Slitting Tool

Abstract

A slitting tool can be used to make a linear incision. The slitting can include a flat blade contained within a housing, and an actuator for extending the flat blade out of a housing.

1 . A slitting tool comprising:
 a flat blade;   a housing;   an actuator having an actuator forward segment and an actuator rear segment, wherein the actuator forward segment is disposed within the housing and attached to the flat blade, and the actuator rear segment protrudes out from the housing; and   a seal disposed within the housing and configured to press against opposite sides of the flat blade when the flat blade is extended.   
     
     
         2 . The slitting tool of  claim 1 , wherein a slit opening is formed in the housing, the slit opening is aligned with the flat blade, and the seal is disposed adjacent the slit opening. 
     
     
         3 . The slitting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the seal includes two wipers that face each other and press against opposite sides of the flat blade. 
     
     
         4 . The slitting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a housing forward end, a slit opening formed into the housing forward end, a cylindrical exterior surface, and an annular flange protruding out from the cylindrical exterior surface. 
     
     
         5 . The slitting tool of  claim 4 , wherein the cylindrical exterior surface extends from the annular flange to the housing forward end. 
     
     
         6 . The slitting tool of  claim 4 , wherein the housing includes two protrusions extending radially out from the annular flange. 
     
     
         7 . The slitting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a housing forward end, a slit opening formed into the housing forward end, a cylindrical exterior surface, and two protrusions protruding out from the cylindrical exterior surface. 
     
     
         8 . The slitting tool of  claim 7 , wherein the cylindrical exterior surface extends from the two protrusions to the housing forward end. 
     
     
         9 . The slitting tool of  claim 1 , further comprising an absorbent material in the housing, the absorbent material configured to absorb blood. 
     
     
         10 . A slitting tool comprising:
 a housing having a rear segment with a handle and a forward segment with a housing opening;   a flat blade configured to be extendable into and out of the housing opening; and   an alignment feature on an exterior surface of the forward segment of the housing near the housing opening, the alignment feature configured to mate with a separate device for aligning the slitting tool prior to extension of the flat blade out of the housing opening in making a slit.   
     
     
         11 . The slitting tool of  claim 10 , wherein the alignment feature includes any one or a combination of a flange and protrusions, wherein the flange is configured to abut the separate device, and each protrusion is configured to be received by an indentation or alignment groove of the separate device. 
     
     
         12 . The slitting tool of  claim 10 , further comprising a seal disposed within the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The slitting tool of  claim 10 , further comprising an absorbent material inside the housing, the absorbent material configured to absorb blood. 
     
     
         14 . The slitting tool of  claim 10 , further comprising an actuator including an actuator forward segment and an actuator rear segment, wherein the actuator forward segment is disposed within the housing and attached to the flat blade, and the actuator rear segment protrudes out from the housing. 
     
     
         15 . A slitting tool comprising:
 a housing having a rear segment with a handle and a forward segment with a housing opening;   a flat blade configured to be extendable into and out of the housing opening; and   an absorbent material inside the housing, the absorbent material configured to absorb blood.   
     
     
         16 . The slitting tool of  claim 15 , further comprising a seal disposed adjacent the housing opening. 
     
     
         17 . The slitting tool of  claim 15 , wherein the seal is pressed against opposite sides of the flat blade. 
     
     
         18 . The slitting tool of  claim 15 , further comprising an alignment feature on an exterior surface of the forward segment of the housing, the alignment feature configured to limit extension of the slitting tooling into a separate device or configured to align the slitting tool with the separate device prior to extension of the flat blade out of the housing opening. 
     
     
         19 . The slitting tool of  claim 18 , wherein the alignment feature includes any one or a combination of an annular flange and protrusions, the annular flange is configured to abut the separate device, and each protrusion configured to be received by an indentation or alignment groove of the separate device. 
     
     
         20 . The slitting tool of  claim 15 , further comprising an actuator including an actuator forward segment and an actuator rear segment, wherein the actuator forward segment is disposed within the housing and attached to the flat blade, and the actuator rear segment protrudes out from the housing.