MXPA01000338A - Speculum - Google Patents

Abstract

A speculum (18) including a combined first speculum blade and handle portion (20), a combined second speculum blade and link portion (62), a speculum handle portion and a plurality of combined ribs and links (76). Each of the combined ribs and links (76) is movably coupled to the combined first speculum blade and handle portion (20) and to the combined second speculum blade and link portion (62) to movably couple the combined first speculum blade and handle portion (20) to the combined second speculum blade and link portion (62). The speculum handle portion (46) is movably coupled to the combined first speculum blade and handle portion (20) and to the combined second speculum blade and link portion (62) to actuate the combined first speculum blade and handle portion (20) and the combined second speculum blade and link portion (62) relative to each other between a first orientation (illustrated in Fig. 4) in which the speculum (18) is configured to be inserted into an incision, meatus or the like, and a second orientation (illustrated in Fig. 5) in which the speculum is configured to aid in examination, treatment or the like, of the incision meatus or the like.

Description

SPECULUS Field of the Invention This invention relates to a speculum. It is described in the context of a gynecological speculum, but is considered useful in other applications as well. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Several types of gynecological speculum are known. The first types were designed and manufactured to be sterilized. Most of the most recent types are resin or coated with some type of resin, designed and manufactured to be disposable. Most of these latter types are molded in transparent or semitransparent plastic to aid in examination. Some use materials with integrated optical waveguide or attach again to aid in the examination. An illustrative but by no means complete list of the different known types of specula includes the following North American patents: 672,239; 1,150,749; 3,702,606; 3,890,961; 3,985,125; 4,206,750; 4,766,887; 4,884,559; 4,971,036; 5,052,372; 5,072,720, 5,179,938; 5,458,595 and 5,499,946. It is not intended with this list to represent that the indicated references constitute the only or closest relevant technique or that there is no better reference. Nor should any of these representations be inferred.

Description of the invention A speculum includes a first member, a second member, a third member and a plurality of member quarters. Each of the member rooms is movably coupled to the first member and the second member to movably engage the first member and the second member. The third member is movably coupled to the first member and the second member to actuate the first member and the second member relative to each other between a first orientation in which the speculum is configured to be inserted in an incision, meatus or the like and a second one. orientation in which the speculum is configured to assist in the examination, treatment or similar of the incision, meatus or the like. Illustratively according to the invention the fourth members are provided in pairs. Further illustratively according to the invention, each of the member quarters is pivotally coupled to the first member and the second member. Additionally illustratively according to the invention the third member is pivotally coupled to the first member and the second member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention should be better understood by reference to the detailed descriptions and accompanying the drawings which illustrate the invention. In the drawings: Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a speculum constructed in accordance with the invention and in the orientation of use. Fig. 2 illustrates a sectioned view of the speculum illustrated in Fig. 1, generally taking the section at 10 along the lines 2-2 of fig. 1; Fig. 3 illustrates a top plan view of the detail of a speculum illustrated in Figs. 1-2; Fig. 4 illustrates a side elevation view of a speculum of fig. 1 in an insertion orientation; and, FIG. 5 illustrates a side elevational view of a speculum of FIG. 1 in a usage orientation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The speculum of the invention can be constructed of any suitable material or combination of filled or unfilled resin materials, illustratively to enable its components to be conveniently formed, for example injection molded or assembled for example by embedding each. Additionally if the materials are transparent or semi-transparent this can help in the examination conducted using the speculum.

Additionally, if materials and principles of optical guidance are used in the design and manufacture of the speculum according to the invention, this can also help in the examination conducted using the speculum. Referring now to Figures 1-5, the speculum 18 includes a combination of first speculum blade and handle portion 20. The portion 20 includes a region 22 generally defining a first speculum blade and a region 24 generally defining a first portion. of mango speculum. Regions 22 and 24 are substantially uniformly integrated in region 26 within a region 20 of the simple casting speculum. A transverse extension passageway is formed in portion 20 of region 26. Reinforcements 30 and screening 32 are molded within The portion 20 extended between the regions 22 and 24 through the region 26 to reinforce the portion 20. The front end 33 of the sheet of the region 22 illustratively includes a generally curved circular portion, perhaps best illustrated in Figure 1 , and one concave curvature upwards and forwards, perhaps better illustrated in Figures 4-5. The leaf region 22 is also provided with a plurality, illustratively three, of pairs of ears 40-1L, 40-1R; 40-2L, 40-2R; and, 40- 3L, 40-3R, one of each pair of which extends towards up from opposite side edges respectively 42-L a miiMááá i ^^ H? gj ^ jAt ^^ sheet region 22. Each ear 40-1L, 40-1R, 40-2L, 40-2R, 40-3L and 40-3R is provided with a through passage transverse extension 44, better illustrated in fig. 2. A portion of speculum handle 46 includes at its upper end 48 a pair of upwardly extending driving arms 50, each having a transversely extending passageway 52. Down the driving arms 50, towards a central region 54 of a handle portion 46, a pair of pivoting mounting ears 56-L and 56-R extend from the respective opposite side edges 58-L and 58R of the handle portion 46. Each mounting ear 56-L, 56-R is provided with a passageway 60 extending transversely. The speculum handle portion 46 is pivotally mounted to the portion 20 by means of one or more pivot pins inserted through an aligned passageway 28, 60. A second speculum blade and a combined link portion 62 includes a pair of pivot bolts 64-L and 64-R that are extend from their respective lateral edges right and left 66-L and 66-R adjacent a proximal end 68 of the portion 62. The pivot bolts 64-L and 64-R are received in respective passageways 52 of respective driving arms 50 to the portion assembly 62 pivotably from the portion 46. Additionally a plurality, illustratively three, of pairs of pins of pivot, 70-1L, 70-1R, 70-2L, 70-2R, 70-3L; 70-3R, better illustrated in Figure 3, extended from their respective left and right side edges 66-L, 66-R. Pivot bolts 70-1L, 70-1R, 70-2L, 70-2R, 70-3L; 70-3R are pivotally received in mounting holes for pivots 72, better illustrated in Figure 2, at first ends 74 of the respective combined reinforcement of reinforcements and links 76. The second end 78 of the combined reinforcements and links 76 includes pivot pins 80 , better illustrated in fig. 2, which are received pivotally in passageways 44 over the ears 40-1L, 40-1R; 40-2L, 40--2R, 40 ^ 3L and 40-3R of the combination of first speculum leaf and handle of portion 20 in the assembled speculum. This arrangement mounts the second blade portion and speculum link portion 62 to the combination of first blade and speculum handle 20 such that the first portion of speculum and handle 20 can be selectively displaced spaced from the blade, as best illustrated comparing Figures 4 and 5, by the variation in the clamping force between the handle portion 46 and the region 24 of the first speculum combination and the handle portion 20. In this manner, the speculum 18 can be conveniently inserted within of a meatus or incision with a second speculum blade and union portion 62 collapsed within a minimum space, illustrated in Figure 4, of the first speculum blade and handle portion 20 combination. Then once the speculum 18 Is it in position in the meatus? incision, the clamping pressure can be exerted between the handle portion 46 and 5 the region 24 of the leaf of the first combined speculum and handle of the portion 20 to increase the space between the leaf of the second speculum and the attachment portion 62 and the combination of first speculum blade and handle portion 20 to open the meatus or incision for observation and treatment. In the fully open position, with the handle of the portion 46 and the region 24 engaged, the speculum 18 can be so designed that the second speculum blade and the attachment portion 62 are in an orientation about the center with respect to the combination of the first 15 speculum blade and handle portion 20, securing portions 20 and 62 in that orientation. This can be better appreciated with reference to Figures 1/5. Opening the space between the second speculum blade and the joining portion 62 and combination of the first speculum blade and handle portion 20 also provides a guide path 88 through the speculum 18 for insertion into the meatus or insertion of instruments for treatment. The space 90, better illustrated in Figure 1, between the driving arms 50 also promotes that insertion. - ^^ fc »^ * ^ * m * m ^. , m ..? ^ iÜ ± j ^ j

Claims (16)

1. CLAIMS 1. A speculum including a first member having a leading end having a concave curvature towards the front and upward, a second limb, a third limb and a plurality of fourth limbs, each of the fourth limbs being coupled with mobility to the first and the second member, the third member is movably coupled to the first member and the second member to actuate the first member and the second member in a reciprocal relationship between a first and a second orientation. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second member includes opposite first and second sides, and the fourth members are provided in pairs, a fourth member of each pair extends between a respective first or second side of the first member and a respective first or second side of the second member. 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each of the fourth members is pivotally coupled to the first member and the second member. 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the fourth members is pivotally coupled to the first member and the second member. £ M? t t? t? jti á¡í m ~~ * m-. . * m? m * -, A ^^ 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the third member is pivotally coupled to the first member and the second member. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the third member is pivotally coupled to the first member and the second member. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the third member flfc is pivotally coupled to the first member and the second member. 8. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the third member is pivotally coupled to the first member and the second member. 9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fourth members are provided in pairs, each of the The fourth member is pivotably coupled to the first member and the second member. • The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the fourth members are provided in pairs. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the fourth members are provided in pairs, each of which is pivotally coupled to the first member and the second member. 12. A speculum includes a first member, a second member, a third member, and a plurality of 25 member rooms, each of the member rooms are movably coupled to the first member and the second member to movably engage the first member to the second member, the third member movably engages the first and second members to actuate the first and second members. second members to each other to a first orientation wherein the first and second member are adjacent to each other and to a second orientation wherein the first member and second member are separated from each other and the first member and the third member collaborate to block the relative movement 10 of the first and second members. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein each of the first and second member includes first and second opposite sides, and the fourth members are provided in pairs, one of the fourth members of each pair is 15 extends between a first and second respective side of a first member and a respective first or second side of the second member. 14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein each of the member rooms is coupled in a manner 20 pivoting to the first member and the second member. 15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the third member is pivotally coupled to the first member and the second member. 16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the plurality of the fourth members cooperate with the first and third member to block the movement of the first and the second member relatively relative to each other when the first and second members are in the second orientation. • F