US5865729A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for facilitating gynecological examinations and procedures
Assignee: Olympus America Inc
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Filing: 1997-10-10
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Granted: 1999-02-02
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Expires: 2017-10-10
Abstract
Abstract A vaginal speculum having an inflatable bladder which includes a central channel and an inlet outlet port. The inflatable bladder may include optical fibers for illumination.
Inventors
- 👤 Alyce A. Meehan
- 👤 Shiro Bito
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:38
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/42; A61B1/00; A61B1/303; A61B1/32; A61B17/02; A61B17/0206; A61B17/0218; A61B2017/00535; A61B2017/00557; A61B90/00; A61B90/30; A61B2090/306
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
A vaginal speculum comprising: a) an inflatable bladder, the inflatable bladder i) having a deflated state and an inflated state, ii) being adapted for insertion into a vagina in the deflated state and for dilating walls of the vagina in the inflated state, iii) defining a central channel when in the inflated state, and iv) having an inlet/outlet port; and b) optical fibers wherein the inflatable bladder is formed from a material having a cross section and wherein the optical fibers are arranged with respect to the inflatable bladder in an arrangement selected from a group of arrangements consisting of: (a) embedded within the cross section of the material; (b) attached to an outer surface of the inflatable bladder; (c) attached to an inner surface of the inflatable bladder; and (d) arranged within a void defined by the inflatable bladder.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
140 words
A vaginal speculum comprising: a) an inflatable bladder, the inflatable bladder i) having a deflated state and an inflated state, ii) being adapted for insertion into a vagina in the deflated state and for dilating walls of the vagina in the inflated state, iii) defining a central channel when in the inflated state, and iv) having an inlet/outlet port; and b) optical fibers wherein the inflatable bladder is formed from a material having a cross section and wherein the optical fibers are arranged with respect to the inflatable bladder in an arrangement selected from a group of arrangements consisting of: (a) embedded within the cross section of the material; (b) attached to an outer surface of the inflatable bladder; (c) attached to an inner surface of the inflatable bladder; and (d) arranged within a void defined by the inflatable bladder.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The vaginal speculum of claim 1 wherein the inflatable bladder has a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein more of the optical fibers are provided at the distal end of the inflatable bladder than at the proximal end of the inflatable bladder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The vaginal speculum of claim 1 wherein the inflatable bladder has a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein distal tip ends of the optical fibers are provided at the distal end of the inflatable bladder.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
113 words
A vaginal speculum comprising: a) an inflatable bladder, the inflatable bladder i) having a deflated state and an inflated state, ii) being adapted for insertion into a vagina in the deflated state and for dilating walls of the vagina in the inflated state, iii) defining a central channel when in the inflated state, and iv) having an inlet/outlet port; b) a tube which is fitted into, and widens, the central channel of the inflatable bladder; and c) optical fibers arranged in at least one location selected from a group consisting of (a) embedded within the tube, (b) on an inside surface of the tube, and (c) on an outside surface of the tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
113 words
A vaginal speculum comprising: a) an inflatable bladder, the inflatable bladder i) having a deflated state and an inflated state, ii) being adapted for insertion into a vagina in the deflated state and for dilating walls of the vagina in the inflated state, iii) defining a central channel when in the inflated state, and iv) having an inlet/outlet port; b) a tube which is fitted into, and widens, the central channel of the inflatable bladder; and c) optical fibers arranged in at least one location selected from a group consisting of (a) embedded within the tube, (b) on an inside surface of the tube, and (c) on an outside surface of the tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The vaginal speculum of claim 4 further comprising a light source optically coupled with the optical fibers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The vaginal speculum of claim 5 wherein the light source includes a 150 Watt white light source.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
82 words
A vaginal speculum comprising: a) an inflatable bladder, the inflatable bladder i) having a deflated state and an inflated state, ii) being adapted for insertion into a vagina in the deflated state and for dilating walls of the vagina in the inflated state, iii) defining a central channel when in the inflated state, and iv) having an inlet/outlet port, wherein the central channel has a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein the proximal end of the central channel flares outward.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
82 words
A vaginal speculum comprising: a) an inflatable bladder, the inflatable bladder i) having a deflated state and an inflated state, ii) being adapted for insertion into a vagina in the deflated state and for dilating walls of the vagina in the inflated state, iii) defining a central channel when in the inflated state, and iv) having an inlet/outlet port, wherein the central channel has a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein the proximal end of the central channel flares outward.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The vaginal speculum of claim 7 wherein, when the inflatable bladder is in its inflated state, the distal end includes a longitudinal extension adapted to engage a cervix.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
94 words
A vaginal speculum comprising: a) an inflatable bladder, the inflatable bladder i) having a deflated state and an inflated state, ii) being adapted for insertion into a vagina in the deflated state and for dilating walls of the vagina in the inflated state, iii) defining a central channel when in the inflated state, and iv) having an inlet/outlet port, wherein the inflatable bladder has a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein, when the inflatable bladder is in its inflated state, the distal end includes a longitudinal extension adapted to engage a cervix.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
94 words
A vaginal speculum comprising: a) an inflatable bladder, the inflatable bladder i) having a deflated state and an inflated state, ii) being adapted for insertion into a vagina in the deflated state and for dilating walls of the vagina in the inflated state, iii) defining a central channel when in the inflated state, and iv) having an inlet/outlet port, wherein the inflatable bladder has a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein, when the inflatable bladder is in its inflated state, the distal end includes a longitudinal extension adapted to engage a cervix.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
91 words
A vaginal speculum comprising: a) an inflatable bladder, the inflatable bladder i) having a deflated state and an inflated state, ii) being adapted for insertion into a vagina in the deflated state and for dilating walls of the vagina in the inflated state, iii) defining a central channel when in the inflated state, and iv) having an inlet/outlet port, wherein the central channel of the inflatable bladder is formed of less flexible material than remaining areas of the inflatable bladder such that it stretches less than the remaining areas upon inflation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
91 words
A vaginal speculum comprising: a) an inflatable bladder, the inflatable bladder i) having a deflated state and an inflated state, ii) being adapted for insertion into a vagina in the deflated state and for dilating walls of the vagina in the inflated state, iii) defining a central channel when in the inflated state, and iv) having an inlet/outlet port, wherein the central channel of the inflatable bladder is formed of less flexible material than remaining areas of the inflatable bladder such that it stretches less than the remaining areas upon inflation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The vaginal speculum of claim 10 wherein the central channel of the inflatable bladder is formed thicker than remaining areas of the inflatable bladder such that it stretches less than the remaining areas upon inflation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
88 words
A vaginal speculum comprising: a) an inflatable bladder, the inflatable bladder i) having a deflated state and an inflated state, ii) being adapted for insertion into a vagina in the deflated state and for dilating walls of the vagina in the inflated state, iii) defining a central channel when in the inflated state, and iv) having an inlet/outlet port, wherein the central channel of the inflatable bladder is formed thicker than remaining areas of the inflatable bladder such that it stretches less than the remaining areas upon inflation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
88 words
A vaginal speculum comprising: a) an inflatable bladder, the inflatable bladder i) having a deflated state and an inflated state, ii) being adapted for insertion into a vagina in the deflated state and for dilating walls of the vagina in the inflated state, iii) defining a central channel when in the inflated state, and iv) having an inlet/outlet port, wherein the central channel of the inflatable bladder is formed thicker than remaining areas of the inflatable bladder such that it stretches less than the remaining areas upon inflation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
76 words
A vaginal speculum comprising: a) an inflatable bladder, the inflatable bladder i) having a deflated state and an inflated state, ii) being adapted for insertion into a vagina in the deflated state and for dilating walls of the vagina in the inflated state, iii) defining a central channel when in the inflated state, and iv) being formed solely of a flexible material; and b) a tube which extends through the central channel of the inflatable bladder.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
76 words
A vaginal speculum comprising: a) an inflatable bladder, the inflatable bladder i) having a deflated state and an inflated state, ii) being adapted for insertion into a vagina in the deflated state and for dilating walls of the vagina in the inflated state, iii) defining a central channel when in the inflated state, and iv) being formed solely of a flexible material; and b) a tube which extends through the central channel of the inflatable bladder.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
The vaginal speculum of claim 13 wherein the central channel of the inflatable bladder has a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein the tube is flared out at its end corresponding to the proximal end of the central channel.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The vaginal speculum of claim 13 wherein the inflatable bladder is made from a material selected from a group consisting of (a) rubber, (b) latex, and (c) polyethylene.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The vaginal speculum of claim 13 further comprising an inflation device fluidly coupled with an inlet/outlet port of the inflatable bladder.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
The vaginal speculum of claim 16 wherein the inflation device is selected from a group consisting of (a) a controllable, powered, pump, (b) a hand bulb, and (c) a controllable pressurized gas source.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The vaginal speculum of claim 13 wherein at least one of an outer surface and a channel surface of the inflatable bladder is provided with a lubricant.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
77 words
A vaginal speculum comprising: a) an inflatable bladder, the inflatable bladder i) having a deflated state and an inflated state, ii) being adapted for insertion into a vagina in the deflated state and for dilating walls of the vagina in the inflated state, and iii) defining a central channel when in the inflated state, the central channel being formed by a flexible material; and b) a tube which extends through the central channel of the inflatable bladder.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
77 words
A vaginal speculum comprising: a) an inflatable bladder, the inflatable bladder i) having a deflated state and an inflated state, ii) being adapted for insertion into a vagina in the deflated state and for dilating walls of the vagina in the inflated state, and iii) defining a central channel when in the inflated state, the central channel being formed by a flexible material; and b) a tube which extends through the central channel of the inflatable bladder.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-02-01 | 2002-08-03 | 2003-02-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-02-01 | 2006-08-03 | 2007-02-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-02-01 | 2010-08-03 | 2011-02-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |