Nasopharyngeal speculum

Claim 2

A nasopharyngeal speculum for providing a direct line of signt to the nasopharynx of humans, said nasopharyngeal speculum including: a tubular portion having a pair of ends serving as a leading end and a viewing end, said tubular portion forming a lumen, said pair of ends being flared; a handle portion having a bend proximate to a first end thereof forming a major handle section and a minor handle section on opposite sides of said bend, said viewing end of said tubular portion being attached to said first end of said handle portion with said major handle section being bent away from said leading end of said tubular portion; and conduit means for conducting a vacuum to said leading end of said tubular portion to allow suction thereat.

Claim 3

The nasopharyngeal speculum defined by claim 1, said tubular portion being electrically non-conductive.

Claim 4

The nasopharyngeal speculum defined by claim 1, said tubular portion having oblong openings at said leading and viewing ends thereof.

Claim 5

The nasopharyngeal speculum defined by claim 1, said speculum being electrically non-conductive.

Claim 6

The nasopharyngeal speculum defined by claim 1, said conduit means including: an interior cavity extending for the length of said handle portion; and hose means mounted within said lumen and communicating with said interior cavity for conducting a vacuum in said interior cavity to said leading end of said tubular portion.

Claim 7

The nasopharyngeal speculum defined by claim 5, said handle portion having first and second apertures both communicating with said interior cavity, said first aperture being adapted to have a vacuum applied thereto from an independent suction unit, said second aperture permitting leakage of said vacuum therethrough when uncovered and preventing said leakage to permit conduction of said vacuum to said leading end when covered.

Claim 8

The nasopharyngeal speculum defined by claim 6, said tubular portion being electrically non-conductive.

Claim 9

The nasopharyngeal speculum defined by claim 7, said tubular portion having oblong openings at said leading and viewing ends thereof.

Claim 10

A nasopharyngeal speculum for providing a direct line of sight to the nasopharynx of humans, said nasopharyngeal speculum including: a tubular portion for forming a lumen and having a pair of ends serving as a leading end and a viewing end, said leading and viewing ends of said tubular portion being outwardly flared to form a tapered central portion intermediate said ends; and a handle portion having first and second ends, said first end being attached to said viewing end of said tubular portion, said handle portion having a bend therein intermediate said first and second ends to form a minor section near said first end and a major section near said second end, said major section of said handle portion being bent away from said leading end of said tubular portion whereby said major section of said handle portion is adapted to be grasped and held in front of a patient's face to facilitate viewing of said patient's nasopharynx.

Claim 11

A nasopharyngeal speculum for providing a direct line of sight to the nasopharynx of humans, said nasopharyngeal speculum including: a tubular portion for forming a lumen and having a pair of ends serving as a leading end and a viewing end, said leading and viewing ends of said tubular portion being outwardly flared to form a tapered central portion intermediate said ends; and a handle portion having first and second ends, said first end being attached to said viewing end of said tubular portion, said handle portion having a bend therein intermediate said first and second ends to form a minor section near said first end and a major section near said second end, said major section of said handle portion being bent away from said leading end of said tubular portion whereby said major section of said handle portion is adapted to be grasped and held in front of a patient's face to facilitate viewing of said patient's nasopharynx.

Claim 12

The nasopharyngeal speculum defined by claim 9, said tubular portion being electrically non-conductive.

Claim 13

The nasopharyngeal speculum defined by claim 9, said tubular portion having oblong openings at said leading and viewing ends thereof.