US3030947A - Speculum - Google Patents

Description

SPECULUM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 16, 1960 FIG.

INVENTOR. RICHARD M. ENGELBERT ATTORNEY Ap l 1962 R. MQENGELBERT 3,030,947

SPECULUM Filed May 16, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.6.

INVENTOR. RICHARD M. ENGELBERT ATTORN EY United States Patent 3,030,947 SPECULUM Richard M. Engelbert, 2620 Main St., Bufialo, N.Y. Filed May 16, 1960, Ser. No. 29,317 2 Claims. (Cl. 1283) This invention relates to speculums and it is more particularly concerned with speculums adapted for use in the examination and treatment of the cervix of the uterus.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of a speculum, the position of which, after application, need not be changed to cover a large area.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a speculum having insertable spoon members which conform to the pelvic muscles and natural contours of the body contacted, thereby avoiding the discomfort to patients that frequently results from the use of conventional speculums.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a speculum which facilitates manipulation for aeration purposes.

A still further object of the invention .is the provision of a speculum which is adjustable in size and is adapted to many different situations that are encountered in the examination and treatment of the particular part of the human body for which it is intended.

These and still further objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the following description considered together with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an embodiment of the invention in collapsed position.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with the embodiment in expanded position.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the embodiment, opposite to that of FIG. 3, partly broken away.

FIG. 5 is a section along the line 55 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a section along the line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a section along the line 7-7 of FIG. 1.

Referring with more particularity to the drawing in which like numerals designate like parts, the embodiment illustrated comprises a resilient strip of metal 11, such as of stainless steel, bent into a loop with overlapping inner and outer sections 12 and 13, respectively.

To the end of the inner section 12, there is secured by welding or otherwise an arcuate spoon member or pressure arm 14 in the form of a curved sheet of stainless steel or other suitable material. A corresponding arcuate spoon member or pressure arm 15 of opposite curvature is attached to the outer section 13 adjacent the member 14, substantially as shown. These spoon members extend perpendicularly to the plane of the loop formed by strip 11.

A handle 16 is attached to the member 15 and it extends outwardly therefrom in a radial direction. A similar handle 17 is secured to the member 14 offset from the member 15, substantially as shown.

Integral with the handle 17 is a clamp 18 which has an aperture 19 therethrough for slidably engaging the outer section 13. The said section 13 is releasably secured in selected positions relative to the clamp 18 by means of a set screw 20 having a wing head 21 or other suitable finger grip.

By these means, the size of the loop of the strip 11 can be enlarged from the relatively collapsed position shown in FIG. 1 and held in the enlarged position by tightening the set screw 20.

On the opposite side of the loop, there is mounted a finger member 23 the outer side 24 of which is convex and the inner side 25 of which is concave. This member is removably attached to the strip 11 by means of a frame or bracket 26 in the form of a loop of wire. One end of this loop of wire has a hairpin bend 27 which is hingedly connected to the inner side 25 of the member 23 by means of a hinge 28 attached to the member substantially at the medial point.

The opposite end of the wire forming the bracket 26 is bent upwardly to provide inwardly oifsetting arms 29, 30, the outermost portions 31, 32 of which are bent around the outer edge of the strip 11 forming holding lips, substantially as shown at 33.

With the device in the collapsed position as shown in FIG. 1, it is applied by inserting it with the member 23 adjacent the pubic bone and the members 14 and 15 on the opposite side. The set screw 21 is then turned to release position whereupon the members 14 and 15 are spread apart by manipulating the handles 16 and 17. This has the effect of forcing the member 23 against the pubic bone, thus tilting the inner portion thereof up to hold the anterior wall of the vagina for a clear View of the anterior fornix of the uterus.

For aeration procedures, the member 23 need only be depressed to remove it from the loop of the strip 11. The aeration bulb can then be passed through the loop as members 14 and 15 are moved medially and the speculum then removed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

I. A speculum comprising a resilient strip of material in the form of a flat loop having end sections in overlapping relation, a pair of coacting pressure arms secured to said end sections, the size of the loop being changeable by varying the amount of overlap of the end sections, a bracket comprising a cantilever releasably secured to and projecting from said strip on the side of the loop opposite said arms, a finger member, and means hingedly connecting the finger member to the outer end of the cantilever in a position substantially parallel to the pressure arms.

2. A speculum as defined by claim 1 in which the finger is connected to the outer end of the cantilever at a point substantially midway of the ends of the finger.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 977,489 Von Unruh Dec. 6, 1910 1,919,120 OConnor et al. July 18, 1933 2,083,573 Morgan June 15, 1937 2,383,705 Bortagaray Aug. 28, 1945 2,812,758 Blumenschein Nov. 12, 1957

Images