Apparatus for facilitating gynecological examinations and procedures
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vaginal speculum comprising:
- a) an inflatable bladder, the inflatable bladderi) having a deflated state and an inflated state,ii) being adapted for insertion into a vagina in the deflated state and for dilating walls of the vagina in the inflated state,iii) defining a central channel when in the inflated state, andiv) having an inlet/outlet port; and
b) optical fiberswherein the inflatable bladder is formed from a material having a cross section andwherein the optical fibers are arranged with respect to the inflatable bladder in an arrangement selected from a group of arrangements consisting of;
(a) embedded within the cross section of the material;
(b) attached to an outer surface of the inflatable bladder;
(c) attached to an inner surface of the inflatable bladder; and
(d) arranged within a void defined by the inflatable bladder.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vaginal speculum having an inflatable bladder which includes a central channel and an inlet outlet port. The inflatable bladder may include optical fibers for illumination.
263 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A vaginal speculum comprising:
-
a) an inflatable bladder, the inflatable bladder i) having a deflated state and an inflated state, ii) being adapted for insertion into a vagina in the deflated state and for dilating walls of the vagina in the inflated state, iii) defining a central channel when in the inflated state, and iv) having an inlet/outlet port; and b) optical fibers wherein the inflatable bladder is formed from a material having a cross section and wherein the optical fibers are arranged with respect to the inflatable bladder in an arrangement selected from a group of arrangements consisting of;
(a) embedded within the cross section of the material;
(b) attached to an outer surface of the inflatable bladder;
(c) attached to an inner surface of the inflatable bladder; and
(d) arranged within a void defined by the inflatable bladder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
-
-
4. A vaginal speculum comprising:
-
a) an inflatable bladder, the inflatable bladder i) having a deflated state and an inflated state, ii) being adapted for insertion into a vagina in the deflated state and for dilating walls of the vagina in the inflated state, iii) defining a central channel when in the inflated state, and iv) having an inlet/outlet port; b) a tube which is fitted into, and widens, the central channel of the inflatable bladder; and c) optical fibers arranged in at least one location selected from a group consisting of (a) embedded within the tube, (b) on an inside surface of the tube, and (c) on an outside surface of the tube. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
-
-
7. A vaginal speculum comprising:
a) an inflatable bladder, the inflatable bladder i) having a deflated state and an inflated state, ii) being adapted for insertion into a vagina in the deflated state and for dilating walls of the vagina in the inflated state, iii) defining a central channel when in the inflated state, and iv) having an inlet/outlet port, wherein the central channel has a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein the proximal end of the central channel flares outward. - View Dependent Claims (8)
-
9. A vaginal speculum comprising:
a) an inflatable bladder, the inflatable bladder i) having a deflated state and an inflated state, ii) being adapted for insertion into a vagina in the deflated state and for dilating walls of the vagina in the inflated state, iii) defining a central channel when in the inflated state, and iv) having an inlet/outlet port, wherein the inflatable bladder has a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein, when the inflatable bladder is in its inflated state, the distal end includes a longitudinal extension adapted to engage a cervix.
-
10. A vaginal speculum comprising:
a) an inflatable bladder, the inflatable bladder i) having a deflated state and an inflated state, ii) being adapted for insertion into a vagina in the deflated state and for dilating walls of the vagina in the inflated state, iii) defining a central channel when in the inflated state, and iv) having an inlet/outlet port, wherein the central channel of the inflatable bladder is formed of less flexible material than remaining areas of the inflatable bladder such that it stretches less than the remaining areas upon inflation. - View Dependent Claims (11)
-
12. A vaginal speculum comprising:
a) an inflatable bladder, the inflatable bladder i) having a deflated state and an inflated state, ii) being adapted for insertion into a vagina in the deflated state and for dilating walls of the vagina in the inflated state, iii) defining a central channel when in the inflated state, and iv) having an inlet/outlet port, wherein the central channel of the inflatable bladder is formed thicker than remaining areas of the inflatable bladder such that it stretches less than the remaining areas upon inflation.
-
13. A vaginal speculum comprising:
-
a) an inflatable bladder, the inflatable bladder i) having a deflated state and an inflated state, ii) being adapted for insertion into a vagina in the deflated state and for dilating walls of the vagina in the inflated state, iii) defining a central channel when in the inflated state, and iv) being formed solely of a flexible material; and b) a tube which extends through the central channel of the inflatable bladder. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A vaginal speculum comprising:
-
a) an inflatable bladder, the inflatable bladder i) having a deflated state and an inflated state, ii) being adapted for insertion into a vagina in the deflated state and for dilating walls of the vagina in the inflated state, and iii) defining a central channel when in the inflated state, the central channel being formed by a flexible material; and b) a tube which extends through the central channel of the inflatable bladder.
-
Specification