Endoscope

The present invention relates to a speculum, particularly a speculum for expanding, viewing and inserting instruments into body cavities such as the vagina or anus.

Conventional sight glasses are known which include a plurality of expansion elements or arms that are expanded by a body cavity enlargement mechanism. Two types of such mechanisms are commonly known, lever and cam or shutter mechanisms. The lever-type mechanism typically comprises a pair of handles, each with a single spreader arm constructed in such a way that when the handles are squeezed toward each other, the spreader arms are spaced apart. Most of the known lever-type specula have levers or handles located in the line of sight of the body cavity whereby they obscure the view of the cavity being examined and / or obstruct the insertion of the medical instruments.

In the diaphragm-type specula, the dilator arms spiral outwardly so that they have to slide over the tissue in the cavity being examined, which may pinch the tissue or cause discomfort to the patient. Moreover, known types of sight glasses have a relatively complex construction and production process, which increases the cost to such an extent that they can be used several times. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain strict hygienic conditions and the use of appropriate sterilization programs to ensure the elimination of the possibility of cross-infection between patients. Consequently, the use of a shutter-type speculum is inconvenient for medical practitioners and increases the cost of the services provided.

A next generation of sight glasses is known in which a rotating annular cam abuts against the side of the rotatable dilator arms, causing them to pivot outward. An example of such a sight glass is provided in the description filed by the applicant of the present application to International Patent Application No. PCT / AU96 / 00125 (WO 96/28083). The type of sight glasses disclosed in this application has several advantages over the lever and shutter type sight glasses described above, but is still relatively complex to manufacture as it requires the production of a plurality of separate components which must then be assembled into a complete sight glass.

A body cavity expanding speculum comprising a main body, a series of first extension fingers having respective proximal ends and distal ends, the first extension fingers being rotatably engaged at their respective proximal ends with the main body, and an actuator pivotally coupled to the main body according to the invention is characterized by this that the actuator pivoting until it rests against the proximal ends of the first extension fingers is provided with a second finger attached thereto.

Preferably, the actuator pivots through the first angle before abutting against the first fingers.

Preferably, the main body is further provided with a stationary third finger which is positioned between adjacent fingers of the first spreading fingers and opposite the second finger.

Preferably, the respective distal ends of the second and third fingers extend beyond the distal ends of the first spreading fingers.

Preferably, the respective distal ends of the first spreaders are inside the second and third fingers in the fully closed position of the speculum.

Preferably, the first spreading fingers are attached to the main body via respective integral hinges.

Preferably, each hinge has an inclined hinge axis.

Preferably, the main body comprises a first annular structure to which the first spreading fingers are attached, and the actuator includes a second annular structure rotating within the first annular structure, the first annular structure and the second annular structure defining a viewing window for the body cavity.

Preferably, the sight glass further comprises a releasable locking mechanism for locking the positions of the spreading fingers relative to each other and then for releasing the spreading fingers.

Preferably, the releasable locking mechanism includes a pawl and a row of tooth-like protrusions, and the actuator is provided with one of a pawl and a row.

189 924 tooth-like protrusions and the main body is provided with the remainder of the pawl and the row of tooth-like protrusions, the pawl and row of tooth-like protrusions being pressed into engagement with each other.

Preferably, the releasable locking mechanism includes a release mechanism to which the pawl is attached.

A speculum for expanding the body cavity, including a main body, a plurality of first extension fingers having respective proximal ends, and an actuator pivotally coupled to the main body, according to the invention is characterized in that the proximal ends of the first widening fingers are attached to the main body via integral hinges, which respectively have slanted hinge axes.

An advantage of the solution according to the invention is to provide a speculum which is cheap to produce and assemble and thus can be produced economically, which can be used only once while not interfering with the vision or the insertion of instruments into body cavities.

Advantages of the present invention are that a speculum for expanding a body cavity is provided comprising a body, a plurality of first extension fingers engaging at their respective proximal ends with the body to allow the respective distal ends of the first fingers to move apart, and an actuator. pivotally coupled to the body, the actuator having a second finger attached thereto, wherein the actuator is rotatable in contact with the proximal ends of the first spreading fingers, causing the distal ends of the first and second fingers to move apart, thereby expanding the body cavity.

The actuator is designed so that, before resting on the first fingers, it rotates through a first angle so that the distal end of the second finger begins to move before the distal ends of the first fingers begin to move, and the body is equipped with a third, stationary finger between adjacent fingers. among the first fingers and against the other finger. The distal ends of the second and third fingers extend beyond the distal ends of the first fingers. Corresponding distal tips of the first fingers are inside the second and third fingers when the speculum is in its fully closed state. Every other end of one of the second and third fingers extends beyond adjacent ends. The first fingers are integrally formed with the body and provided with respective integral hinges to allow them to be moved apart, each hinge having an axis around which its respective finger can move, and said hinge axis is inclined obliquely so that the movement of the corresponding finger is a combined movement upwards and sideways.

Said body further comprises a first annular structure to which said first spreading fingers are attached, and said actuator comprises a second annular structure that rotates within said first annular structure, said first and second annular structures defining a window. through which, after removing the fingers from each other, you can view the cavity.

The sight glass further comprises a releasable locking mechanism for locking the positions of the fingers relative to each other and then for releasing the fingers, said mechanism comprising a first component located on the actuator and a second component located on the main body, said components being the first and second are designed such that they engage with each other when the actuator is pushed in the insertion direction. and adapted to be released from itself when a force is applied to the actuator in a direction oblique to the direction of insertion.

The first component includes one of the tooth-like protrusions of the pawl and rack, and the second component includes the other of the pawls and racks, the pawl and rack being pressed into engagement with each other when the actuator is pushed in the insertion direction and moved away from it. apart to disengage when said force is applied.

According to another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a body speculum for expanding a body cavity, a plurality of first spreading fingers engageable at their respective proximal ends with the body operably.

189 924 of the respective distal ends of the first fingers moving apart, and an actuator pivotally coupled to a body that includes a second finger attached thereto, positioned between adjacent fingers of the first fingers, the actuator being constructed to abut against the proximal ends. first fingers when turning in the first direction, as a result, when the sight glass is fully closed and the actuator rotates in the first direction, the distal end of the second fingers initially moves away from the first fingers, and after the actuator rests 0, the first sticks cause their distal ends to move away from each other, causing as a result of the expansion of the body cavity.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a body speculum for expanding a body cavity is provided, a plurality of first spreading fingers having their proximal ends hinged to the body on respective oblique axes of the hinge to allow the first spreading fingers to move in a combined upward and sideways motion. and an actuator pivotally coupled to the body such that the actuator can be rotated against the first spreading fingers, which causes the first fingers to move outward in said combined upward and sideways movement and the second fingers to move away from the first fingers, thereby causing the body cavity to expand.

The subject matter of the invention is shown in the drawing, in which fig. 1 - shows the sight glass in the first embodiment according to the invention, in a front view, in perspective view, fig. 2 - the sight glass in fig. 1 in a rear view, in perspective view. Fig. 3 is the sight glass in a side view, Fig. 4 is the sight glass in a top view, Fig. 5 is the sight glass in a front view, Fig. 6 is the sight glass in a section; and Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the actuator of the sight glass of Fig. 6.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the speculum 10 comprises a main body 12 and a series (in this case two) of first spreading fingers 14A and 14B (hereinafter collectively "fingers 14"), each connected with their respective proximal ends 16A and 16B to the main body. 12. The fingers 14 are coupled to the main body 12 such that the fingers can, in fact, their respective distal ends 18A and 18B move apart under the action of the actuator 20. Actuator 20 is pivotally coupled to main body 12 such that when it is pushed towards insertion of the speculum into the body cavity, it pivots to abut the inner surfaces of the fingers 14 near their proximal ends 16A and 16B, causing the distal ends 18A to be and 18B move apart from each other, expanding the body cavity.

The main body 12 is provided with a handle 22 which terminates at its upper end in a ring or an annular structure 24 of the ring type. The fingers 14 engage the structure 24 and extend in the axial direction of the structure 24 and approximately perpendicular to the handle 22. The fingers 14 are attached to the structure 24 by plates forming the hinge 26. A third finger 28 is provided between the lower longitudinal edges of the first spreading fingers 14A and 14B. . The third finger 28 is attached to the annular structure 24 and runs parallel to the fingers 14 beyond them. The main body 12, in the form of a handle 22, an annular structure 24, a hinge 26 and the fingers 14 and the third finger 28 are integrally formed as one unit. As can be seen in Fig. 1, each hinge 26 has an axis 26H that is inclined or inclined with respect to its respective fingers 14 such that the fingers move in a combined upward and sideways motion when moving. That is, the hinge axis 26H around which the finger 14 moves runs along a tangent to the annular structure 24 but is deviated from the perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the finger 14.

On the top of the structure 24, between the first spreading fingers 14A and 14B is a rectangular cutout 30. Each side of cutout 30 has an integral tab 32. The tabs 32 engage appropriate pins (not shown) formed on the actuator 20 to form a snap fit. swivel connection between actuator 20 and main body 12. The tabs may be holes formed in the projections on opposite sides of the cutouts 30 to receive pins on the actuator 20.

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A short rib 34 is formed on the inner surface of each finger 14 adjacent its proximal end 16 (see Fig. 2). Rib 34 extends the length of its respective finger 14 and is at the end adjacent to the annular structure 24 with a recess 36 at its proximal end. Each rib 34 is spaced from a hinge 26 of its respective finger 14. In addition, the hinge 26 and rib 34 of each finger 14 are spaced apart on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis 38 of each finger 14, as is most clearly seen in Figure 6.

The actuator 20 also includes an annular structure or shell 40 with an arcuate front edge 42 and a trailing edge 44 which is also arcuate but oblique with respect to the leading edge 42 so that the depth of the shell 40 generally increases in the top-down direction. A thumb rest 46 is located rearward and downward from the bottom of shell 40. The finger rest 46 is designed as a recess formed in the downward flange 48 that is integral with the actuator 20.

As best seen in Figure 6, the device includes a releasable locking mechanism 52 designed to lock the positions of the fingers relative to each other so that the desired expansion of the body cavity can be maintained and then allow the fingers to be released. The locking mechanism includes a first component pawl 54 integral with actuator 20, and a tooth-like rack 56 formed on the inside of the annular structure 24 and extending centrally along the length of the third finger 28. The pawl 54 is part of a spring-loaded, thumb-actuated release mechanism 50 integrally formed with the front edge 42 of the actuator 20 and extends rearwardly to a location adjacent the rear edge 44.

Pawl 54 includes a tab 58 extending forward and positioned over the rack in the form of toothed protrusions 56. The tab 58 is pressed to press normally against the rack. At the foremost and rearmost ends of tab 58 are provided a first whisker 60 and a second whisker 62, respectively, for engaging the rack.ⁱⁿ toothed protrusions 56. The whiskers 60 and 62 are spaced apart from each other such that the second whisker 62 does not engage the toothed protrusion rack 56 until the first whisker has advanced forward past the rack. Ideally, second whisker 62 engages the rack when the sight glass is approximately halfway open. In this embodiment, this roughly corresponds to the actuator 20 starting to push the inner surface of the fingers 14. The shape and position of the second whisker 62 are such that its pressure against the toothed rack 56 is greater than that of the first whisker 60.

The shape of the pawl 54, combined with the material characteristics and the location of the actuator 20 next to the main body 12, ensures that at least one of the tabs 60, 62 is pressed against the rack each time the actuator 20 pivots inwardly. to expand the speculum fingers 10.

The function of the first whisker 60 is mainly to provide tactile feedback to the user rather than to firmly hold the fingers in a given position. The function of the second whisker 62 is to keep the distal tips of the fingers apart with a progressively increasing spacing as it engages with successive teeth along the rack in the form of toothed protrusions 56.

To release the fingers, push the release mechanism 50 upward. This causes the second whisker 62 to come out of engagement with the rack in the form of toothed protrusions 56. From this point on, the actuator can be rotated back in a controllable manner to close the sight glass 10 also after being pushed back back. The first whisker 60 may still be slightly engaged with the rack while the force of its engagement can be easily overcome by pressing the thumb up and back on the release 50.

The actuator 20 includes an integral second finger 70. A second finger 70 extends from the leading edge 42 and engages with its proximal end in the notch 30. The aforementioned pins, which engage in the latch 32 for rotatably coupling the actuator 20 to the main body 12, extend sideways. from opposite sides of the proximal end of the second finger 70. The second finger 70 is positioned between the upper longitudinal edges of the first fingers 14A and 14B, and opposite the third finger 28. The distal end of the second finger 70 together with the distal end of the third finger 28 form a duck-like structure

189 924 of the bow when the actuator 20 is in the relaxed or closed state. In the embodiment shown, the distal end of the third finger 28 extends beyond the end of the second finger 70. From the edge 42, on opposite sides of the actuator 20, extends forward a locating lug 71 (see Figs. 6 and 7) which, upon entry of the edge 42 into the recess 36 in each rib 34, positions slightly above rib 34.

The actuator 20, which carries the shell 40, thumb rest 46, release mechanism 50, pawl 54, ears 71 and second finger 70, is made as a single integral piece. Accordingly, the sight glass 10 can be made of two separate pieces that can be easily and quickly assembled without the aid of any tools by pushing or otherwise inserting the pins formed on the sides of the second finger 70 into the tabs 32.

To use the speculum 10, it is simply grasped by the handle 22 and slowly inserted into the body cavity requiring expansion. The operator then places his thumb on the thumb rest 46, pushes the actuator 20 in the direction of insertion, whereby the actuator 20 pivots around the pins in the tabs 32. The result of this pivoting movement is the second finger 70 immediately pivots so that its distal end moves away. from the distal end of the third finger 28. In doing so, the whisker 60 engages in succession with the teeth on the rack in the form of toothed protrusions 56, providing tactile feedback to the movement of the second finger 70. After a predetermined degree of rotation of the actuator 20, its further rotation results in the whisk 62 engaging the rack. in the form of toothed projections 56 and the entry of the front edge 42 into the recess 36 and abut it against a rib 34 on each of the fingers 14. As thumb pressure is still applied, the actuator 20 continues to rotate, with the result that the first spreading fingers 14A and 14B move on their respective hinges 26 such that their distal ends move away from each other. As actuator 20 rotates, second whisker 62 engages successive teeth on the rack in the form of toothed protrusions 56. At any time, when thumb pressure is released after the whisker 62 engages one of the teeth, the fingers 14, the second finger 70, and the third finger 28 are held in a fixed position relative to each other.

In order to allow the fingers to drop and pivot back towards each other, the release mechanism 50 is pushed up and back which causes the pawl 54 to lift and thereby the whisker 62 to come out of it.

It goes without saying that in use, the flared body cavity can be viewed or instruments inserted through the shell 40 of the actuator 20 and the annular structure 24 in the main body 12. As the sight glass 10 can be made of only two components and assembled in seconds without assistance. of any tools, it can be made at such a low cost that it can only be used once and thrown away. Moreover, the actuator 20 only rests against the tips of the fingers 14, as a result of which there is only a slight frictional engagement of the components of the sight glass 10. The problem of sticking of the sight glass in the open state due to high frictional forces is thus eliminated. This phenomenon can occur, for example, with sight glasses in which the actuator presses laterally against the inner surfaces of the spreader fingers, causing them to diverge sideways. In the sight glass according to the invention, the actuator presses against the proximal ends of the fingers only, mainly in the direction of the sight glass insertion.

Now, after having described an exemplary embodiment of the invention in detail, it is obvious to all those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made thereto without departing from the basic concepts of the invention. For example, the third finger 28 is shown to be attached to main body 12 such that it cannot be rotated. However, it is possible to construct the sight glass 10 with the third finger 28 seated on an integral hinge 26 like a hinge so that it can pivot away from the fingers 14 and the second finger 70. Of course, this requires the construction of the actuator 20 to be altered so that it also rests against the distal end. the third finger 28 for rotation. Moreover, a releasable locking mechanism 52 is not a critical part of the invention and may be dispensed with such that the fingers can be kept apart by keeping the pressure of the thumb resting on its intended support 46.

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The sight glass 10 may also be provided with one or more stops limiting the rotation of the actuator 20 and thus the degree of extension of the fingers 14, the third finger 28 and the second finger 70. In its simplest form this may be achieved by creating a step or stop surface so that said actuator 20 contacted main body 12 after a predetermined degree of rotation of actuator 20.

The sight glass 10 can be made of any material, including stainless steel, but it is preferable to manufacture it from a plastic material to allow for lower manufacturing costs and ease of assembly.

All such modifications and variations are considered to fall within the scope of the invention as set forth in the foregoing description and the appended claims.