US3744481A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Medical examining method and means
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-05-18
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Granted: 1973-07-10
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Expires: 1991-05-18
Abstract
Abstract A device for viewing the cervix and vaginal segment of a human uterus has two, three or four elongate blades removably mounted on a holder. The blades are adjustable to spread and to retain the vaginal walls including the cervico-vaginal fornix for visual observation and accessibility of surgical instruments to the uterus. A handle supports the blades and preferably has illumination sources and, optionally, a viewing lens mounted thereon. Each of the blades includes means at its distal end for securely engaging the exterior peripheral rim of a cervix for immobilizing it during surgical procedures. The two blades are resiliently biased towards each other.
Inventors
- 👤 B Mcdonald
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 02:21
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
A combined vaginal speculum and tenaculum comprising: a handle; a first speculum blade connected to the handle; a second speculum blade opposed to the first blade; means for connecting the second blade to the handle for relative movement of the first and second blaDes towards and away from each other; means on the distal end of each of the blades for securely engaging the exterior peripheral rim of a cervix; and means for resiliently biasing the blades towards each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
80 words
A combined vaginal speculum and tenaculum comprising: a handle; a first speculum blade connected to the handle; a second speculum blade opposed to the first blade; means for connecting the second blade to the handle for relative movement of the first and second blaDes towards and away from each other; means on the distal end of each of the blades for securely engaging the exterior peripheral rim of a cervix; and means for resiliently biasing the blades towards each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A combined vaginal speculum and tenaculum as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for engaging the cervix comprises a plurality of spaced apart projections on each blade, said projections on one of the blades extending generally towards the projections on the opposed blade.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A combined vaginal speculum and tenaculum as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for engaging a cervix comprises cups of flexible resilient material having a thin, easily deformed, peripheral edge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A combined vaginal speculum and tenaculum as defined in claim 3 further comprising means for connecting a vacuum to the interior of the cups.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
A combined vaginal speculum and tenaculum as defined in claim 1 further comprising means for illuminating a proximal end portion of at least one of the blades and wherein said illuminated blade is transparent and has a sufficiently regular exterior for transmitting light from the proximal end portion substantially to the distal end.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A combined vaginal speculum and tenaculum as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for connecting each of the blades to the handle comprises means for temporarily connecting the blade to the handle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A combined vaginal speculum and tenaculum as defined in claim 6 wherein each of the blades includes a frangible portion for disconnecting the respective blade from the handle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
A combined vaginal speculum and tenaculum as defined in claim 6 wherein the means for connecting the second blade to the handle for relative movement comprises: means for translating a proximal end portion of the second blade relative to the first blade; and means for tilting one of the blades about its proximal end relative to the other blade.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
67 words
A combined vaginal speculum and tenaculum as defined in claim 6 wherein the means for connecting each of the blades to the handle comprises a slot in the handle; and wherein the blade includes a curved portion fittable into the slot, the relative size of the curved portion of the blade and the slot providing an interference fit whereby the blade is slightly deformed in the slot.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
76 words
A vaginal speculum comprising: a handle; a first speculum blade; means for temporarily connecting the first speculum blade to the handle; a second speculum blade; means for temporarily connecting the second speculum blade to the handle and opposed to the first speculum blade; and means on the handle for moving the blades towards and away from each other; and wherein each of the speculum blades includes a frangible portion for disconnecting the blades from the handle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
76 words
A vaginal speculum comprising: a handle; a first speculum blade; means for temporarily connecting the first speculum blade to the handle; a second speculum blade; means for temporarily connecting the second speculum blade to the handle and opposed to the first speculum blade; and means on the handle for moving the blades towards and away from each other; and wherein each of the speculum blades includes a frangible portion for disconnecting the blades from the handle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A vaginal speculum as defined in claim 10 wherein the frangible portion comprises a region of reduced transverse cross section on the blade for a manual breakage thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
74 words
A vaginal speculum as defined in claim 10 wherein the means for temporarily connecting each speculum blade to the handle comprises: a slot in the handle elongated in a direction transverse to the length of the blade; and a transversely curved portion on the blade fittable into the slot, the relative size of the blade and slot requiring increased curvature of the blade to fit into the slot for providing an interference fit therebetween.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
A vaginal speculum as defined in claim 12 wherein each blade further comprises a projecting bead for engaging a portion of the handle for positioning the blade in a predetermined position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
85 words
In a vaginal speculum comprising a pair of opposed speculum blades connected at their proximal ends to an operating handle, said handle including means for translating the proximal ends of the blades towards and away from each other and means for tilting the blades relative to each other about their proximal ends, the improvement comprising: means oN the distal end of each of the blades for securely engaging the exterior peripheral rim of a cervix; and means for resiliently biasing the blades toward each other.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
85 words
In a vaginal speculum comprising a pair of opposed speculum blades connected at their proximal ends to an operating handle, said handle including means for translating the proximal ends of the blades towards and away from each other and means for tilting the blades relative to each other about their proximal ends, the improvement comprising: means oN the distal end of each of the blades for securely engaging the exterior peripheral rim of a cervix; and means for resiliently biasing the blades toward each other.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
In an improved speculum as defined in claim 14 the further improvement wherein the means for engaging a cervix comprises a plurality of teeth on the distal end of each of the blades for engaging the cervix with sufficient force to stabilize it.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
In an improved speculum as defined in claim 15 the further improvement wherein each of the blades includes a frangible portion for selectively removing the blade from the handle.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-09 | 1977-01-08 | 1977-07-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-09 | 1981-01-08 | 1981-07-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-09 | 1985-01-08 | 1985-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |