Actinic light colposcope and method to detect lesions in the lower female genital tract produced by human papilloma virus using an actinic light colposcope
First Claim
1. A colposcope apparatus capable of detecting Human Papilloma Virus-produced lesions in the lower female genital tract and providing accurate and instant results, comprising:
- a. a base further comprising a generally rectangular plate sufficiently large and heavy to provide support and stability to the apparatus, said plate comprising a top portion and a bottom portion, four independent rotating wells each engaged to the plate'"'"'s bottom portion at each corner, said plate further comprising a brake mechanism which allows the apparatus to be moved and set in place;
b. a horizontal support comprising a first and a second end, the first end engaged to the top of the base as to allow rotating articulation of the horizontal support;
c. an optical arm engaged to the second end of the horizontal support comprising a counterbalanced mechanism which allows tri-axial movement permitting rotating articulation of the horizontal support and the optical arm, and to further allow maneuvering and setting the optical arm and any other element engaged to the optical arm in any precise position required by a gynecological procedure being performed;
d. a feeding source for illumination equipment held in place along the optical arm;
e. a bolster rotates and engages to the optical arm generally comprising a focusing system, said focusing system further comprising a calibrating mechanism which allows finely calibrated movement, an optical source of actinic light, said optical source further comprising an exciter filter, a prism, multiple suppressing filters, a halogen light bulb, said bulb further comprising a filament, a collector lens with the halogen light bulb being positioned vertically and parallel to the collector lens, means to position the light bulb which allows adjustment of the distance in two axes until the highest luminescent intensity is obtained in accordance with Kohler'"'"'s luminescence characteristics, the bolster capable of transmitting and modulating luminescent energy which allows the user to see cervical images which can then be photographed;
f. a mirror placed 45 degrees in the axis of a light being emitted by the light bulb;
g. a power source capable of generating direct or alternate current that feeds a bulb located in the bolster;
h. two connectors of 120 V, alternate current suitable for a video camera and recorder;
i. a 12 volt, direct current contact suitable for use with a frontal lamp;
j. an energy controlling means which allows regulation of the required energy level and reading via a voltmeter;
k. a control box housing the power source, the connectors, the contact and the energy controlling means with sufficient controlling means to set the desired energy level;
l. an observational optic system comprising a set of two objective lenses capable of sending an image to multiple dull prisms, said prisms capable of inverting the image received so that it can be analyzed through oculars;
m. a suppressor filter capable of sending an image to a video camera to be observed by the user through a monitor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention involves an apparatus and method to detect lesions in the lower female genital tract produced by the Human Papilloma Virus using an actinic light colposcope. The apparatus of the present invention comprises mechanical, electrical and optical (also referred to herein as the actinic light) components. The method of the present invention comprises the general steps of: (1) illumination, (2) excitement, and (3) suppression. The method disclosed and claimed herein in the clinical context takes between 15 and 20 minutes and reliable results are obtained during the patient'"'"'s office visit.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A colposcope apparatus capable of detecting Human Papilloma Virus-produced lesions in the lower female genital tract and providing accurate and instant results, comprising:
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a. a base further comprising a generally rectangular plate sufficiently large and heavy to provide support and stability to the apparatus, said plate comprising a top portion and a bottom portion, four independent rotating wells each engaged to the plate'"'"'s bottom portion at each corner, said plate further comprising a brake mechanism which allows the apparatus to be moved and set in place; b. a horizontal support comprising a first and a second end, the first end engaged to the top of the base as to allow rotating articulation of the horizontal support; c. an optical arm engaged to the second end of the horizontal support comprising a counterbalanced mechanism which allows tri-axial movement permitting rotating articulation of the horizontal support and the optical arm, and to further allow maneuvering and setting the optical arm and any other element engaged to the optical arm in any precise position required by a gynecological procedure being performed; d. a feeding source for illumination equipment held in place along the optical arm; e. a bolster rotates and engages to the optical arm generally comprising a focusing system, said focusing system further comprising a calibrating mechanism which allows finely calibrated movement, an optical source of actinic light, said optical source further comprising an exciter filter, a prism, multiple suppressing filters, a halogen light bulb, said bulb further comprising a filament, a collector lens with the halogen light bulb being positioned vertically and parallel to the collector lens, means to position the light bulb which allows adjustment of the distance in two axes until the highest luminescent intensity is obtained in accordance with Kohler'"'"'s luminescence characteristics, the bolster capable of transmitting and modulating luminescent energy which allows the user to see cervical images which can then be photographed; f. a mirror placed 45 degrees in the axis of a light being emitted by the light bulb; g. a power source capable of generating direct or alternate current that feeds a bulb located in the bolster; h. two connectors of 120 V, alternate current suitable for a video camera and recorder; i. a 12 volt, direct current contact suitable for use with a frontal lamp; j. an energy controlling means which allows regulation of the required energy level and reading via a voltmeter; k. a control box housing the power source, the connectors, the contact and the energy controlling means with sufficient controlling means to set the desired energy level; l. an observational optic system comprising a set of two objective lenses capable of sending an image to multiple dull prisms, said prisms capable of inverting the image received so that it can be analyzed through oculars; m. a suppressor filter capable of sending an image to a video camera to be observed by the user through a monitor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification