Anoscope
AssigneeCovidien LP
InventorThomas Wenchell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An anoscope kit comprising an anoscope having a plurality of spaced apart fingers having free ends and a dilator removably positionable within the anoscope to aid insertion of the anoscope. The dilator has a proximal region, an intermediate region and a distal region, the distal region including an enlarged distal head. A ramped surface extends from the enlarged distal head toward the intermediate region, the intermediate region having an outer surface to contact the fingers of the dilator.
Claims23
An anoscope kit comprising:
- an anoscope having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a plurality of spaced apart fingers having free ends;
- and
- a dilator removably positionable within the anoscope to aid insertion of the anoscope, the dilator defining a central longitudinal axis, and having a proximal region, an intermediate region defining a first outer dimension transverse in relation to the central longitudinal axis, and a distal region, the distal region including an enlarged distal head defining a second outer dimension transverse in relation to the central longitudinal axis greater than the first outer dimension, and a ramped surface extending from the enlarged distal head toward the intermediate region, the intermediate region having an outer surface to contact the fingers of the anoscope, wherein, upon complete insertion of the dilator into the anoscope, distalmost ends of the fingers are positioned proximally of the enlarged distal head, and the enlarged distal head includes a portion positioned radially outward of the distalmost ends of the fingers with respect to the central longitudinal axis.
In combination an anoscope and dilator, the combination comprising a dilator defining a central longitudinal axis, and having a distal head forming an enlarged head region defining a first outer dimension transverse in relation to the central longitudinal axis, an intermediate region having an outer surface defining a second outer dimension transverse in relation to the central longitudinal axis less than the first outer dimension, and being configured to abut fingers of the anoscope, and a transition surface from the distal head to the intermediate region, the anoscope having a plurality of fingers separated to form gaps therebetween, at least a portion of the fingers dimensioned to lie on the transition surface and on the intermediate region of the dilator, wherein, upon complete insertion of the dilator into the anoscope, distalmost ends of the fingers are positioned proximally of the enlarged head region, and the enlarged head region includes a portion positioned radially outward of the distalmost ends of the fingers with respect to the central longitudinal axis.
A method of inserting an anoscope comprising:
- providing a dilator defining a central longitudinal axis, and having a proximal region, an intermediate region defining a first outer dimension transverse in relation to the central longitudinal axis, and a distal region including an enlarged dilating distal head forming a lip and defining a second outer dimension transverse in relation to the central longitudinal axis greater than the first outer dimension;
- providing an anoscope having a plurality of fingers extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the anoscope;
- inserting the dilator into the anoscope such that, upon complete insertion of the dilator into the anoscope, distalmost ends of the fingers are positioned proximally of the distal head, and the distal head includes a portion positioned radially outward of the distalmost ends of the fingers with respect to the central longitudinal axis;
- and
- advancing the dilator and anoscope into the anal canal wherein distal tips of the fingers abut the lip to thereby reduce flexing of the fingers during anoscope insertion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.