US3670732A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vacuum curette
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-05-11
•
Granted: 1972-06-20
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Expires: 1990-05-11
Abstract
Abstract A curette for emptying a gravid uterus of the products of the first trimester of pregnancy has a suction tube reciprocably and rotatably carried within an open-ended sleeve and a pair of flexible, interconnected fingers joined to one end of the tube within the sleeve. After inserting the sleeve through the cervix into the uterine canal, the fingers may be expelled from the sleeve to form a loop within the uterus by shifting the tube within the sleeve. Gentle rotation and reciprocation of the tube causes the loop to wipe against the uterine walls and loosen the products for subsequent withdrawal through the tube when the latter is coupled with means for creating negative pressure therein.
Inventors
- 👤 Ralph R Robinson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 20:21
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/32; A61B17/3205; A61B17/3207; A61B17/320708
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
223 words
A vacuum curette for emptying a gravid uterus comprising: an open-ended sleeve adapted for insertion through the cervix into the uterine canal; a suction tube within the sleeve and freely reciprocable longitudinally of the latter, one end of the tube adapted for being operably coupled with means for producing negative pressure therein; a pair of elongated side-by-side, flexible fingers extending longitudinally of the sleeve within the latter; means integrally joining the fingers at one end of the latter with the tube at the opposite end of said tube; and means interconnecting the fingers at the opposite ends of the latter, said fingers being of self-sustaining material whereby the same form a loop when projected outwardly beyond one end of the sleeve as the tube is shifted in the sleeve toward said one end of the latter while the sleeve is in said canal to thereby dispose the loop within said uterus, said opposite end of the tube being open between said one end of the fingers for receiving the products of the first trimester of pregnancy which have been loosened by said fingers as the tube is manually manipulated exteriorly of the vagina to cause the loop to wipe against the uterine walls, said products being simultaneously drawn into and through the tube by said negative pressure means for removal from the uterus.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
223 words
A vacuum curette for emptying a gravid uterus comprising: an open-ended sleeve adapted for insertion through the cervix into the uterine canal; a suction tube within the sleeve and freely reciprocable longitudinally of the latter, one end of the tube adapted for being operably coupled with means for producing negative pressure therein; a pair of elongated side-by-side, flexible fingers extending longitudinally of the sleeve within the latter; means integrally joining the fingers at one end of the latter with the tube at the opposite end of said tube; and means interconnecting the fingers at the opposite ends of the latter, said fingers being of self-sustaining material whereby the same form a loop when projected outwardly beyond one end of the sleeve as the tube is shifted in the sleeve toward said one end of the latter while the sleeve is in said canal to thereby dispose the loop within said uterus, said opposite end of the tube being open between said one end of the fingers for receiving the products of the first trimester of pregnancy which have been loosened by said fingers as the tube is manually manipulated exteriorly of the vagina to cause the loop to wipe against the uterine walls, said products being simultaneously drawn into and through the tube by said negative pressure means for removal from the uterus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A vacuum curette as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tube is freely rotatable within the sleeve for wiping the loop against the uterine walls without moving the sleeve within the canal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
A vacuum curette as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sleeve is provided with a cervix abutment for limiting the extent of insertion of the sleeve into the canal whereby the fingers are projected into the uterus as shifting of the tube toward said one end of the sleeve is continued after the abutment engages the cervix.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A vacuum curette as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fingers are each provided with a pair of spaced, outer, longitudinally extending wiping edges.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A vacuum curette as claimed in claim 4, wherein said fingers are provided with a pair of opposed sides diverging as said edges are approached.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-20 | 1975-12-20 | 1976-06-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-20 | 1979-12-20 | 1980-06-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-20 | 1983-12-20 | 1984-06-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |