US2672859A - Pivoted speculum with fluid tube - Google Patents

Description

March'23, 1954 --JONES PIVOTED SPECULUM WITH FLUID TUBE Filed March 27, 1952 Patented Mar. 23, 1954 "9x1;

OFFICE PIVOTED SPECULUM WITH FLUID TUBE Paul L. Jones, Flat River, Mo.

Application March 27, 1952, Serial No. 278,846

1 Claim.

v The present invention relates to surgical appliances, and more particularly'has reference to vaginal specula provided with means to dispel the smoke generated by cauterizing' operations, thereby affording the surgeon a clear field of vision throughout the operation.

Of course it is well known that in operations of this character th cauterization of the tissues produces a considerable amount of smoke, and in order to prevent accidental burning of other tissues and organs, it is necessary that the surgeon stop the operation until the smoke is gradually dissipated. Needless to say, it is not desirable for a surgeon to continue the operation while the smoke is present, since the operation will be conducted blindly and thus subject thepatient to serious injury.

Consequently, it can be seen that such operations are unduly extended as to time by virtue of the presence of the smoke, and an important object of the present invention is to provide a speculum which will overcome the abov and other objectionable features currently present in the art.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a speculum wherein the lower blade member is provided with means for conducting air from a suitable source of supply and discharge the air at a point in proximity to the nose or front end of the blade and thus dispel the smoke which has been generated by the cauterizing operation.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a speculum of the character described wherein the air conduit is formed in the body of the lower blade, the conduit being provided with means for connection to a suitable source of air supply.

And yet a further object of the invention is to provide a means for dispelling smok generated during the course of cauterizing operations which may be readily incorporated with conventional specula with a minimum of modification of the lower blade of such specula.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction, and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter mor fully set forth and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this application, wherein like characters denote corresponding parts in the several views and in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the Graves vaginal speculum constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figur 2 is a view in perspective of the speculum shown in Figure l, with the upper blade moved away from the lower blade, th air conduit of the lower blade being shown in dash and full lines.

Figures 3 is a rear elevational view of the speculum shown in Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3, the view looking in the direction of the arrows.

As shown in Figure 1, the speculum includes a lower blade 19 having a handle portion II integrally formed therewith, an upper blade I2, s. pivotal connection l3 between the respective blades, an adjustable stop I4 for limiting the degree of pivotal movement of the upper blade [2 away from the lower blade l0, and I5 denotes generally the means for dispelling'the smoke during the operation.

The pivotal connection l3 between the blades l0 and 12 includes a yoke l6 having an integral extension I! depending therefrom, the extension being grooved longitudinally, as shown at l8, for fitting over a rib l9 formed on the handle II. This arrangement will prevent any lateral displacement of the yoke, and an elongated slot 20 merges with the groove, and a screw 2| extending through the handle and rib I9 is adapted to project through the slot 20. A wing nut 22 engages the screw 2|, and manifestly, the position of the yoke with respect to the upper limit of the lower blade II) can be adjusted by this particular arrangement.

The rear end of the upper blade I2 is pivoted to each arm of the yoke, as shown at 23, and an arm 24 extends downwardly from the blade I2. The arm '24 constitutes a part of the adjustable stop l4 and, as best shown in Figure l, a threaded rod 25 pivotally connected to one arm of the yoke I6, as at 26, projects through a slot 21 in the arm. A nut 28 having a knurled ring 29 engages the threads of the bolt between the end of the bolt and the arm, and the location of th nut on the bolt determines the spaced position between the upper blade and the lower blade.

The blades [0 and I2 are preferably of a suitable plastic and the yoke is a light-weight metal 'pelling means I5, are conventional.

The smoke dispelling device I5 includes a tubular extension 30 integrally formed with the lower blade In in proximity to its point of juncture with the handle II, the lower end of the extension being reduced to define a nipple 3| to which one end of a flexible conduit 32 is attached. The opposite end of the conduit 32 communicates with a. source of air supply (not shown).

The tubular extension is provided with duct 33 which communicates with a passageway 34 in the lower blade Hi, the passageway extending longitudinally of the blade adjacent one edge thereof, as best illustrated in Figure 2, and communicates with a crescent-shaped opening 35 at the front or nose end of the lower blade. Consequently, it will be appreciated that air forced into the passageway 34 will be discharged through the opening 35 and, as a consequence, dispel the air during the operation.

The free end of the tube 32 can be connected, as above mentioned, to a suitable source of air and this assembly is preferably a portable suction-pressure pump and motor generally available in the operating rooms of hospitals and doctors ofiices, although, of course, other convenient means may be employed.

While the air dispelling device has been described with particular reference to the fGraves speculum, it is, of course, to be understood that it is not thus limited and can be readily incorporated with all types of specula such as the Auvard Weighted Speculum, the National Neicomoid Graves Speculum, etc.

From the foregoing description, it is believed manifest that the present invention provides a relatively simple means for continuously discharging air from the front or nose end of the speculum during the cauterizing operation, thus continuously dispelling the smoke generated during the operation, thereby reducing materially the time required for the cauterization and at the same time affording the surgeon a clear field of vision. The air dispelling means may be readily and easily incorporated with the lower blade structure of all types of specula Without increasing materially the cost of manufacture of the item and without th necessity of employing expensive equipment for the successful and efficient operation of the speculum.

This invention is not to be confined to any strict conformity with the showing in the drawing but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modification mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention, as expressed in the appended claim.

I claim:

A speculum comprising a lower blade, an upper blade, a pivotal connection between the upper blade and the lower blade and means to discharge air from the nose end of the lower blade, such means including a passageway formed in the body of the blade extending longitudinally of and adjacent to one of the sides of the lower blade, means defining a discharge opening at the nose of the lower blade communicating with one end of the passageway, and a tubular conduit integrally formed with the lower blade at a point remote from the nose end of the lower blade and communicating with the opposite end of the passageway, the said tubular conduit being adapted to be connected with a source of air whereby the air may be introduced into the passageway for discharge through the opening at the nose end of the lower blade.

PAUL L. JONES.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 942,523 Sawyer Dec. 7, 1909 1,388,421 Foregrave Aug. 23, 1921 2,243,285 Pope May 27, 1941 2,483,233 Price et al.,..1 Sept. 2'7, 1949

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