Vaginal speculum

[57] ABSTRACT

A vaginal speculum of the bivalve type which includes two blades in superposed relation capable of moving from a closed position in which the blades are closely spaced to an open position in which they are widely spaced; said blades being movable between said open and closed positions along an arucate path which provides angular variation as well as separation in one sweeping movement.

Claims, 4 Drawing Figures

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PATENTED AUG 141973

3,752,149

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3,752,149

VAGINAL SPECULUM

This invention relates to vaginal speculae and, in particular, to improvements in vaginal speculae of the bivalve type having blades which open and close in the manner of a bivalve.

In the prior art are many known vaginal speculae of the bivalve type which employ various arrangements for selectively shifting and locking the blades between open and closed positions. In an efficient speculum of the type under consideration, the blades are required to be capable of two opening movements. That is to say they should be separable as well as angularly variable relative to each other. In addition, they are used very often under difficult conditions. Thus the manipulation thereof — i.e. movement between open and closed positions — should, ideally, be as simple as possible and, in still further addition to the foregoing, an efficient speculum should offer minimal obstruction to the field of operation.

In recent times many attempts have been made to provide one — use, disposable, speculae of minimum cost. The speculum visualized by this invention embodies principles of construction which makes it practical and feasible for it to be formed of plastic and hence expediently disposable. To this end, the invention is able to provide a speculum which is formed of two separate plastic moldings which are quickly and easily assemblable at the time and place of use for immediate service.

The construction of such speculae in the prior art has frequently been characterized by complexities in the assembly of their parts. However, the two parts of the invention herein, being of relatively simple design, are capable of being assembled in a smooth, quick and unsophisticated manner.

It is a broad object of this invention to provide a vaginal speculum of the bivalve type which is simple in design having two parts which are easy to assemble.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a vaginal speculum of the bivalve type which is conveniently operable, adjustable to selected positions, and sturdy and efficient in use.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a disposable vaginal speculum of the bivalve type which is easy and cheap to manufacture.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a vaginal speculum of the bivalve type which includes two blades in superposed relation capable of moving from a closed position in which the blades are closely spaced to an open position in which they are widely spaced; said blades being movable between said open and closed positions along an arcuate path which provides angular variation as well as separation in one sweeping movement.

The various objects of this invention are achieved essentially by providing a vaginal speculum of the bivalve type which comprises a pair of double-ended stems disposable in superposed nested relation with one of them contained by the other. A blade is joined to one end of each stem at an obtuse angle thereto with the blade being integral with the stem and forming therewith a unitary sub-assembly. Said stems are relatively slidable in the nested relation aforesaid between a closed position in which their respective blades are disposed in the aforesaid close, superposed, relation to each other and an open position in which they are disposed in spread apart and generally registering inferior and superior relation to each other. Guides are provided on the respective sub-assemblies for retaining said stems in the said superposed relation while moving between the said open and closed positions. In addition, means are provided for interconnecting said sub-assemblies with their stems in the relatively slidable and nested relation aforesaid. A ratchet is included on one sub-assembly and a co-operating pawl on the other for releasably fixing the sub-assemblies at selected stations intermediate said open and closed positions. Said vaginal speculum is further provided with fulcrum means on which the sub-assemblies are relatively rockable to engage said pawl with said ratchet for fixing the sub-assemblies at the intermediate stations aforesaid and to disengage said pawl from the ratchet releasing said sub-assemblies for movement towards said closed position; the subassembly occupying the superior position in the nested relationship aforesaid having a window permitting sighting between the blades.

The foregoing objects and others, more or less broad, will become apparent from the hereinafter following description of the constituent parts, elements and principles of the invention given herein solely by way of example with reference to the embodiments herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein like reference devices denote like parts of the invention throughout the several views and wherein:

FIG. 1 — is a perspective view of the two disassembled parts of the vaginal speculum according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 — is an elevational view of the upper portion of the two assembled parts of the speculum showing the window which permits sighting between the blades; also sections are broken away for clarity showing one part being contained by the other.

FIG. 3 — is a cross-sectional view along the longitudinal axis of the two assembled parts of the vaginal speculum.

FIG. 4 — is a top plan view of portions of the two respective parts of the speculum at an angular relation with each other showing the mode of assembly.

In FIG. 1 is shown a vaginal speculum 2 of the bivalve type according to the present invention which comprises a pair of double-ended stems 4 and 6 disposable in the superposed nested relation of FIGS. 2 and 3 with one of them contained by the other. It will be observed in this connection said vaginal speculum 2 includes spaced flanges or guides 8—8 on one and a pair of tongues or guides 10—10 on the other of the stems 4 and 6 for retaining said stems 4 and 6 in superposed relation aforesaid while moving between open and closed positions to be described; the tongues 10—10 being contained between flanges 8—8, for example, as shown in FIG. 2 to guide the said stems in their movements between open and closed positions as best shown in FIG. 3. Bivalve type blades 12 and 14 are joined to the ends of stems 4 and 6, respectively, at obtuse angles to the stems 4 and 6 or to their chords; each blade being integral with its stem and forming therewith a unitary subassembly respectively identified by numerals 16 and 16'. Said stems 4 and 6 are relatively slidable in the nested relation aforesaid between a closed position in which said blades 12 and 14 are disposed in close superposed relation to each other as shown by dotted lines in FIG. 3 and the open, solid line, position in the same view in which they are disposed in spread apart

3,752,149 and generally registering inferior and superior relation to each other as shown with the said blade 12 occupying the inferior position and said blade 14 the superior position.

In order to maintain the sub-assemblies 16—16' in an assembled condition, the invention is provided with means for interconnecting them with their stems 4 and 6 in the relatively slidable and nested relation aforesaid. In this embodiment, such means includes a post 18 as shown in FIG. 3 projecting from one of them through a slot 20 in the other in which it is accommodated to permit the aforesaid relative movement of the stems 4 and 6 between said open and closed positions. A dual purpose cap 22 is provided on the projecting end of said post 18 which prevents its withdrawal from and through said slot 20 in the nested relation of the parts aforesaid; said cap 22 and slot 20 being respectively shaped and dimensioned to permit passage of the cap through said slot 20 when the sub-assemblies 16-16' are displaced from nested relation and rotated about said post 18 to an angular relation with each other as suggested by FIG. 4. In this embodiment the specific sub-assembly which contains slot 20 further includes a ratchet 24 which co-operates with a pawl on the other as best shown in FIG. 3 for releasably fixing the sub-assemblies 16-16' at selected stations intermediate the open and closed stem positions aforesaid; said cap 22 also constituting said pawl 22. More particularly, said slot 20 and ratchet 24 are formed on the superior sub-assembly 16' while the post 18 projects therethrough from the inferior sub-assembly 16.

To provide a mode of establishing temporary contact between said cap or pawl 22 and ratchet 24, fulcrum means is provided on which the sub-assemblies are rockable relative to each other to engage said pawl 22 with said ratchet 24 for fixing the sub-assemblies at the intermediate positions aforesaid and to disengage said pawl 22 from ratchet 24 releasing said sub-assemblies for movement towards said closed position. Specifically, the said fulcrum means is located adjacent the juncture of said stem 4 and blade 12 and is constituted by peaks 26—26 on the tongues 10—10.

In order to permit examination of the cavity in which the present speculum is installed, a window 28 is provided through the top of stem 6 of the superior subassembly 16' adjacent its juncture with blade 14 substantially as will appear from FIGS. 1 and 2; said window 28 permitting sighting between said blades 12 and 14.

As further shown in FIG. 3 said stems 4 and 6 of the respective sub-assemblies are arched imparting an arcuate movement to their associated blades 12 and 14 respectively when said stems move between the open and closed positions aforesaid. Thus, when an opening movement takes place, the blades 12 and 14 will not only separate vertically as shown in FIG. 3, but the angular inclination of the blades to each other will also very as will be obvious from a comparison of the dotted and full line positions of blade 14 in the same view.

Stem 4 of said inferior sub-assembly 16 includes a handle 30 at its end opposite to that joined to said blade 12 and stem 6 of the other sub-assembly 16' includes a finger press 32 engageable by the thumb of a person holding the speculum by said handle 30 for moving said stem 6 towards open position aforesaid and for rocking it on the fulcrum means 26—26. It will be observed in this connection that, as said stems 4 and 6 move to4 wards open position, the respective blades 12 and 14 move along a path which separates them vertically and if the stems 4 and 6 are arched, there will also be angular variation therebetween.

As may be appreciated when said vaginal speculum 2 is functioning to dilate a body cavity, it encounters certain muscular forces which resist dilation. These forces are depicted by way of arrows 34 as shown in FIG. 3 and tend to oppose the force applied against finger press 32 to move said blades 12 and 14 to open position aforesaid. It will be seen and understood that the effect of said muscular forces 34 on said blades 12 and 14 is to rock the superior sub-assembly on said fulcrum means 26—26 thereby causing said ratchet 24 to move upward into engagement with said pawl 22 to resist closing of the speculum and to fix it in its open position.