US5785648A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Speculum
Assignee: David Min MD Inc
•
Filing: 1996-10-09
•
Granted: 1998-07-28
•
Expires: 2016-10-09
Abstract
Abstract A speculum includes manually operated scissor arms with keyed shafts at the ends of each arm adapted to receive speculum jaw or blade members supported on the shaft in a desired, adjustable orientation. The speculum blades include a self-contained fiber optic light source. An optional sleeve with shape memory characteristics may be used in combination with the speculum jaw members.
Inventors
- 👤 David Min
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 20:10
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/32; A61B1/06; A61B1/07
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
226 words
A speculum comprising, in combination: a first scissors arm, including a manual gripping end and a support shaft end with a pivot connection intermediate the ends; a second scissors arm, said second scissors arm including a manual gripping end aligned with the manual gripping end of the first arm, a support shaft end and a pivot connection intermediate the ends, said scissors arms pivotally attached at the pivot connection whereby as the gripping ends move together, the support shaft ends move apart and vice versa; a first keyed support shaft extending from the support shaft end of the first arm; a second keyed support shaft extending from the support shaft end of the second arm, said first and second shafts being generally parallel; a first speculum member having a mounting end and an insertion end, said mounting end including a mounting bracket with a keyed bore for receipt of the first support shaft; and a second speculum member having a mounting end and an insertion end, said mounting end including a mounting bracket with a keyed bore for receipt of the second support shaft whereby the speculum members are in opposed relation and spread when the gripping ends of the scissors arms approach each other, at least one of said keyed bores being shaped to receive one of said support shafts in more than one orientation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
226 words
A speculum comprising, in combination: a first scissors arm, including a manual gripping end and a support shaft end with a pivot connection intermediate the ends; a second scissors arm, said second scissors arm including a manual gripping end aligned with the manual gripping end of the first arm, a support shaft end and a pivot connection intermediate the ends, said scissors arms pivotally attached at the pivot connection whereby as the gripping ends move together, the support shaft ends move apart and vice versa; a first keyed support shaft extending from the support shaft end of the first arm; a second keyed support shaft extending from the support shaft end of the second arm, said first and second shafts being generally parallel; a first speculum member having a mounting end and an insertion end, said mounting end including a mounting bracket with a keyed bore for receipt of the first support shaft; and a second speculum member having a mounting end and an insertion end, said mounting end including a mounting bracket with a keyed bore for receipt of the second support shaft whereby the speculum members are in opposed relation and spread when the gripping ends of the scissors arms approach each other, at least one of said keyed bores being shaped to receive one of said support shafts in more than one orientation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The speculum of claim 1 wherein the scissors arms pivot in a plane and the support shafts extend generally at an angle from the plane of the scissors arms.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The speculum of claim 2 wherein the support shafts extend generally transversely from the plane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The speculum of claim 1 wherein the speculum members are substantially identical and are affixed to the first and second support shafts respectively in opposed, mirror image relation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The speculum of claim 1 wherein at least one speculum member is comprised of a longitudinal, arcuate section of a tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The speculum of claim 1 wherein the keyed bore of at least one speculum member is adjustably keyed to one of said support shafts.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The speculum of claim 1 further including a power source in one of said speculum members and a light source powered by the power source and positioned for lighting a cavity into which the speculum is fitted.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The speculum of claim 1 further including scissors clamp members interacting between the scissors arms for maintaining the scissors arms and speculum members in a manually adjusted, fixed position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
The speculum of claim 1 wherein the support shafts are parallel and aligned to extend in a perpendicular direction from their respective support shaft ends of the scissors arms, and said speculum members are each adjustably keyed to a support shaft and extend in a perpendicular direction therefrom.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The speculum of claim 1 wherein the bore in each mounting bracket is a throughbore with a keyed passage and each speculum member is substantially identical and reversibly mounted on one support shaft or the other.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The speculum of claim 1 wherein the bore in each mounting bracket is a throughbore which has a unique key shape at each end of the bore compatible with one or the other support shaft.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The speculum of claim 1 wherein at least one speculum member includes a fiber optic member for transmitting a wave energy source from the speculum member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The speculum of claim 1 further including a sleeve longitudinally insertable over the speculum members, said sleeve including a shape memory section which is activated upon removal of the blade members from said section.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US471990A
Cited
US559122A
Cited
US605652A
Cited
US872343A
Cited
US872344A
Cited
US1094575A
Cited
US1222478A
Cited
US1706500A
Cited
US2247258A
Cited
US2482971A
Cited
CH273809A
Cited
US2690745A
Cited
US3131690A
Cited
US3324850A
Cited
US3532088A
Cited
US3664330A
Cited
US3592199A
Cited
US3716047A
Cited
US3744481A
Cited
US3762400A
Cited
US3851642A
Cited
US3789835A
Cited
US3796214A
Cited
DE2302614A1
Cited
US4067323A
Cited
US4086919A
Cited
US4300541A
Cited
US4638792A
Cited
US4337763A
Cited
US4432351A
Cited
US4369576A
Cited
US4434800A
Cited
US4546761A
Cited
US4567881A
Cited
US4619248A
Cited
US4597383A
Cited
US4766886A
Cited
US5054906A
Cited
US4896661A
Cited
US5143054A
Cited
US5165387A
Cited
US5251613A
Cited
US5297538A
Cited
US5199418A
Cited
US5465709A
Cited
US5458595A
Cited
US5529571A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-07-27 | 2002-01-26 | 2002-07-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-07-27 | 2006-01-26 | 2006-07-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-07-27 | 2010-01-26 | 2010-07-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |