Instrument for internal hemorrhoidectomy

Claim 1

A speculum especially effective for hemorrhoidectomy of a patient by obliterative suture, including a handle, a flange, and a hollow cylindrical probe, said flange having inner and outer margins, said handle extending from the flange, said probe being joined to said flange at said inner margin and said flange sloping outward away from said probe, said probe having a uniform diameter of between 7/8 inch and 11/8 inches and thereby avoiding such large anal distension as to require general anaesthesia for most patients while providing sufficient space for the obliterative suture procedure, said probe including a first probe portion in the form of a full cylinder extending from the inner margin of the flange, said first probe portion being approximately one inch long for distending the anus of the patient and shielding the anus during the procedure, and said probe including a second probe portion extending continuously from the first probe portion in the form of an incomplete cylinder, said second probe portion having spaced-apart edges parallel to the cylindrical axis and thus forming a gap, the second probe portion being approximately 11/2 inches long and said edges subtending a minor angle from the cylindrical axis that is somewhat greater than 90° such that, when the gap is disposed in line with a hemorrhoid, the hemorrhoid bulges into the hollow space of the second probe portion while affording space for the obliterative suture procedure.