Uterine sound

• US 4,121,572 A
• Filed: 02/07/1977
• Issued: 10/24/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Schiapparelli Searle
• Original Assignee: GD Searle LLC (Pfizer Inc.)
• Inventors: Krzeminski, Melvin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Howell, Kyle L.
• Application Number:
  US05/766,316
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2 S, 128/2 R, 128/361, 33/174 D, 33/169 B
• US Class Current: 600/591
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1076 for measuring dimensions inside body cavities, e.g. using catheters A61B3/1005 takes precedence

Abstract

A uterine sound is described having a probe with measuring indicia inscribed thereon and a horseshoe-shaped body slidable along said probe and cooperative therewith for measurement of uterine position and dimension. A raised rib is located along a substantial length of the probe to normally retain the horseshoe-shaped body in parallel alignment with the longitudinal axis of the probe. When the body is displaced from parallel alignment with the probe, the rib interacts with the body to fix the body relative to the probe, and permit withdrawal of the probe and body as a unit. An internal stop mechanism is employed to prevent excessive movement of the body relative to the probe.

Claims

1. A uterine sound comprising:

an elongated probe having a distal end and a proximal end, measuring indicia scribed thereon between said distal and proximal ends and an integral, raised first rib extending substantially the length thereof; and

an elongated body having a distal end and a proximal end mounted on said probe, said body being of horsehoe-shaped cross-section and having inwardly curved sides, at least one of said sides encompassing said first rib and cooperating therewith to retain said body on said probe at a first position whereat said body is parallel to the longitudinal axis of said probe and is slidably moveable along said probe, and said cooperating side being adapted to engage said first rib and cooperate therewith to hold said body on said probe at a second position whereat the proximal end of said body is displaced from said probe and said body is restrained from slidably moving along said probe.

2. A uterine sound as in claim 1 further comprising a second integral, raised rib on said probe extending substantially the length thereof, each side of said body encompassing one of said ribs and cooperating therewith to retain said body on said probe at said first position and each of said sides being adapted to engage one of said ribs and cooperate therewith to hold said body on said probe at said second position.

3. A uterine sound as in claim 2 wherein said first and second ribs are located on opposite sides of said probe and further comprising an inwardly extending projection on the inner surface of said body and an opposed channel on said probe, said projection and said channel being adapted to cooperatively engage and permit said projection to slide axially in said channel.

4. A uterine sound as in claim 3 further comprising a viewing aperture in said body and a pointer associated therewith, said indicia indicating the distance from the distal end of said probe to the distal end of said body.

5. A uterine sound as in claim 4 wherein said viewing aperture simultaneously exposes at least two indicia within the aperture.

6. A uterine sound as in claim 1 further comprising stop means on said sound comprising an inwardly extending projection on the inner surface of said body and an opposed channel on said probe, said projection and said channel being adapted to cooperatively engage and permit said projection to slide axially in said channel.

7. A uterine sound as in claim 6 wherein said projection and channel are rectangular in cross-section.