SURGICAL MARKER

Abstract

The invention relates to a surgical marker (1) comprising an elongate handle (2) that can be gripped with the hand in the manner of a pen, and means provided on the handle (2) for interchangeably attaching interchangeable points (3, 4, 5), the interchangeable points comprising: a point made of a porous material that can be soaked in ink (3), for marking on skin; a graphite point (4) for marking on bone; and an injector point (5) for precision-marking points to outline skin grafts by means of an injection into the dermis that is not erased with surgical washing.

Claims

1. Surgical marker (1) characterised in that it comprises: an elongated handle (2) for holding with the hand as a writing instrument, and exchangeable attachment means for exchangeable tips (3, 4, 5), provided on said handle and on the tips (3, 4, 5), where the exchangeable tips comprise: a tip (3) made of a porous material soakable in ink for marking skin, a graphite tip (4) for marking bone, and an injection tip (5) for precision marking of points to design skin plasties by injection in the dermis.

2. Surgical marker (1) according to claim 1 characterised in that the tips (3) made of a porous material soakable in ink comprise an applicator (31) for said material and a reservoir (30); the applicator (31) and the reservoir (30) mounted on a first support (32) in which are implemented the exchangeable attachment means to the handle (2).

3. Surgical marker (1) according to claim 1 characterised in that the tips (3) made of a porous material soakable in ink are soaked in moisture-resistant ink.

4. Surgical marker (1) according to claim 1 characterised in that it comprises tips (3) made of a porous material soakable in ink with different thicknesses.

5. Surgical marker (1) according to claim 1 characterised in that the graphite tip (4) comprises a portion of graphite (41) with at least HD hardness, mounted on a second support (42) in which are implemented the exchangeable attachment means to the handle (2).

6. Surgical marker (1) according to claim 1 characterised in that the injection tip (5) comprises a hollow needle (50) for subcutaneous injection of the ink in communication with an elastic reservoir (51) that can be compressed through an orifice (20) provided on the handle (2); the hollow needle (50) and the reservoir (51) mounted on a third support (53) in which are implemented the exchangeable attachment means to the handle (2).

7. Surgical marker (1) according to claim 6 characterised in that the third support (53) comprises a flexible elastic lever (52) that can restore its position in coincidence with the orifice (20) to compress the reservoir.

8. Surgical marker (1) according to claim 6 characterised in that the ink used in the injection point (5) is selected among: methylene blue, or gentian violet.

9. Surgical marker (1) according to claim 1 characterised in that the exchangeable attachment means provided on the handle (2) comprise a removable annular clip (19) and a female notch (9) and a complementary anti-rotation male protrusion (10); where the female notch (9) is provided on the handle (2) and the male protrusion (10) on the tips (3, 4, 5) or vice versa.

10. Surgical marker (1) according to claim 1 characterised in that the handle (2) comprises a ruler (21) for measuring the markings.

11. Surgical marker (1) according to claim 1 characterised in that the tips (3, 4, 5) comprise a lid (8).

12. Surgical marker (1) according to claim 11 characterised in that the lid (8) is attached by fitting means to the corresponding tip (3, 4, 5), the attachment means of which have a lower tensile resistance than the exchangeable attachment means of the tips (3, 4, 5).

13. Surgical marker (1) according to claim 1 characterised in that the tip (3, 4, 5) comprises a sealing lip (15) placed against an inner recess (80) of the lid (8).

14. Surgical marker (1) according to claim 1 characterised in that the handle (2) and/or the tips (3, 4, 5) are made of plastic materials.

15. Surgical marker (1) according to claim 1 characterised in that the tips (3, 4, 5) comprise a preliminary sterilisation treatment and a sterile protection packaging.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a side view of the marker of the invention with the various tips thereof, where the covers of said tips are sectioned for purposes of clarity.

[0022] FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 respectively show a side view of the marker of the invention with the tip of porous material soakable in ink, the graphite tip and the injection tip mounted, marking the concealed lines and with the covers of the tips sectioned.

[0023] FIG. 5 shows a side, elevation and bottom plan view of the marker of the invention with the injection tip mounted, showing by concealed lines in the elevation view the male protrusion of the exchangeable tip attachment means to the handle inserted in the female notch.

[0024] FIG. 6 shows an enlarged view of the clipping of one of the tips to the handle of the marker of the invention. This clipping is the same for all the tips.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

[0025] The surgical marker (1) of the invention comprises (see FIG. 1): [0026] a handle (2) in the form of a marker body, tubular, that can be held in the hand, and [0027] exchangeable attachment means for exchangeable tips (3, 4, 5) arranged on said handle (2) and at the tips (3, 4, 5),
where the exchangeable tips comprise: [0028] a tip (3) made of a porous material soakable in ink for marking skin, [0029] a graphite tip (4) for marking bone, even if it is wet or has blood, [0030] an injection tip (5) for precision marking of points to design skin plasties by injection in the dermis that do not fade with surgical washing. This tip is particularly useful to mark skin flaps with precise geometry, such as in cleft lips, other plasties with precise geometry and to perform otoplasties.

[0031] All of the above such that in a single surgical intervention several tips can be used depending on the technique to perform.

[0032] The tips (3) made of a porous material soakable in ink comprise an applicator (31) for said material and a reservoir (30) with the same or similar material, increasing the amount of ink contained and therefore the duration thereof. The applicator (31) and the reservoir (30) are mounted on a first support (32) where the exchangeable attachment means to the handle (2) are implemented. In addition, said tips (3) of a porous material soakable in ink are soaked in moisture-resistant ink and comprise inks of several colours and/or thickness, including at least three different thicknesses: fine, medium and thick.

[0033] The graphite tip (4) instead comprises a graphite portion (41) with at least HD hardness, such as to allow an effective bone marking, and is mounted on a second support (42) where the exchangeable attachment means to the handle (2) are implemented.

[0034] With regard to the injection tip (5), ideally it comprises a hollow needle (50) for subcutaneous injection of the ink, in communication with an elastic reservoir (51) that can be compressed through an orifice (20) provided on the handle (2) that allows pressing said elastic reservoir (51) applying sufficient pressure to inject the ink subcutaneously through the hollow needle (51). Said hollow needle (50) and the reservoir (51) are mounted on a third support (53) where the exchangeable attachment means to the handle (2) are implemented. In addition, said third support (53) preferably comprises a flexible elastic lever (52) that can recover its position coinciding with the orifice (20) and with the reservoir (51) in order to compress the latter more easily, the orifice (20) located on the end of the handle (2) where the exchangeable attachment means of the tips (3, 4, 5) are provided, and at the same position as the reservoir (51), such that a reservoir with sufficient volume is obtained, yet not too big for the ink to dry or the pressure exerted to be dispersed. The ink used in the injection point (5) can be methylene blue or gentian violet, which will not fade with surgical washing, remaining at the initially intended position even if the wound is already open.

[0035] The exchangeable attachment means of the exchangeable tips (3, 4, 5) provided on the handle (2) comprise in this preferred embodiment (see FIG. 6) a removable annular clip (19) as well as a female notch (9) and a complementary male protrusion (10), such that the union is not rotary and connection is simple and effective Said female notch (9) is provided on the handle (2) and the male protrusion (10) is provided on the tips (3, 4, 5) as shown in the figures, or vice versa.

[0036] In addition the handle (2) comprises a ruler (21) (see FIG. 5) to measure the markings, which can be used with the tips (3, 4, 5) mounted or not mounted on the marker (1). Said ruler (21) ideally has millimetre gradings and can be implemented in the handle (2) by printing and/or moulding.

[0037] The tips (3, 4, 5) ideally comprise a lid (8) to prevent the porous material from drying and/or to protect the graphite and the injection needle. Said lid (8) is attached by fitting means to the corresponding tip (3, 4, 5), the fitting means thereof have a smaller tensile resistance than the exchangeable attachment means of the tips (3, 4, 5) (than the annular clip (19) in this example), in order to take out the lid (8) without removing the tip mounted on the handle (2). Said fitting means comprise for example an annular protrusion (11) and an annular fitting (12) for said annular protrusion (11), said annular protrusion (11) being disposed on the tip (3, 4, 5) and the annular fitting in the lid (8), or vice versa.

[0038] In addition, the tip (3, 4, 5) comprises a frustoconical sealing lip (15) arranged against an inner recess (80) of the lid (8) to prevent air from entering and drying the ink.

[0039] Lastly, the handle (2) and/or the tips (3, 4, 5) are made of plastic to reduce costs, and the tips (3, 4, 5) comprise a preliminary sterilisation treatment and a sterile protection packaging, not shown, for immediate use.

[0040] Having sufficiently described the nature of the invention and the embodiment thereof, it should be noted that the arrangements described above and shown in the accompanying drawings are subject to changes in the details thereof provided the fundamental design is not affected.