US4994070A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for dilating a body cavity
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1989-04-11
•
Granted: 1991-02-19
•
Expires: 2009-04-11
Abstract
Abstract A vaginal speculum has a sheet member of inherently resilient material capable of being rolled into a normal position in which the member forms a narrow generally elongate shape. The sheet member is expandable under its inherent resilience to a dilated position in which the member forms a hollow generally open ended elongate shape having a substantially continuous sidewall. The sheet member is provided with first and second handle members which are atttached to the sheet member along left and right edges, respectively.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerard A. Waters
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 00:17
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A vaginal speculum comprising a sheet member of inherently resilient material capable of being rolled into a normal position in which the sheet member forms a narrow generally elongate shape, the sheet member being expandable under its inherent resilience to a dilated position in which the sheet member forms a hollow generally open-ended elongate shape having a substantially continuous sidewall, said sheet member being generally rectangular and having upper and lower edges and left and right side edges, a first elongate handle member attached along the left side edge of the sheet member and a second elongate handle member attached along the right side edge of the sheet member, said first and second elongate handle members having lower ends which extend below the lower edge of the sheet member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
A vaginal speculum comprising a sheet member of inherently resilient material capable of being rolled into a normal position in which the sheet member forms a narrow generally elongate shape, the sheet member being expandable under its inherent resilience to a dilated position in which the sheet member forms a hollow generally open-ended elongate shape having a substantially continuous sidewall, said sheet member being generally rectangular and having upper and lower edges and left and right side edges, a first elongate handle member attached along the left side edge of the sheet member and a second elongate handle member attached along the right side edge of the sheet member, said first and second elongate handle members having lower ends which extend below the lower edge of the sheet member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of said handle members has an upper end adjacent to the upper edge of the sheet member, said upper end having a dome-shaped tip.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is provided means for securing the handle members together in the normal and dilated positions of the sheet of material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the means for securing the handle members together comprises a collar having a suitable recess to receive the ends of the handle members.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first handle member is longer than said second handle member, and the means for securing the handle members together comprises a hollow collar which engages over the lower ends of the handles.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sheet member includes at least one light guide for conveying light into the body cavity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said handle members includes a light guide for conveying light into the body cavity.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3077194A
Cited
US3192928A
Cited
DE2154765A1
Cited
US3841318A
Cited
FR2444450A1
Cited
US4237893A
Cited
US4562832A
Cited
US4740207A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-02-18 | 1994-08-20 | 1995-02-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-02-18 | 1998-08-20 | 1999-02-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-02-18 | 2002-08-20 | 2003-02-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |