the blade away from a blade carrier into engagement with the distal end of the sidewall of the guard.

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First Claim