Arcade speculum and method of use
OwnerR. Clay Stubbsinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A speculum (20) for obtaining visual access to the inside of an animal's (500) mouth includes a body (22), and handle (28) and two spaced loop-shaped members (30) and (32). Loop-shaped members (30) and (32) have arcuate ends (34) and (36) which individually or in unison may be hooked around the last jaw teeth (502) through (505), while speculum (20) is selectively manipulated by handle (28) to allow visual access to the animal's (500) teeth (501), tongue (506), cheeks (507) and (508), and soft mouth tissue (509). Speculum (20) is fabricated from a rod-like material to ensure maximum visibility by the using veterinarian.
Claims15
A speculum for an animal having teeth including a plurality of last jaw teeth, comprising:
- a body having a first end and an opposite second end;
- a handle connected to said first end;
- a first loop-shaped member having a first arcuate end for attachment around one of the last jaw teeth, and an opposite second end, said second end connected to said second end of said body;
- a second loop-shaped member having a second arcuate end for attachment around one of the last jaw teeth, and an opposite second end, said second end connected to said second end of said body, said second arcuate end of said second loop-shaped member substantially parallel to and spaced a predetermined distance from said first arcuate end of said first loop-shaped member, thereby forming an opening therebetween;
- and,
- said first and second loop-shaped members fabricated from a rod-like material.
A method for examining the mouth of an animal, the animal having teeth including a plurality of last jaw teeth, a tongue, cheeks, and soft mouth tissue, comprising the steps of:
- providing an arcade speculum having a body having a first end and an opposite second end, a handle connected to said first end, a first loop-shaped member having a first arcuate end for attachment around one of the last jaw teeth, and an opposite second end, said second end connected to said second end of said body, a second loop-shaped member having a second arcuate end for attachment around one of the last jaw teeth, and an opposite second end, said second end connected to said second end of said body, said first arcuate end substantially parallel to and spaced a predetermined distance from said second arcuate end, thereby forming an opening therebetween, said first and second loop-shaped members fabricated from a rod-like material, said first and second loop-shaped members being flexible so that they can resiliently move both toward and away from each other, and said first and second loop-shaped members being malleable so that said predetermined distance may be selectively changed;
- providing a full-mouth speculum;
- installing the full-mouth speculum in the animal's mouth;
- inserting said arcade speculum into the animal's mouth;
- attaching at least one of said first and second arcuate ends around the last jaw teeth;
- using said handle to selectively manipulate said arcade speculum to allow visual access to the animal's teeth, tongue, cheeks, and soft mouth tissue.
A method for examining the mouth of an animal, the animal having teeth including a plurality of last jaw teeth, a tongue, cheeks, and soft mouth tissue, comprising the steps of:
- providing an arcade speculum having a body having a first end and an opposite second end, a handle connected to said first end, a first loop-shaped member having a first arcuate end for attachment around one of the last jaw teeth, and an opposite second end, said second end connected to said second end of said body, a second loop-shaped member having a second arcuate end for attachment around one of the last jaw teeth, and an opposite second end, said second end connected to said second end of said body, said first arcuate end substantially parallel to and spaced a predetermined distance from said second arcuate end, thereby forming an opening therebetween, said first and second loop-shaped members fabricated from a rod-like material, said first and second loop-shaped members being flexible so that they can resiliently move both toward and away from each other, and said first and second loop-shaped members being malleable so that said predetermined distance may be selectively changed;
- providing a full-mouth speculum;
- installing the full-mouth speculum in the animal's mouth;
- inserting said arcade speculum into the animal's mouth;
- forcing said first and second arcuate ends into a small space within the animal's mouth, so that said first and second arcuate ends resiliently move toward each other.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.