Speculum for dilating a body cavity

Claim 2

A speculum for dilating a body cavity, said speculum comprising: a) a base; b) a plurality of arms pivotally attached to said base; c) an actuator plate disposed adjacent to and movable relative to said base and to said arms; d) means disposed on said actuator plate for engaging each one of said plurality of arms and for moving the arms relative to each other from a closed position to an open position when said actuator plate is moved relative to said base; e) said closed position being defined by said plurality of arms being disposed adjacent to each other; and f) said open position being defined by said plurality of arms being disposed spaced apart from each other, wherein: g) each one of said plurality of arms includes a free end distant from said base; and h) an insertion rod is removably disposed inwardly of said plurality of arms.

Claim 3

A speculum as defined in claim 1, wherein: a) said engaging means moves said actuator plate in a first direction relative to said base for moving said plurality of arms from said closed position to said open position; and b) said engaging means moves said actuator plate in a second direction relative to said base for moving said plurality of arms from said open position to said closed position.

Claim 4

A speculum as defined in claim 1, wherein: a) each one of said plurality of arms includes an elongated rod.

Claim 5

A speculum as defined in claim 1, wherein: a) each of said plurality of arms includes an attachment portion adjacent to said base and a tissue-dilating portion extending from said attachment portion and disposed spaced apart from said base; and b) said tissue-dilating portion extends at an obtuse angle relative to said attachment portion.

Claim 6

A speculum as defined in claim 1, wherein: a) said plurality of arms includes a dilating blade and a plurality of dilating rods.

Claim 7

A speculum as defined in claim 1, wherein: a) said plurality of arms includes a dilating blade.

Claim 8

A speculum as defined in claim 1, wherein: a) said plurality of arms includes a pair of substantially oppositely spaced opposed dilating blades.

Claim 9

A speculum as defined in claim 7, wherein: a) said plurality of arms includes a pair of substantially oppositely disposed dilating rods.

Claim 10

A speculum as defined in claim 7, wherein: a) said plurality of arms includes two pairs of substantially oppositely disposed dilating rods.

Claim 11

A speculum as defined in claim 1, wherein: a) said plurality of arms includes a pair of substantially oppositely spaced opposed dilating blades and a remaining plurality of arms, wherein b) each one of said pair of dilating blades includes a curved free end disposed distant from said base; c) each one of said remaining plurality of arms includes a free end disposed distant from said base; and d) the curved free ends of said dilating blades are configured to substantially cover said free ends of said remaining plurality of arms when said remaining plurality of arms is in a closed position and said dilating blades are in a closed position.

Claim 12

A speculum as defined in claim 1, wherein: a) a soft, deformable tip is disposed on a free end of said insertion rod distant from said base; and b) said deformable tip is configured for mating with said free ends of said plurality of arms and for defining a blunt insertion tip for insertion into a body cavity.

Claim 13

A speculum for dilating a body cavity, said speculum comprising: a) a base; b) a plurality of arms pivotally and rotatably attached to said base; c) means disposed on said base for pivoting and rotating each one of said plurality of arms relative to each other for moving said arms from a closed position to an open position: d) said closed position being defined by said plurality of arms being disposed adjacent to each other; and e) said open position being defined by said plurality of arms being disposed spaced apart from each other, wherein: f) said pivoting and rotating means includes an upper actuator disk rotatably attached to said base; g) means is disposed on said upper actuator disk for pivoting and rotating said plurality of arms while moving said arms from said closed position to said open position; h) a lower actuator disk is disposed adjacent said upper actuator disk and is rotatably attached to said base; and i) means is disposed on said lower actuator disk for tilting each one of said plurality of arms relative to each other.

Claim 14

A speculum for dilating a body cavity, said speculum comprising: a) a base; b) a plurality of arms pivotally and rotatably attached to said base; c) means disposed on said base for pivoting and rotating each one of said plurality of arms relative to each other for moving said arms from a closed position to an open position: d) said closed position being defined by said plurality of arms being disposed adjacent to each other; and e) said open position being defined by said plurality of arms being disposed spaced apart from each other, wherein: f) said pivoting and rotating means includes an upper actuator disk rotatably attached to said base; g) means is disposed on said upper actuator disk for pivoting and rotating said plurality of arms while moving said arms from said closed position to said open position; h) a lower actuator disk is disposed adjacent said upper actuator disk and is rotatably attached to said base; and i) means is disposed on said lower actuator disk for tilting each one of said plurality of arms relative to each other.

Claim 15

A speculum as defined in claim 12, wherein: a) said pivoting and rotating means includes an actuating member movable in a first direction relative to said base for moving said plurality of arms from said closed position to said open position; and b) said actuating member is movable in a second direction relative to said base for moving said plurality of arms from said open position to said closed position.

Claim 16

A speculum for dilating a body cavity, said speculum comprising: a) a base; a plurality of arms pivotally attached to said base; c) an actuator, wherein said actuator and said base are perpendicularly movable relative to each other and define a perpendicular distance therebetween; d) means for adjusting the perpendicular distance between said base and said actuator plate; e) means disposed on said actuator for engaging each one of said plurality of arms and for moving the arms relative to each other from a closed position to an open position when said actuator and said base are moved relative to each other; f) said closed position being defined by said plurality of arms being disposed adjacent to each other; and g) said open position being defined by said plurality of arms being disposed spaced apart from each other, h) wherein each of said plurality of arms pivots on said base in a radial direction between said closed position and said open position.

Claim 17

A speculum for dilating a body cavity, said speculum comprising: a) a base; a plurality of arms pivotally attached to said base; c) an actuator, wherein said actuator and said base are perpendicularly movable relative to each other and define a perpendicular distance therebetween; d) means for adjusting the perpendicular distance between said base and said actuator plate; e) means disposed on said actuator for engaging each one of said plurality of arms and for moving the arms relative to each other from a closed position to an open position when said actuator and said base are moved relative to each other; f) said closed position being defined by said plurality of arms being disposed adjacent to each other; and g) said open position being defined by said plurality of arms being disposed spaced apart from each other, h) wherein each of said plurality of arms pivots on said base in a radial direction between said closed position and said open position.

Claim 18

A speculum as defined in claim 14, wherein: a) said plurality of arms includes a pair of substantially oppositely disposed dilating rods.

Claim 19

A speculum as defined in claim 14, wherein: a) said plurality of arms includes a pair of substantially oppositely spaced opposed dilating blades.

Claim 20

A speculum as defined in claim 14, wherein: a) said plurality of arms includes a pair of substantially oppositely spaced opposed dilating blades and a remaining plurality of arms: b) each one of said pair of dilating blades includes a curved free end disposed distant from said base; c) each one of said remaining plurality of arms includes a free end disposed distant from said base; and d) the curved free ends of said dilating blades are configured to substantially cover said free ends of said remaining plurality of arms when said plurality of remaining arms is in a closed position and said dilating blades are in a closed position.

Claim 21

A speculum as defined in claim 14, wherein: a) said adjusting means perpendicularly moves said actuator plate in a first direction relative to said base for moving said plurality of arms from said closed position to said open position; and b) said adjusting means perpendicularly moves said actuator plate in a second direction relative to said base for moving said plurality of arms from said open position to said closed position.

Claim 22

A speculum as defined in claim 14, wherein: a) each one of said plurality of arms includes an elongated rod.

Claim 23

A speculum as defined in claim 14, wherein: a) each of said plurality of arms includes an attachment portion adjacent to said base and a tissue-dilating portion extending from said attachment portion and disposed spaced apart from said base; and b) said tissue-dilating portion extends at an obtuse angle relative to said attachment portion.

Claim 24

A speculum as defined in claim 14, wherein: a) said plurality of arms includes a dilating blade and a plurality of dilating rods.

Claim 25

A speculum as defined in claim 14, wherein: a) said plurality of arms includes a dilating blade.

Claim 26

A speculum as defined in claim 14, wherein: a) said plurality of arms are made of plastic.

Claim 27

A speculum as defined in claim 14, further comprising: a) a plurality of plastic sheaths, wherein each of said plurality of plastic sheaths is placed on a corresponding one of said plurality of arms.

Claim 28

A speculum as defined in claim 14, further comprising: a) an expandable tube disposed over said plurality of arms such that when said plurality of arms are in an open position said tube is expanded and protects the body cavity from contacting said plurality of arms.

Claim 29

A speculum as defined in claim 14, wherein: a) said plurality of arms includes two pairs of substantially oppositely disposed dilating rods.

Claim 30

A speculum as defined in claim 14, wherein: a) each one of said plurality of arms includes a free end distant from said base; and b) an insertion rod is removably disposed inwardly of said plurality of arms.

Claim 31

A speculum as defined in claim 27, wherein: a) a soft, deformable tip is disposed on a free end of said insertion rod distant from said base; and b) said deformable tip is configured for mating with said free ends of said plurality of rods and for defining a blunt insertion tip for insertion into a body cavity.

Claim 32

A speculum as defined in claim 1, wherein: a) said plurality of arms are made of plastic.

Claim 33

A speculum as defined in claim 1, further comprising: a) a plurality of plastic sheaths, wherein each of said plurality of plastic sheaths is placed on a corresponding one of said plurality of arms.

Claim 34

A speculum as defined in claim 1, further comprising: a) an expandable tube disposed over said plurality of arms such that when said plurality of arms are in an open position said tube is expanded and protects the body cavity from contacting said plurality of arms.