Speculum lens structure

Claim 2

In combination, a pair of contacting members and an operating handle for movably mounting the contacting members relative to each other, each contacting member including means cooperating with the operating handle to mount the contacting member on the operating handle, means projecting away from the mounting means to contact a meatus, means for mounting a light source remote from the meatus, means for transmitting light along the contacting member away from the mounting means, and a lens formed on the contacting member for directing the transmitted light in a desired manner into the meatus, the lens being formed at the end of the transmitting means remote from the source, and including a surface for directing light into the meatus, the surface causing diffusion or spreading of the light as it passes through the surface into the meatus.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 in which the light-source mounting means includes means provided on the operating handle, and the transmitting means includes means for engaging the light source to receive light, and means extending from the engaging means to the contacting member for transmitting light from the engaging means to the contacting member.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 in which the means for mounting the contacting member on the operating handle includes means for flexibly mounting the contacting member on the operating handle, and the means for transmitting light from the engaging means to the contacting member is flexible to permit movement of the contacting member relative to the operating handle.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 in which the light-source mounting means includes means for engaging the light source formed on the contacting member remote from the means for contacting the meatus.

Claim 6

In combination, a pair of contacting members and an operating handle for movably mounting the contacting members relative to each other, each contacting member including means cooperating with the operating handle to mount the contacting member on the operating handle, means projecting away from the mounting means to contact a meatus, means for mounting a light source remote from the meatus, means for transmitting light along the contacting member away from the mounting means, and a lens formed on the contacting member for directing the transmitted light in a desired manner into the meatus, the lens being formed at the end of the transmitting means remote from the source, and including a surface for directing light into the meatus, the surface causing focussing of the light as it passes through the surface into the meatus.

Claim 7

In combination, a pair of contacting members and an operating handle for movably mounting the contacting members relative to each other, each contacting member including means cooperating with the operating handle to mount the contacting member on the operating handle, means projecting away from the mounting means to contact a meatus, means for mounting a light source remote from the meatus, means for transmitting light along the contacting member away from the mounting means, and a lens formed on the contacting member for directing the transmitted light in a desired manner into the meatus, the lens being formed at the end of the transmitting means remote from the source, and including a surface for directing light into the meatus, the surface causing focussing of the light as it passes through the surface into the meatus.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 5 in which the light-source mounting means includes means provided on the operating handle, and the transmitting means includes means for engaging the light source to receive light, and means for transmitting light from the engaging means to the contacting member extending from the engaging means to the contacting member.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 5 in which the means for mounting the contacting member on the operating handle includes means for flexibly mounting the contacting member on the operating handle, and the means for transmitting light from the engaging means to the contacting member is flexible to permit movement of the contacting member relative to the operating handle.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 5 in which the light-source mounting means includes means for engaging the light source formed on the contacting member remote from the means for contacting the meatus.

Claim 11

A medical instrument, comprising a pair of contacting members and an operating handle for movably mounting the contacting members relative to each other, each contacting member including means cooperating with the operating handle to mount the contacting member on the operating handle, means projecting away from the mounting means to contact a meatus, means for mounting a light source remote from the meatus, means for transmitting light along the contacting member away from the mounting means, and a lens formed on the contacting member for directing the transmitted light in a desired manner into the meatus, the lens being formed at the end of the transmitting means remote from the source, and including a surface for directing light into the meatus, the surface causing diffusion or spreading of the light as it passes through the surface into the meatus.

Claim 12

A medical instrument, comprising a pair of contacting members and an operating handle for movably mounting the contacting members relative to each other, each contacting member including means cooperating with the operating handle to mount the contacting member on the operating handle, means projecting away from the mounting means to contact a meatus, means for mounting a light source remote from the meatus, means for transmitting light along the contacting member away from the mounting means, and a lens formed on the contacting member for directing the transmitted light in a desired manner into the meatus, the lens being formed at the end of the transmitting means remote from the source, and including a surface for directing light into the meatus, the surface causing diffusion or spreading of the light as it passes through the surface into the meatus.

Claim 13

A medical instrument, comprising a pair of contacting members and an operating handle for movably mounting the contacting members relative to each other, each contacting member including means cooperating with the operating handle to mount the contacting member on the operating handle, means projecting away from the mounting means to contact a meatus, means for mounting a light source remote from the meatus, means for transmitting light along the contacting member away from the mounting means, and a lens formed on the contacting member for directing the transmitted light in a desired manner into the meatus, the lens being formed at the end of the transmitting means remote from the source, and including a surface for directing light into the meatus, the surface causing focussing of the light as it passes through the surface into the meatus.

Claim 14

A medical instrument, comprising a pair of contacting members and an operating handle for movably mounting the contacting members relative to each other, each contacting member including means cooperating with the operating handle to mount the contacting member on the operating handle, means projecting away from the mounting means to contact a meatus, means for mounting a light source remote from the meatus, means for transmitting light along the contacting member away from the mounting means, and a lens formed on the contacting member for directing the transmitted light in a desired manner into the meatus, the lens being formed at the end of the transmitting means remote from the source, and including a surface for directing light into the meatus, the surface causing focussing of the light as it passes through the surface into the meatus.

Claim 15

A medical instrument including a pair of contacting members and an operating handle for movably mounting the contacting members relative to each other, each contacting member including a portion for attachment to the operating handle and a portion for insertion into a meatus, the portion for insertion having a side facing away from the wall of the meatus, a side for contacting the wall of the meatus and an edge separating the two sides and extending around a portion of the perimeter of the contacting member, means for mounting a light source remote from the meatus, a lens formed on the side facing away from the wall of the meatus, and means for transmitting light along the contacting member to the lens, the means for mounting the light source including means for attaching the light source to the contacting member on the side facing away from the meatus wall adjacent the portion for attachment to the speculum.

Claim 16

A medical instrument including a pair of contacting members and an operating handle for movably mounting the contacting members relative to each other, each contacting member including a portion for attachment to the operating handle and a portion for insertion into a meatus, the portion for insertion having a side facing away from the wall of the meatus, a side for contacting the wall of the meatus and an edge separating the two sides and extending around a portion of the perimeter of the contacting member, means for mounting a light source remote from the meatus, a lens formed on the side facing away from the wall of the meatus, and means for transmitting light along the contacting member to the lens, the means for mounting the light source including means for attaching the light source to the contacting member on the side facing away from the meatus wall adjacent the portion for attachment to the speculum.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the means for transmitting light along the contacting member comprises optical wave-guiding means on the side facing away from the meatus and extending between the attachment means and the lens to transmit light from the source to the lens.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the attachment means includes a socket for connecting a lamp bulb to the contacting member.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the side facing away from the meatus wall is generally concave.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the side for contacting the wall of the meatus is generally convex.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the edge includes means providing a smooth protective bead.

Claim 22

In combination, a contacting member and an operating handle for supporting and manipulating the contacting member in a meatus, the operating handle including a shaft provided with a longitudinally extending slot opening in an end and a side wall thereof, and an enlarged longitudinally extending opening in the interior thereof and opening in said end, the slot intersecting the opening, the contacting member including a portion for attachment to the shaft, the attachment portion including a first part engageable in the slot and a second portion engageable in the enlarged portion.

Claim 23

In combination, a contacting member and an operating handle for supporting and manipulating the contacting member in a meatus, the operating handle including a shaft provided with a longitudinally extending slot opening in an end and a side wall thereof, and an enlarged longitudinally extending opening in the interior thereof and opening in said end, the slot intersecting the opening, the contacting member including a portion for attachment to the shaft, the attachment portion including a first part engageable in the slot and a second portion engageable in the enlarged portion.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the enlarged opening is generally circular in transverse section.

Claim 25

In combination, a contacting member and an operating handle for supporting and manipulating the contacting member in a meatus, the operating handle including a shaft provided with a longitudinally extending keyhole-shaped transverse section opening intersecting a side wall of the shaft, and the contacting member including a portion for attachment to the shaft, the attachment portion including a keyhole-shaped projection for sliding insertion into the opening.

Claim 26

In combination, a contacting member and an operating handle for supporting and manipulating the contacting member in a meatus, the operating handle including a shaft provided with a longitudinally extending keyhole-shaped transverse section opening intersecting a side wall of the shaft, and the contacting member including a portion for attachment to the shaft, the attachment portion including a keyhole-shaped projection for sliding insertion into the opening.

Claim 27

The apparatus of claim 17 or 19 in which the operating handle includes a pair of such shafts and including two such contacting members.

Claim 28

The apparatus of claim 1, 5, 9, 10, 11, 17, or 19 wherein each said contacting member includes a plurality of such lenses arranged to direct light into the meatus in a desired manner.