U.S. patent number 3,752,149 [Application Number 05/208,714] was granted by the patent office on 1973-08-14 for vaginal speculum.
Invention is credited to Arthur Rosenthal, Leslie Ungar.
United States Patent |
3,752,149 |
Ungar , et al. |
August 14, 1973 |
VAGINAL SPECULUM
Abstract
A vaginal speculum of the bivalve type which includes two blades
in superposed relation capable of moving from a closed position in
which the blades are closely spaced to an open position in which
they are widely spaced; said blades being movable between said open
and closed positions along an arucate path which provides angular
variation as well as separation in one sweeping movement.
Inventors: |
Ungar; Leslie (Toronto,
Ontario, CA), Rosenthal; Arthur (Toronto, Ontario,
CA) |
Family
ID: |
22775723 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/208,714 |
Filed: |
December 16, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
600/222 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B
1/32 (20130101); A61B 1/303 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61B
1/303 (20060101); A61B 1/32 (20060101); A61b
001/30 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/3,17,20,12 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Laudenslager; Lucie H.
Claims
We claim:
1. A vaginal speculum of the bivalve type comprising:
a pair of double-ended stems disposable in superposed nested
relation with one of them contained by the other;
a blade joined to one end of each stem at an obtuse angle thereto,
the blade being integral with the stem and forming therewith a
unitary sub-assembly, the said stems being relatively slidably
movable in the nested relation aforesaid between a closed position
in which said blades are disposed in close superposed relation to
each other and an open position in which they are disposed in
spread apart and generally registering inferior and superior
relation to each other;
guides on the respective sub-assemblies for retaining said stems in
the said superposed relation while moving between the open and
closed positions aforesaid;
means for interconnecting said sub-assemblies with their stems in
the relatively slidable and nested relation aforesaid;
a ratchet on one sub-assembly and a co-operating pawl on the other
disengageably engageable with said ratchet for releasably fixing
the sub-assemblies at selected stations intermediate the open and
closed positions aforesaid; and
fulcrum means on which the sub-assemblies are relatively rockable
to permit movement of said stems towards and away from each other;
said pawl being engageable with said ratchet to fix the
sub-assemblies at the intermediate stations aforesaid when said
stems are moved away from each other and being disengageable from
said ratchet to release said sub-assemblies for movement towards
said closed position when said stems are moved towards each
other;
the sub-assembly occupying the superior position in the nested
relationship aforesaid having a window permitting sighting between
the blades.
2. A vaginal speculum as defined in claim 1 wherein:
the means interconnecting the sub-assemblies as aforesaid include a
post projecting from one said sub-assembly through a slot in the
other and a cap on the projecting end of said post preventing
withdrawal thereof from said slot in the nested relation aforesaid;
the cap and slot being respectively shaped and dimensioned to
permit passage of said cap through said slot when the
sub-assemblies are displaced from said nested relation and rotated
about said post to angular relation with each other.
3. A vaginal speculum as defined in claim 1 wherein:
said fulcrum means is located adjacent the juncture of the stem and
blade of one said sub-assembly and forms part of the guide
thereon.
4. A vaginal speculum as defined in claim 1 wherein:
the stem of the inferior sub-assembly includes a handle at its end
opposite to that joined to the blade and the other of said stems
has a finger press engageable by the thumb of a person holding the
speculum by said handle for moving said other stem towards open
position aforesaid and for rocking the superior sub-assembly on
said fulcrum means.
5. A vaginal speculum as defined in claim 2 wherein:
said cap also constitutes the pawl.
6. A vaginal speculum as defined in claim 2 wherein:
said fulcrum means is located adjacent the juncture of the stem and
blade of one said sub-assembly and forms part of the guide
thereon;
the stems of the respective sub-assemblies are arched for imparting
a slight revolving movement to their associated blades when the
stems move between open and closed position aforesaid;
the slot is formed in the stem of the superior sub-assembly and the
post projects therethrough from the stem of the other sub-assembly;
the ratchet being formed on the exposed surface of the stem of the
superior sub-assembly;
said cap constitutes said pawl; and
the stem of the inferior sub-assembly includes a handle at its end
opposite to that joined to the blade and the other of said stems
has a finger press engageable by the thumb of a person holding the
speculum by said handle for moving said other stem towards open
position aforesaid and for rocking the superior sub-assembly on
said fulcrum means.
7. A vaginal speculum as defined in claim 5 wherein:
said fulcrum means is located adjacent the juncture of the stem and
blade of one said sub-assembly and forms part of the guide
thereon.
8. A vaginal speculum as defined in claim 5 wherein:
the slot is formed in the stem of the superior sub-assembly and the
post projects therethrough from the stem of the other
sub-assembly;
the ratchet being formed on the exposed surface of the stem of the
said superior sub-assembly.
9. A vaginal speculum as defined in claim 7 wherein:
the stem of the superior sub-assembly is arched for imparting a
revolving movement to its associated blade when the stems move
between open and closed positions aforesaid.
10. A vaginal speculum as defined in claim 7 wherein:
the stems of the respective sub-assemblies are arched for imparting
a revolving movement to their associated blades when the stems move
between open and closed positions aforesaid.
Description
This invention relates to vaginal speculae and, in particular, to
improvements in vaginal speculae of the bivalve type having blades
which open and close in the manner of a bivalve.
In the prior art are many known vaginal speculae of the bivalve
type which employ various arrangements for selectively shifting and
locking the blades between open and closed positions. In an
efficient speculum of the type under consideration, the blades are
required to be capable of two opening movements. That is to say
they should be separable as well as angularly variable relative to
each other. In addition, they are used very often under difficult
conditions. Thus the manipulation thereof -- i.e. movement between
open and closed positions -- should, ideally, be as simple as
possible and, in still further addition to the foregoing, an
efficient speculum should offer minimal obstruction to the field of
operation.
In recent times many attempts have been made to provide one -- use,
disposable, speculae of minimum cost. The speculum visualized by
this invention embodies principles of construction which makes it
practical and feasible for it to be formed of plastic and hence
expediently disposable. To this end, the invention is able to
provide a speculum which is formed of two separate plastic moldings
which are quickly and easily assemblable at the time and place of
use for immediate service.
The construction of such speculae in the prior art has frequently
been characterized by complexities in the assembly of their parts.
However, the two parts of the invention herein, being of relatively
simple design, are capable of being assembled in a smooth, quick
and unsophisticated manner.
It is a broad object of this invention to provide a vaginal
speculum of the bivalve type which is simple in design having two
parts which are easy to assemble.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a vaginal
speculum of the bivalve type which is conveniently operable,
adjustable to selected positions, and sturdy and efficient in
use.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a
disposable vaginal speculum of the bivalve type which is easy and
cheap to manufacture.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a
vaginal speculum of the bivalve type which includes two blades in
superposed relation capable of moving from a closed position in
which the blades are closely spaced to an open position in which
they are widely spaced; said blades being movable between said open
and closed positions along an arcuate path which provides angular
variation as well as separation in one sweeping movement.
The various objects of this invention are achieved essentially by
providing a vaginal speculum of the bivalve type which comprises a
pair of double-ended stems disposable in superposed nested relation
with one of them contained by the other. A blade is joined to one
end of each stem at an obtuse angle thereto with the blade being
integral with the stem and forming therewith a unitary
sub-assembly. Said stems are relatively slidable in the nested
relation aforesaid between a closed position in which their
respective blades are disposed in the aforesaid close, superposed,
relation to each other and an open position in which they are
disposed in spread apart and generally registering inferior and
superior relation to each other. Guides are provided on the
respective sub-assemblies for retaining said stems in the said
superposed relation while moving between the said open and closed
positions. In addition, means are provided for interconnecting said
sub-assemblies with their stems in the relatively slidable and
nested relation aforesaid. A ratchet is included on one
sub-assembly and a co-operating pawl on the other for releasably
fixing the sub-assemblies at selected stations intermediate said
open and closed positions. Said vaginal speculum is further
provided with fulcrum means on which the sub-assemblies are
relatively rockable to engage said pawl with said ratchet for
fixing the sub-assemblies at the intermediate stations aforesaid
and to disengage said pawl from the ratchet releasing said
sub-assemblies for movement towards said closed position; the
sub-assembly occupying the superior position in the nested
relationship aforesaid having a window permitting sighting between
the blades.
The foregoing objects and others, more or less broad, will become
apparent from the hereinafter following description of the
constituent parts, elements and principles of the invention given
herein solely by way of example with reference to the embodiments
herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing
wherein like reference devices denote like parts of the invention
throughout the several views and wherein:
FIG. 1 -- is a perspective view of the two disassembled parts of
the vaginal speculum according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 -- is an elevational view of the upper portion of the two
assembled parts of the speculum showing the window which permits
sighting between the blades; also sections are broken away for
clarity showing one part being contained by the other.
FIG. 3 -- is a cross-sectional view along the longitudinal axis of
the two assembled parts of the vaginal speculum.
FIG. 4 -- is a top plan view of portions of the two respective
parts of the speculum at an angular relation with each other
showing the mode of assembly.
In FIG. 1 is shown a vaginal speculum 2 of the bivalve type
according to the present invention which comprises a pair of
double-ended stems 4 and 6 disposable in the superposed nested
relation of FIGS. 2 and 3 with one of them contained by the other.
It will be observed in this connection said vaginal speculum 2
includes spaced flanges or guides 8--8 on one and a pair of tongues
or guides 10--10 on the other of the stems 4 and 6 for retaining
said stems 4 and 6 in superposed relation aforesaid while moving
between open and closed positions to be described; the tongues
10--10 being contained between flanges 8--8, for example, as shown
in FIG. 2 to guide the said stems in their movements between open
and closed positions as best shown in FIG. 3. Bivalve type blades
12 and 14 are joined to the ends of stems 4 and 6, respectively, at
obtuse angles to the stems 4 and 6 or to their chords; each blade
being integral with its stem and forming therewith a unitary
sub-assembly respectively identified by numerals 16 and 16'. Said
stems 4 and 6 are relatively slidable in the nested relation
aforesaid between a closed position in which said blades 12 and 14
are disposed in close superposed relation to each other as shown by
dotted lines in FIG. 3 and the open, solid line, position in the
same view in which they are disposed in spread apart and generally
registering inferior and superior relation to each other as shown
with the said blade 12 occupying the inferior position and said
blade 14 the superior position.
In order to maintain the sub-assemblies 16-16' in an assembled
condition, the invention is provided with means for interconnecting
them with their stems 4 and 6 in the relatively slidable and nested
relation aforesaid. In this embodiment, such means includes a post
18 as shown in FIG. 3 projecting from one of them through a slot 20
in the other in which it is accommodated to permit the aforesaid
relative movement of the stems 4 and 6 between said open and closed
positions. A dual purpose cap 22 is provided on the projecting end
of said post 18 which prevents its withdrawal from and through said
slot 20 in the nested relation of the parts aforesaid; said cap 22
and slot 20 being respectively shaped and dimensioned to permit
passage of the cap through said slot 20 when the sub-assemblies
16-16' are displaced from nested relation and rotated about said
post 18 to an angular relation with each other as suggested by FIG.
4. In this embodiment the specific sub-assembly which contains slot
20 further includes a ratchet 24 which co-operates with a pawl on
the other as best shown in FIG. 3 for releasably fixing the
sub-assemblies 16-16' at selected stations intermediate the open
and closed stem positions aforesaid; said cap 22 also constituting
said pawl 22. More particularly, said slot 20 and ratchet 24 are
formed on the superior sub-assembly 16' while the post 18 projects
therethrough from the inferior sub-assembly 16.
To provide a mode of establishing temporary contact between said
cap or pawl 22 and ratchet 24, fulcrum means is provided on which
the sub-assemblies are rockable relative to each other to engage
said pawl 22 with said ratchet 24 for fixing the sub-assemblies at
the intermediate positions aforesaid and to disengage said pawl 22
from ratchet 24 releasing said sub-assemblies for movement towards
said closed position. Specifically, the said fulcrum means is
located adjacent the juncture of said stem 4 and blade 12 and is
constituted by peaks 26--26 on the tongues 10--10.
In order to permit examination of the cavity in which the present
speculum is installed, a window 28 is provided through the top of
stem 6 of the superior sub-assembly 16' adjacent its juncture with
blade 14 substantially as will appear from FIGS. 1 and 2; said
window 28 permitting sighting between said blades 12 and 14.
As further shown in FIG. 3 said stems 4 and 6 of the respective
sub-assemblies are arched imparting an arcuate movement to their
associated blades 12 and 14 respectively when said stems move
between the open and closed positions aforesaid. Thus, when an
opening movement takes place, the blades 12 and 14 will not only
separate vertically as shown in FIG. 3, but the angular inclination
of the blades to each other will also very as will be obvious from
a comparison of the dotted and full line positions of blade 14 in
the same view.
Stem 4 of said inferior sub-assembly 16 includes a handle 30 at its
end opposite to that joined to said blade 12 and stem 6 of the
other sub-assembly 16' includes a finger press 32 engageable by the
thumb of a person holding the speculum by said handle 30 for moving
said stem 6 towards open position aforesaid and for rocking it on
the fulcrum means 26--26. It will be observed in this connection
that, as said stems 4 and 6 move towards open position, the
respective blades 12 and 14 move along a path which separates them
vertically and if the stems 4 and 6 are arched, there will also be
angular variation therebetween.
As may be appreciated when said vaginal speculum 2 is functioning
to dilate a body cavity, it encounters certain muscular forces
which resist dilation. These forces are depicted by way of arrows
34 as shown in FIG. 3 and tend to oppose the force applied against
finger press 32 to move said blades 12 and 14 to open position
aforesaid. It will be seen and understood that the effect of said
muscular forces 34 on said blades 12 and 14 is to rock the superior
sub-assembly on said fulcrum means 26--26 thereby causing said
ratchet 24 to move upward into engagement with said pawl 22 to
resist closing of the speculum and to fix it in its open
position.
* * * * *