US 5,174,278 AGranted

Downward rotating speculum with conical shaped blades

OwnerBeth Babkowinventor

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Abstract

The improved speculum has a downward rotating lower blade, an upward handle, upper and lower blades thicker at the base and narrower at the insertion end with blade surfaces recessed to allow tissue to be held in the recessed area and with transverse recessions that allow the tissue to grip the device.

Claims7

Dependent claims

An improved speculum that is used to form a cavity for examination comprising:

a. An upper blade assembly that has an upper blade with an insertion end that is inserted into a cavity, the upper blade is wider at the base than at the insertion end and the width extends gradually to a tapered end and the blade is attached to a first handle, the first handle is at approximately right angles to the upper blade with one end of the first handle extending sufficiently away from the blade to provide sufficient leverage when used by the hand of the person using the improved speculum to pry the material being separated and the other end of the first handle extending a sufficient distance away from the upper blade attachment point to rotate about a hinge positioned sufficiently away so as not to obstruct the user from viewing along the lower surface of the upper blade and
b. a lower blade assembly that has a lower blade assembly with an insertion end that is inserted into a cavity the lower blade is wider at the base than at the insertion end and extends gradually to a tapered end and the blade is attached to a second handle at approximately right angles with the end of the handle extending sufficiently away from the blade to provide sufficient leverage when used by the hand of the person using the improved speculum to pry material being separated and the other end of the second handle extending sufficient distance away from the lower blade attachment point to rotate about a corresponding hinge mechanism that joins with the upper blade hinge mechanism such that when the handles are separated the blades are brought closer together and when the handles are joined the blades are separated and the side of the second handle is shaped as to not obstruct the view of the user when looking between the upper and lower blades when separated and the lower blade is curved away from the upper blade in a manner to gently separate the tissue and have the tissue held laterally in place.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

An improved speculum that is used to form a cavity for examination comprising:

a. An upper blade assembly that has an upper blade with an insertion end that is inserted into a cavity, the upper blade is wider at the base than at the insertion end and the width extends gradually to a tapered end and the blade is attached to a first handle, the first handle is at approximately right angles to the upper blade with one end of the first handle extending sufficiently away from the blade to provide sufficient leverage when used by the hand of the person using the improved speculum to pry the material being separated and the other end of the first handle extending a sufficient distance away from the upper blade attachment point to rotate about a hinge positioned sufficiently away so as not to obstruct the user from viewing along the lower surface of the upper blade and
b. a lower blade assembly that has a lower blade assembly with an insertion end that is inserted into a cavity the lower blade is wider at the base than at the insertion end and extends gradually to a tapered end and the blade is attached to a second handle at approximately right angles with the end of the handle extending sufficiently away from the blade to provide sufficient leverage when used by the hand of the person using the improved speculum to pry material being separated and the other end of the second handle extending sufficient distance away from the lower blade attachment point to rotate about a corresponding hinge mechanism that joins with the upper blade hinge mechanism such that when the handles are separated the blades are brought closer together and when the handles are joined the blades are separated and the side of the second handle is shaped as to not obstruct the view of the user when looking between the upper and lower blades when separated and the lower blade is curved away from the upper blade in a manner to gently separate the tissue and have the tissue held laterally in place.