Nail slicer apparatus

Abstract

A nail slicer apparatus for treatment of an ingrown nail includes upper and lower jaw members with handles hingedly connected. The upper jaw member contains a blade holder with the cutting blade oriented perpendicular to the surface of the lower jaw member when the apparatus is in cutting or slicing position.

1 . A nail slicing apparatus comprising: 
 a first member having a handle member on the proximal end and an upper jaw comprising a blade holder on the distal end;    a second member having a handle on the proximal end and a lower jaw on the distal end, said second member hingedly connected to said first member;    a blade affixed within said blade holder, wherein the blade axis is approximately normal to the longitudinal axis of said second member, and the cutting edge of said blade is proximately situated over said lower jaw when said apparatus is engaged in a cutting or slicing position.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said lower jaw has an elongated, smooth, flat shape and the distal end of said lower jaw has a smooth, rounded profile.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said lower jaw further comprises a recess aligned to accommodate said blade when said apparatus is engaged in said cutting or slicing position.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the opposing surfaces of the upper jaw and the lower jaw are smooth.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said handles are adapted to be gripped and squeezed by a user to apply the force for cutting or slicing the nail.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said handles further comprise openings to accommodate insertion of fingers.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said blade holder includes a blade adjustment and blade locking mechanism to hold said blade in position.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said blade adjustment and blade locking mechanism further comprises a knurled surface.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said first and second members further comprise a member locking mechanism for securing said members in a predetermined position relative to each other.  
   
   
       10 . An ingrown nail slicing apparatus comprising: 
 a first member having a handle member on the proximal end and an upper jaw comprising a blade holder on the distal end;    a second member having a handle on the proximal end and a lower jaw on the distal end, said second member hingedly connected to said first member;    said lower jaw having an elongated, smooth, flat shape and the distal end of said lower jaw having a smooth, rounded profile, and    the opposing surfaces of the upper jaw and the lower jaw are smooth;    a blade affixed within said blade holder, wherein the blade axis is approximately normal to the longitudinal axis of said second member, and the cutting edge of said blade is proximately situated over said lower jaw when said apparatus is engaged in a cutting or slicing position;    said blade holder further comprising a blade adjustment and blade locking mechanism to hold said blade in position;    wherein said handles of the first and second members are adapted to be gripped and squeezed by a user to apply the force for cutting or slicing the nail.    
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said lower jaw further comprises a recess aligned to accommodate said blade when said apparatus is engaged in said cutting or slicing position.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said blade adjustment and blade locking mechanism further comprises a knurled surface.  
   
   
       13 . The method of utilizing the nail slicer apparatus after preparing the digit and nail for cutting or slicing comprising: 
 sliding the lower jaw under the ingrown nail from the outside edge of the nail to the base of the nail, detaching the nail from the soft tissue;    compressing the handles together to penetrate the nail with the blade;    pulling back on the apparatus handles to cause the blade to slice the nail from the base to the end of the nail.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising: 
 sliding the lower jaw under the ingrown nail from the outside edge of the nail to a position between the outside edge and the base where resistance of the underlying soft tissue is substantial;    compressing the handles together to cause the blade to penetrate the nail;    pulling back on the apparatus handles to cause the blade to slice the nail from the base to the end of the nail;    releasing the compressive force applied to the handles;    reinserting and sliding the lower jaw under the ingrown nail from the outside edge of the nail to a position between the outside edge and the base, said position determined by where resistance of the underlying soft tissue is substantial;    recompressing the handles together to cause the blade to penetrate the nail;    pulling back on the apparatus handles to cause the blade to slice the nail from the base to the end of the nail;    repeating the aforementioned steps until the nail is sliced from the base to the outside edge of the nail.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising twisting the apparatus slightly from side to side after the blade penetrates the nail to facilitate separation of the nail from the underlying soft tissue.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising twisting the apparatus slightly from side to side after the blade penetrates the nail to facilitate separation of the nail from the underlying soft tissue.