Multi-bladed speculum for dilating a body cavity
First Claim
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1. A speculum comprising:
- (a) an upper blade, a left lower blade, and a right lower blade each having a distal end, a proximal end, and a convexly curved outer surface extending between the proximal and distal ends, each having a longitudinal axis generally parallel to the others;
(b) a left upper arm having a first end pivotally connected to the proximal end of the upper blade, and a right upper arm having a first end pivotally connected to the proximal end of the upper blade;
(c) a left lower arm having a first end pivotally connected to a second end of the left upper arm and a second end connected to the proximal end of the left lower blade, and a right lower arm having a first end pivotally connected to a second end of the right upper arm and a second end connected to the proximal end of the right lower blade;
(d) a left lower handle member having an upper end pivotally connected to the proximal end of the left lower blade, and a right lower handle member having an upper end pivotally connected to the proximal end of the right lower blade and a lower end pivotally connected to a lower end of the left lower handle member; and
(e) a first pawl and ratchet mechanism joining the left upper arm and the left lower arm, a second pawl and ratchet mechanism joining the right upper arm to the right lower arm, and a third pawl and ratchet mechanism joining the left and right lower handle members.
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Abstract
A speculum for dilating a body cavity with at least three blades, twice as many supporting members, a rachet mechanism between pairs of directly connected supporting members, and a light source receptacle located on one of the blades with a curved plastic track at the base of the receptacle to transmit light from a removable, commercially available, light source into the cavity created by the speculum. Two of the supporting members, besides helping to move the blades from a closed to an open position and back, can also pivot anteriorly.
139 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A speculum comprising:
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(a) an upper blade, a left lower blade, and a right lower blade each having a distal end, a proximal end, and a convexly curved outer surface extending between the proximal and distal ends, each having a longitudinal axis generally parallel to the others; (b) a left upper arm having a first end pivotally connected to the proximal end of the upper blade, and a right upper arm having a first end pivotally connected to the proximal end of the upper blade; (c) a left lower arm having a first end pivotally connected to a second end of the left upper arm and a second end connected to the proximal end of the left lower blade, and a right lower arm having a first end pivotally connected to a second end of the right upper arm and a second end connected to the proximal end of the right lower blade; (d) a left lower handle member having an upper end pivotally connected to the proximal end of the left lower blade, and a right lower handle member having an upper end pivotally connected to the proximal end of the right lower blade and a lower end pivotally connected to a lower end of the left lower handle member; and (e) a first pawl and ratchet mechanism joining the left upper arm and the left lower arm, a second pawl and ratchet mechanism joining the right upper arm to the right lower arm, and a third pawl and ratchet mechanism joining the left and right lower handle members. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of dilating a body cavity, comprising:
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(a) inserting an upper blade, a left lower blade, and a right lower blade into the cavity, each blade having a distal end, a proximal end, and a convexly curved outer surface extending between the proximal and distal ends, each having a longitudinal axis generally parallel to the others, so that inner surfaces of the blades define a minimum volume region; (b) providing i. a left upper arm having a first end pivotally connected to the proximal end of the upper blade, and a right upper arm having a first end pivotally connected to the proximal end of the upper blade, ii. a left lower arm having a first end pivotally connected to a second end of the left upper arm and a second end connected to the proximal end of the left lower blade, and a right lower arm having a first end pivotally connected to a second end of the right upper arm and a second end connected to the proximal end of the right lower blade, iii. a left lower handle member having an upper end pivotally connected to the proximal end of the left lower blade, and a right lower handle member having an upper end pivotally connected to the proximal end of the right lower blade and a lower end pivotally connected to a lower end of the left lower handle member; (c) lowering the left lower blade and the right lower blade relative to the upper blade and spreading the left lower blade and the right lower blade apart to increase the volume of the region defined by the blades; and (d) preventing the blades from collapsing toward each other by means of a first pawl and ratchet mechanism joining the left upper arm and the left lower arm, a second pawl and ratchet mechanism joining the right upper arm to the right lower arm, and a third pawl and ratchet mechanism joining the left and right handle members. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A speculum comprising:
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(a) a first blade, a second blade, and a third blade each having a distal end, a proximal end, and a convexly curved outer surface extending between the proximal and distal ends, each having a longitudinal axis generally parallel to the others; (b) an expandable and collapsible support ring including a plurality of members pivotally connected end-to-end and including i. a first arm having a first end pivotally connected to the proximal end of the first blade, and a second arm having a first end pivotally connected to the proximal end of the first blade, ii. a third arm having a first end pivotally connected to a second end of the first arm and a second end connected to the proximal end of the second blade, and a fourth arm having a first end pivotally connected to a second end of the second arm and a second end connected to the proximal end of the third blade; and (c) a first pawl and ratchet mechanism joining the first arm and the third arm, a second pawl and ratchet mechanism joining the second arm to the fourth arm. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification