Four-blade surgical speculum

• US 6,869,398 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2003
• Issued: 03/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aeolin, LLC
• Original Assignee: Laurence M. Mckinley, Theodore G. Obenchain
• Inventors: Obenchain, Theodore G., McKinley, Laurence M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Philogene, Pedro
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bonderer, David A
• Application Number:
  US10/337,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20040133077A1
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 600/201, 600/210, 600/214, 600/217, 600/219, 600/224, 600/225, 600/226, 600/227
• US Class Current: 600/224
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/32 Devices for opening or enlarging the visual field, e.g. of a tube of the body dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0206 with antagonistic arms as supports for retractor elements

Abstract

A speculum system with four blades is provided. The blades project in approximately the same direction, and each blade is connected to a handle linearly or at an angle. The handles are coupled together. In one embodiment, the distance between the blades is changeable so that a field of view defined as the viewable area between the blades can be increased or decreased. In another embodiment, the blades include texture, such as ribs, holes or teeth to grip onto surrounding muscle fiber. In yet another embodiment, a stabilizing arm attaches to a stabilizing object, such as a table or heavy or immovable object, and to one of the handles to stabilize the speculum system.

Claims

1. A surgical speculum system comprising:

a first blade having an inner surface and an outer surface, the first blade coupled to a first handle;

a second blade having an inner surface and an outer surface, the second blade coupled to a second handle, wherein the first handle is coupled to the second handle such that the inner surface of the first blade faces the inner surface of the second blade;

a third blade having an inner surface and an outer surface, the third blade coupled to a third handle;

a fourth blade having an inner surface and an outer surface, the fourth blade coupled to a fourth handle, wherein the third handle is coupled to the fourth handle such that the inner surface of the third blade faces the inner surface of the fourth blade; and

at least one fiducial coupled to at least one blade,

wherein at least one of the third handle and fourth handle is coupled to at least one of the first handle and the second handle.

2. The surgical speculum system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the handles is coupled to at least one of the blades at an angle.

3. The surgical speculum system of claim 1, wherein the first handle and the second handle are coupled such that a space between the first blade and the second blade is changeable.

4. The surgical speculum system of claim 3, wherein the third handle and the fourth handle are coupled such that a space between the third blade and the fourth blade is changeable.

5. The surgical speculum system of claim 4, wherein the third and fourth handles are couplable such that the space between the third and fourth blades can be around 1.5 inches.

6. The surgical speculum system of claim 3, wherein the first and second handles are couplable such that the space between the first and second blades can be around 1.5 inches.

7. The surgical speculum system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the blades is convex along a width of its outer surface.

8. The surgical speculum system of claim 1, wherein the outer surface of at least one blade is textured to provide friction.

9. The surgical speculum system of claim 8, wherein the texture includes a rib.

10. The surgical speculum system of claim 1, further comprising teeth on a free end of at least one blade, the teeth projecting at least partially away from the inner surface.

11. The surgical speculum system of claim 1, wherein the first blade is adjacent to the third and fourth blades, and the second blade is adjacent to the third and fourth blades, and

wherein the adjacent blades are spaced such that a surgical instrument can be inserted between the adjacent blades.

12. The surgical speculum system of claim 1, wherein at least one inner surface is substantially non-reflective.

13. The surgical speculum system of claim 1, further comprising a stabilizer coupled to at least one of the handles to substantially stabilize movement of the speculum.

14. The surgical speculum system of claim 13, further comprising a stabilizing object coupled to the stabilizer.

15. The surgical speculum system of claim 14, wherein the stabilizing object is a table and the stabilizer includes flexible linkage.

16. The surgical speculum system of claim 1, wherein at least one blade has a length sufficient to reach from a surgical incision to a location of operation.

17. The surgical speculum system of claim 1, further comprising an attachment post coupled to at least one handle for attaching at least one instrument.

18. The surgical speculum system of claim 1, wherein at least one blade comprises an at least partially radiolucent material.

19. The surgical speculum system of claim 1, wherein at least one blade includes an opening on its inner surface.

20. The surgical speculum system of claim 1, wherein the coupler is configured such that the at least one of the third handle and fourth handle can be uncoupled from the at least one of the first handle and second handle.

21. The surgical speculum system of claim 1, wherein the first handle and the second handle curve upward.