Patent US6663665B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3774596A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Compliable cavity speculum
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-06-29
•
Granted: 1973-11-27
•
Expires: 1991-06-29
Abstract
Abstract A device for the inspection of body cavities has collapsible walls. The walls are folded both during storage and during insertion into and retraction from the body cavity to be examined. After insertion, means are provided for unfolding the walls, thereby expanding the cavity, which permits access to the cavity for the purposes of inspection, diagnosis, or treatment. The walls are supported by axial rods running along the wall periphery. In the preferred embodiment, the walls are double layer plastic sealed to form a plurality of channels. The channels alternately are pressurized to expand the device during examination and depressurized to permit its contraction and withdrawal. The walls have a plurality of clear window-like areas which facilitate the examination procedure.
Inventors
- 👤 G Cook
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 20:38
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M29/00; A61M29/02; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/31; A61B1/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A cavity inspection device comprising: a base member, said base member including an elongated portion having a substantially flat top wall and a tip portion attached to said elongated portion, said tip portion having at least one surface extending upwardly above said top wall; a foldable tubular structure mounted to said top wall having at least a folded position and an unfolded position, said tubular structure having a longitudinal openiNg therethrough in its unfolded position, said tubular structure lying below the upwardly extending surface of said tip portion in the folded position of said tubular structure, said tubular structure including an outer wall, an inner wall joined to said outer wall to define an inflating channel therebetween, and a plurality of rods carried between said outer wall and said inner wall; and means for unfolding said foldable tubular structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
A cavity inspection device comprising: a base member, said base member including an elongated portion having a substantially flat top wall and a tip portion attached to said elongated portion, said tip portion having at least one surface extending upwardly above said top wall; a foldable tubular structure mounted to said top wall having at least a folded position and an unfolded position, said tubular structure having a longitudinal openiNg therethrough in its unfolded position, said tubular structure lying below the upwardly extending surface of said tip portion in the folded position of said tubular structure, said tubular structure including an outer wall, an inner wall joined to said outer wall to define an inflating channel therebetween, and a plurality of rods carried between said outer wall and said inner wall; and means for unfolding said foldable tubular structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said foldable tubular structure is a hexagonal shape in cross section in its unfolded position, said rods being carried along the vertices of said hexagonal shape.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The device of claim 2 wherein said inner and said outer walls have a plurality of openings in them which permit access through said inner and said outer walls from the longitudinal opening in said foldable tubular structure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
136 words
A cavity inspection device comprising: a base member, said base member including an elongated portion having a top wall and a tip portion attached to said elongated portion, said top portion having at least one surface extending upwardly above said top wall for a predetermined height, said base member having sufficient rigidity to permit its insertion into a body cavity; an unfoldable tubular structure having a folded and an unfolded state mounted to said top wall, said unfoldable tubular structure lying below the predetermined height of said upwardly extending surface in its folded state and having an unobstructed longitudinal opening through it in its unfolded state, said unfoldable tubular structure including an outer wall, and an inner wall joined to said outer wall to define an inflating channel therebetween; and means for unfolding said tubular structure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
136 words
A cavity inspection device comprising: a base member, said base member including an elongated portion having a top wall and a tip portion attached to said elongated portion, said top portion having at least one surface extending upwardly above said top wall for a predetermined height, said base member having sufficient rigidity to permit its insertion into a body cavity; an unfoldable tubular structure having a folded and an unfolded state mounted to said top wall, said unfoldable tubular structure lying below the predetermined height of said upwardly extending surface in its folded state and having an unobstructed longitudinal opening through it in its unfolded state, said unfoldable tubular structure including an outer wall, and an inner wall joined to said outer wall to define an inflating channel therebetween; and means for unfolding said tubular structure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said inner and outer walls have a plurality of openings in them, permitting communication from said longitudinal opening in said tubular structure outwardly through said side walls.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The device of claim 5 wherein said tubular structure forms a polyhedron having a hexagonal cross section, further characterized by a plurality of rods carried between said inner and said outer walls along the vertices of said polyhedron.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
133 words
A cavity inspection device comprising: a base member including a first tip portion and a second portion joined to said tip; a foldable side wall section attached to said base member having a folded and unfolded position, said foldable side wall section having an unobstructed longitudinal opening therethrough in its unfolded position, the diameter of said longitudinal opening in the unfolded position of said side wall being substantially larger than the diameter of said cavity inspection device when said foldable side wall section is in its folded position, said foldable side wall section comprising an outer wall, an inner wall joined to said outer wall to define an inflating channel therebetween and a plurality of rods carried between said outer and said inner walls; and means for unfolding said foldable side wall section.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
133 words
A cavity inspection device comprising: a base member including a first tip portion and a second portion joined to said tip; a foldable side wall section attached to said base member having a folded and unfolded position, said foldable side wall section having an unobstructed longitudinal opening therethrough in its unfolded position, the diameter of said longitudinal opening in the unfolded position of said side wall being substantially larger than the diameter of said cavity inspection device when said foldable side wall section is in its folded position, said foldable side wall section comprising an outer wall, an inner wall joined to said outer wall to define an inflating channel therebetween and a plurality of rods carried between said outer and said inner walls; and means for unfolding said foldable side wall section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 7 wherein said side wall section has a plurality of openings in it permitting egress through said opening plurality from said longitudinal opening.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device of claim 8 wherein said foldable side wall section is a hexagon in cross section in its unfolded position, said rods being carried along the vertices of said hexagon.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US832201A
Cited
US1559737A
Cited
US2548602A
Cited
US2701559A
Cited
US3212497A
Cited
US3704712A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-26 | 1977-05-28 | 1977-11-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-26 | 1981-05-28 | 1981-11-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-26 | 1985-05-28 | 1985-11-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |