Patent GB1461202A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3841317A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heat-insulating shield for speculum
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-12-18
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Granted: 1974-10-15
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Expires: 1992-12-18
Abstract
Abstract An expansible heat-insulating shield extending between the dilatory blades of a medical speculum to prevent the radiant transfer of heat to sensitive exposed regions of the patient during such operations as cauterization of the cervix. In one embodiment the shield is formed of silicone rubber and bonded to the speculum blades. In another embodiment the entire speculum is formed of silicone rubber and the shield is formed integrally with the speculum blades. In the preferred embodiment, the shield comprises a removable sleeve formed of silicone rubber, open at both ends and positionable around the blades of a wide variety of known types of medical speculum instruments. The sleeve not only prevents the radiant transfer of heat transversely between the blades but also serves to insulate dilated vaginal regions from heat transferred conductively through the speculum. A pair of pockets may be formed in the sleeve to receive the tips of the speculum blades. The pockets assist in positioning the sleeve on the blades and assist in maintaining the sleeve in position on the blades. The region of the sleeve which extend between the blades may be corrugated in accordian-like fashion for expansion and contraction to minimize resistance to relative blade movement.
Inventors
- 👤 G Awais
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:43
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/00131; A61B1/00135; A61B1/00142; A61B1/12; A61B1/128; A61B1/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
In combination, a medical speculum for dialating the vagina of a patient during such procedures as cauterization of the cervex, comprising a pair of dilatory blades having overlying side edge regions and being coupled together for relative movement between an insertion position wherein the blades are positioned relatively closely togther, and a dilation position wherein the blades are relatively widely spaced one from another, and heat insulating means including a heat insulating material extending across the space between said overlying side edge regions of the dilatory blades for minimizing the radiant transfer of heat to regions of the patient which would otherwise be exposed between the blades.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
107 words
In combination, a medical speculum for dialating the vagina of a patient during such procedures as cauterization of the cervex, comprising a pair of dilatory blades having overlying side edge regions and being coupled together for relative movement between an insertion position wherein the blades are positioned relatively closely togther, and a dilation position wherein the blades are relatively widely spaced one from another, and heat insulating means including a heat insulating material extending across the space between said overlying side edge regions of the dilatory blades for minimizing the radiant transfer of heat to regions of the patient which would otherwise be exposed between the blades.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said material is corrugated to minimize its resistance to relative blade movement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said material is resiliently expansible and contractible.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The combination of claim 3 wherein said heat insulating material comprises silicone rubber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said material is in the form of a sleeve positionable around the speculum blades.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination of claim 5 wherein such portions of said sleeve as extend between said overlying side edge regions of said blades are expansible, at least in part, to accommodate relative blade movement.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination of claim 5 wherein such portions of said sleeve as extend between said overlying side edge regions of said blades are corrugated, at least in part, to accommodate relative blade movement.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
A heat-insulating means including a heat-insulating sleeve positionable around both dilatory blades of a medical speculum for minimizing the radiant transfer of heat to regions of the patient exposed between the blades and to minimize the conductive transfer of heat through the speculum to regions of the patient in contact with the blades, said sleeve being expansible, at least in part, to accommodate relative blade movement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
A heat-insulating means including a heat-insulating sleeve positionable around both dilatory blades of a medical speculum for minimizing the radiant transfer of heat to regions of the patient exposed between the blades and to minimize the conductive transfer of heat through the speculum to regions of the patient in contact with the blades, said sleeve being expansible, at least in part, to accommodate relative blade movement.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The heat-insulating sleeve of claim 8 wherein the portions of the sleeve which extend between the dilatory blades are corrugated, at least in part, to facilitate relative movement of the blades with a minimum of resistance.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The heat-insulating sleeve of claim 8 additionally including portions formed integrally therewith for receiving the tips of the dilatory blades to facilitate positioning of the sleeve on the speculum and to maintain the sleeve in place during relative blade movement.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The heat-insulating sleeve of claim 8 wherein said sleeve is formed of silicone rubber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
A medical speculum comprising a pair of elongated blades having opposed longitudinal side regions and being movable toward and away from each other, and an expansible heat insulating material extending across the space between said opposed longitudinal side regions of said blades.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
A medical speculum comprising a pair of elongated blades having opposed longitudinal side regions and being movable toward and away from each other, and an expansible heat insulating material extending across the space between said opposed longitudinal side regions of said blades.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The medical speculum of claim 12 wherein the outer surfaces of said blades are also covered with a heat insulating material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The medical speculum of claim 13 wherein said heat insulating material extending between said blades and said heat insulating material covering said blades comprises a single tubular sleeve formed of heat insulating material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
The speculum of claim 14 wherein said sleeve has portions formed integrally therewith to receive the tips of the blades, and the regions of said sleeve extending between the blades are expansible, at least in part, to accommodate relative blade movement.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The speculum of claim 15 wherein said regions are corrugated at least in part to minimize the resistance posed by the sleeve to relative blade movement.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The sleeve of claim 14 wherein the material from which the sleeve is formed comprises silicone rubber.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
84 words
A heat-insulating sleeve open at both ends and positionable around the dilatory blades of a medical speculum to minimize heat transfer to regions of a patient disposed around the speculum, said sleeve including relatively inexpansible portions positionable across the peripheral surfaces of the speculum blades and portions which are relatively expansible, at least in part, positionable between the speculum blades, whereby the expansive and contractive movements of the sleeve during relative blade movement are essentially confined to said portions positionable between the speculum blades.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
84 words
A heat-insulating sleeve open at both ends and positionable around the dilatory blades of a medical speculum to minimize heat transfer to regions of a patient disposed around the speculum, said sleeve including relatively inexpansible portions positionable across the peripheral surfaces of the speculum blades and portions which are relatively expansible, at least in part, positionable between the speculum blades, whereby the expansive and contractive movements of the sleeve during relative blade movement are essentially confined to said portions positionable between the speculum blades.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The heat-insulating sleeve of claim 18 additionally including formations formed integrally with said relatively inexpansible portions for receiving and insulating the tips of the speculum blades.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-14 | 1978-04-15 | 1978-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-14 | 1982-04-15 | 1982-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-14 | 1986-04-15 | 1986-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |