Importance

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Abstract

A surgical instrument includes a hollow handle having an end slot and a side slot and a blade carrier securable to a scalpel blade and moveable between first and second positions relative to the handle. One of the first and second positions is an extended, in-use position wherein the scalpel blade extends out of the handle through the end slot. The other position is a retracted, non-use position wherein the scalpel blade is wholly disposed within the handle. At least one finger extends from the blade carrier and has a first contoured portion engageable, when the blade carrier is in the first position, with a second contoured portion of the handle. The first and second contoured portions are substantially complementary such that the finger must deflect to permit disengagement of the first contoured portion of the finger from the second contoured portion of the handle so that the blade carrier can be moved from the first position toward the second position. A locking cam is moveable between a locked position wherein the locking cam substantially inhibits deflection of the finger of the blade carrier and an unlocked position wherein the locking cam permits deflection of the finger of the blade carrier. A method of using this surgical instrument includes the steps of moving the locking cam to the unlocked position if the locking cam is in the locked position, moving the blade carrier from the first position to the second position or from the second position to the first position, and moving the locking cam to the locked position.

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First Claim