Locking adjustable speculum

Claim 2

A speculum comprising a base including first and second base members for movement with respect to one another, means for adjustng the distance between a distal portion of the first base member and a distal portion of the second base member, means for connecting the adjusting means to one of the first and second base members, first and second shafts, means rotatably supporting each shaft from the distal portion of a respective one of the first and second members, and means for dilating an orifice, the dilating means being provided on the first and second shafts, the dilating means being responsive to adjustment of the first and second members and rotation of the first and second shafts, said means for adjusting the distance between the distal portions of the first and second members including a threaded shaft mounted in one of the first and second base members, means engaging the threaded shaft on the other of the first and second base members, and means for selectively rotating one of either the threaded shaft or means engaging the threaded shaft to advance and retract said other base member with respect to said one base member.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the threaded shaft is rotatably mounted with respect to one of the base members and the means engaging the threaded shaft is stationarily mounted with respect to the other of the base members.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the threaded shaft is stationarily mounted with respect to one of the base members and the means engaging the threaded shaft is rotatably mounted with respect to the other of the base members.

Claim 5

A speculum comprising a base including a first base member providing an interior and a second base member for movement within said interior, means for adjusting the distance between a distal portion of said first base member and a distal portion of said second base member, means for connecting said adjusting means to one of said base members, two shafts, means rotatably coupling each of the shafts to the distal portion of a respective base member, and means for dilating an orifice, the dilating means being provided on said shafts, said dilating means responsive to selective adjustment of said first and second base members and rotation of said elongated shafts selectively to dilate the orifice, said means for adjusting said distance between said distal portions of said first and second base members including a threaded shaft mounted on one of said base members and means for engaging said threaded shaft on the other of said base members, and means for selectively rotating one of either said threaded shaft or said means engaging said threaded shaft selectively to vary said distance.

Claim 6

A speculum comprising a base including a first base member providing an interior and a second base member for movement within said interior, means for adjusting the distance between a distal portion of said first base member and a distal portion of said second base member, means for connecting said adjusting means to one of said base members, two shafts, means rotatably coupling each of the shafts to the distal portion of a respective base member, and means for dilating an orifice, the dilating means being provided on said shafts, said dilating means responsive to selective adjustment of said first and second base members and rotation of said elongated shafts selectively to dilate the orifice, said means for adjusting said distance between said distal portions of said first and second base members including a threaded shaft mounted on one of said base members and means for engaging said threaded shaft on the other of said base members, and means for selectively rotating one of either said threaded shaft or said means engaging said threaded shaft selectively to vary said distance.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said threaded shaft is rotatably mounted on said one of said base members and said means engaging said threaded shaft comprises a threaded passageway provided in said other of said base members.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 5 in which said one of said base members includes journal mounting means for rotatably mounting said threaded shaft.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said threaded shaft is stationarily mounted on said one of said base members and said means engaging said threaded shaft comprises means rotatably mounted on said other of said base members and including a threaded passageway engaging said threaded shaft.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said means for selectively rotating one of said shaft and means engaging said shaft includes a hand-manipulable wheel.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said threaded passageway is provided through the axis of said wheel.

Claim 12

A speculum comprising a base including first and second base members for movement with respect to one another, means for adjusting the distance between a distal portion of the first base member and a distal portion of the second base member, means for connecting the adjusting means to one of the first and second base members, first and second shafts, means rotatably supporting said first shaft from a distal portion of the first base member, means supporting said second shaft from a distal portion of the second base member, blade-like contacting members for dilating an orifice, the contacting members being provided on the first and second shafts, the contacting members being responsive to adjustment of the first and second base members and rotation of the first shaft, and means engageable with said first shaft for independently sustaining a desired rotational position of one of the contacting members associated with the first shaft, such position-sustaining means including a fixed projection on one of said first base member and first shaft and a plurality of sockets on the other of said first base member and first shaft, each socket sized to receive the projection, and spring means urging said projection and sockets together so as to urge the projection into engagement with a selected one of said sockets to prevent rotation of said first shaft with respect to said first base member.

Claim 13

A speculum comprising a base including first and second base members for movement with respect to one another, means for adjusting the distance between a distal portion of the first base member and a distal portion of the second base member, means for connecting the adjusting means to one of the first and second base members, first and second shafts, means rotatably supporting said first shaft from a distal portion of the first base member, means supporting said second shaft from a distal portion of the second base member, blade-like contacting members for dilating an orifice, the contacting members being provided on the first and second shafts, the contacting members being responsive to adjustment of the first and second base members and rotation of the first shaft, and means engageable with said first shaft for independently sustaining a desired rotational position of one of the contacting members associated with the first shaft, such position-sustaining means including a fixed projection on one of said first base member and first shaft and a plurality of sockets on the other of said first base member and first shaft, each socket sized to receive the projection, and spring means urging said projection and sockets together so as to urge the projection into engagement with a selected one of said sockets to prevent rotation of said first shaft with respect to said first base member.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the means for supporting said second shaft from a distal portion of the second base member includes means for rotatably supporting the second shaft from a distal portion of the second base member, and means engageable with the second shaft for independently sustaining a desired rotational position of the contacting member associated with the second shaft.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the means for independently sustaining the desired rotational position of the second shaft includes a fixed projection on one of the second shaft and second base member and a plurality of sockets on the other of the second shaft and second base member, each socket sized to receive the projection, and spring means urging said projection and sockets together so as to urge the projection into engagement with a selected one of said sockets to prevent rotation of the second shaft with respect to the second base member.

Claim 16

A speculum including at least two blade-like contacting members for dilating an orifice, a shaft for supporting each contacting member, means for connecting each contacting member to a respective shaft, each contacting member having a proximal end engaging a respective shaft and a distal end for insertion into the orifice, a base including means for rotatably supporting a first one of said shafts and for supporting the other of said shafts, and means for adjusting the distance between the distal ends of the contacting members including first means on the base and second means on said first one of the shafts engaging the first means in at least selected positions of said first one of the shafts to prevent rotation of said first one of the shafts with respect to said base, the base including a passageway for said first one of the shafts, said first one of the shafts being rotatably received in its passageway, the means on the base including a plurality of sockets on the base surrounding said passageway, and said second means including a fixed projection on said first one of the shafts, and means for yieldably urging said projection into engagement with a selected one of said sockets selectively to position said first one of the shafts with respect to said base.

Claim 17

A speculum including at least two blade-like contacting members for dilating an orifice, a shaft for supporting each contacting member, means for connecting each contacting member to a respective shaft, each contacting member having a proximal end engaging a respective shaft and a distal end for insertion into the orifice, a base including means for rotatably supporting a first one of said shafts and for supporting the other of said shafts, and means for adjusting the distance between the distal ends of the contacting members including first means on the base and second means on said first one of the shafts engaging the first means in at least selected positions of said first one of the shafts to prevent rotation of said first one of the shafts with respect to said base, the base including a passageway for said first one of the shafts, said first one of the shafts being rotatably received in its passageway, the means on the base including a plurality of sockets on the base surrounding said passageway, and said second means including a fixed projection on said first one of the shafts, and means for yieldably urging said projection into engagement with a selected one of said sockets selectively to position said first one of the shafts with respect to said base.

Claim 18

A speculum comprising a base including first and second base members for movement with respect to one another, means for adjusting the distance between a distal portion of the first base member and a distal portion of the second base member, means for connecting the adjusting means to one of the first and second base members, first and second shafts, means rotatably supporting said first shaft from a distal portion of the first base member, means supporting said second shaft from a distal portion of the second base member, blade-like contacting members for dilating an orifice, the contacting members being provided on the first and second shafts and extending generally perpendicular to the first and second shafts, the contacting members being responsive to adjustment of the first and second base members and rotation of the first shaft, and means engageable with said first shaft for independently sustaining a desired rotational position of the contacting member associated with the first shaft, such position-sustaining means including a fixed projection on one of said first base member and first shaft and a plurality of sockets on the other of said first base member and first shaft, each socket sized to receive the projection, and spring means urging the projection into engagement with a selected one of said sockets to prevent rotation of said first shaft with respect to said first base member.

Claim 19

A speculum comprising a base including first and second base members for movement with respect to one another, means for adjusting the distance between a distal portion of the first base member and a distal portion of the second base member, means for connecting the adjusting means to one of the first and second base members, first and second shafts, means rotatably supporting said first shaft from a distal portion of the first base member, means supporting said second shaft from a distal portion of the second base member, blade-like contacting members for dilating an orifice, the contacting members being provided on the first and second shafts and extending generally perpendicular to the first and second shafts, the contacting members being responsive to adjustment of the first and second base members and rotation of the first shaft, and means engageable with said first shaft for independently sustaining a desired rotational position of the contacting member associated with the first shaft, such position-sustaining means including a fixed projection on one of said first base member and first shaft and a plurality of sockets on the other of said first base member and first shaft, each socket sized to receive the projection, and spring means urging the projection into engagement with a selected one of said sockets to prevent rotation of said first shaft with respect to said first base member.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the means for supporting the first and second shafts includes means for supporting the shafts such that their axes are generally parallel and adjustment of the distance between the distal portions of the first and second base members adjusts the distance between the first and second shaft axes.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the means for supporting said second shaft from a distal portion of the second base member includes means for rotatably supporting the second shaft from a distal portion of the second base member, and means engageable with the second shaft for independently sustaining a desired rotational position of the contacting member associated with the second shaft.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the means for independently sustaining the desired rotational position of the second shaft includes a fixed projection on one of the second shaft and second base member and a plurality of sockets on the other of the second shaft and second base member, each socket sized to receive the projection, and spring means urging the projection into engagement with a selected one of said sockets to prevent rotation of the second shaft with respect to the second base member.

Claim 23

A speculum including at least two blade-like contacting members for dilating an orifice, a shaft for supporting each contacting member, means for connecting each contacting member to a respective shaft, each contacting member having a proximal end engaging a respective shaft for supporting each contacting member generally perpendicular to a respective shaft and a distal end for insertion into the orifice, a base including means for rotatably supporting a first one of said shafts and for supporting the other of said shafts, and means for adjusting the distance between the distal ends of the contacting members including first means on the base and second means on said first one of the shafts engaging the first means in at least selected positions of said first one of the shafts to prevent rotation of said first one of the shafts with respect to said base, the base including a passageway for said first one of the shafts, said first one of the shafts being rotatably received in its passageway, the first means on the base including a plurality of sockets on the base surrounding said passageway, and said second means including a fixed projection on said first one of the shafts, and means for yieldably urging said projection into engagement with a selected one of said sockets selectively to position said first one of the shafts with respect to said base.

Claim 24

A speculum including at least two blade-like contacting members for dilating an orifice, a shaft for supporting each contacting member, means for connecting each contacting member to a respective shaft, each contacting member having a proximal end engaging a respective shaft for supporting each contacting member generally perpendicular to a respective shaft and a distal end for insertion into the orifice, a base including means for rotatably supporting a first one of said shafts and for supporting the other of said shafts, and means for adjusting the distance between the distal ends of the contacting members including first means on the base and second means on said first one of the shafts engaging the first means in at least selected positions of said first one of the shafts to prevent rotation of said first one of the shafts with respect to said base, the base including a passageway for said first one of the shafts, said first one of the shafts being rotatably received in its passageway, the first means on the base including a plurality of sockets on the base surrounding said passageway, and said second means including a fixed projection on said first one of the shafts, and means for yieldably urging said projection into engagement with a selected one of said sockets selectively to position said first one of the shafts with respect to said base.