US5873820A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vaginal speculum
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1996-05-22
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Granted: 1999-02-23
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Expires: 2016-05-22
Abstract
Abstract A vaginal speculum comprises two elements (1, 2) having on one hand a spoon part possible to insert in a woman's vagina (3, 5) and on the other hand an oblique handle part (4, 6). After insertion in the vagina, the spoon parts are movable through displacement of the handle parts so that said parts may widen the vagina. There is an aperture of inspection in one handle part (4), the handle parts (4, 6) having co-operating looking means for locking the parts (1, 2) in relation to each other. The upper as well as the lower spoon part (3, 5) have longitudinally curved shape. More precisely, said spoon parts have such a shape that they diverge with at least 30° from concavely curved intermediate portions (17, 17') towards convexly curved portions (18, 18'), the distance between the convexly curved portions (18, 18') being considerably larger than the corresponding distance between the concavely curved portions (17, 17'). In such a way, the pinching muscle of the opening of the vagina reliably retains the spoon parts inside the vagina.
Inventors
- 👤 Nils-Erik Norell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 09:17
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
209 words
In a vaginal speculum having a pair of mutually separable upper and lower of said elements (1,2), each element having a spoon portion (3,5) integral with a handle portion (4,6) and disposed at an angle thereto, said elements being moveable from an initial position in which the spoon portions (3,5) are in proximity to each other to a position displaceable relative to each other, said handle portion of said upper element having an inspection aperture (16) therein, said handle portions of said upper and lower elements having co-operating locking means (26,28) whereby said elements may be locked in a desired position relative to each other, each said spoon portion (3, 5) of each of said upper and lower elements (1,2) having a longitudinally curved shape diverging from a concavely curved intermediate portion (17, 17') to a convexly curved portion (18,18'), the improvement wherein said intermediate portions have oblique wall portions (19, 19') with an angle between said oblique wall portions of at least 30 degrees and wherein the distance between said convexly curved portions (18,18') of said spoon portions is at least 50% greater than the corresponding distance between said concavely curved portions (17, 17') when said spoon portions are in said initial position in proximity to each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
209 words
In a vaginal speculum having a pair of mutually separable upper and lower of said elements (1,2), each element having a spoon portion (3,5) integral with a handle portion (4,6) and disposed at an angle thereto, said elements being moveable from an initial position in which the spoon portions (3,5) are in proximity to each other to a position displaceable relative to each other, said handle portion of said upper element having an inspection aperture (16) therein, said handle portions of said upper and lower elements having co-operating locking means (26,28) whereby said elements may be locked in a desired position relative to each other, each said spoon portion (3, 5) of each of said upper and lower elements (1,2) having a longitudinally curved shape diverging from a concavely curved intermediate portion (17, 17') to a convexly curved portion (18,18'), the improvement wherein said intermediate portions have oblique wall portions (19, 19') with an angle between said oblique wall portions of at least 30 degrees and wherein the distance between said convexly curved portions (18,18') of said spoon portions is at least 50% greater than the corresponding distance between said concavely curved portions (17, 17') when said spoon portions are in said initial position in proximity to each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
154 words
A vaginal speculum according to claim 1, wherein said upper and lower elements each have a spoon portion with a rear end having side walls (37,38), the spoon portion of said upper element having a greater width at its rear end relative to the width of the corresponding portion of said lower element, the distance between said walls (37) of the spoon portion of the upper element being greater than the distance between said walls of the spoon portion of said lower element, and wherein said upper and lower elements each have a spoon portion with a front end area with the front end area of the spoon portion of the upper element being narrower than the front end area of the spoon portion of said lower element whereby the spoon portion of said upper element may be arranged with its front end between said walls of the spoon portion of the lower element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A vaginal speculum according to claim 1, wherein both said upper and lower spoon portions (3,5) have a taper toward a front end.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A vaginal speculum according to claim 2, wherein both said upper and lower spoon portions (3,5) have a taper towards a front end.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A vaginal speculum according to claim 1, wherein said inspection aperture has two laterally spaced-apart countersinks (31,31').
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A vaginal speculum according to claim 2, wherein said inspection aperture has two laterally spaced-apart countersinks (31,31').
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A vaginal speculum according to claim 3, wherein said inspection aperture has two laterally spaced-apart countersinks (31,31').
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-02-22 | 2002-08-24 | 2003-02-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-02-22 | 2006-08-24 | 2007-02-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-02-22 | 2010-08-24 | 2011-02-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |