Universal vaginal speculum with permanent handle and disposable disconnectable blades that prevent contact of the distal part of the handle with vaginal cavity

Abstract

A vaginal speculum having a handle portion and a set of blade pairs some of which can be removably attached to the distal end of the handle and others can be slidingly inserted through the proximal end of the handle. Both pairs of the blades have snapping engagement with one and the same locking mechanism of the handle. The handle may constitute a permanent part, and the blades may be disposable. The blades that are connectable to the distal end of the handle are provided with hoods that cover the surfaces on the front ends of the handle parts for protecting these with contact with the patient genitalia. This reduces the chance for transfer of infection from a patient to patient.

1 . A universal vaginal speculum with permanent handle and disposable disconnectable blades that prevent contact of the distal part of the handle with vaginal cavity, said speculum comprising:
 at least a first blade having a predetermined width and a second blade having a predetermined width;   a handle comprising a first handle part and a second handle part, said first handle part having a proximal end and a distal end, and said second handle part having a proximal end and a distal end;   said distal end of said first handle part having means for disconnectable attachment of said first blade to said distal end of said first handle part;   said distal end of said second handle part having means for disconectable attachment of said second blade to said distal end of said second handle part;   said first blade having a distal end and a proximal end, said proximal end of said first blade covering said distal end of said first handle part when said first blade is attached to said first handle part;   said second blade having a distal end and a proximal end, said proximal end of said second blade covering said distal end of said second handle part when said second blade is attached to said second handle part.   
   
   
       2 . The vaginal speculum of  claim 1 , wherein said means for disconnectable attachment of said first blade to said distal end of said first handle part comprise a first snapping mechanism that secures said proximal end of said first blade to said distal end of said first handle part when said proximal end of said first blade is fitted onto said distal end of said first handle part and is shifted linearly in the direction of said handle; said means for disconnectable attachment of said proximal end of said second blade to said distal end of said second handle part comprise a second snapping mechanism that secures said proximal end of said first blade to said distal end of said second handle part when said proximal end of said second blade is fitted onto said distal end of said second handle part and is shifted linearly in the direction of said handle. 
   
   
       3 . The vaginal speculum of  claim 2 , wherein said first snapping mechanism comprises an opening in one of said distal end of said first handle part and said proximal end of said first blade and a first detent on the other of said distal end of said first handle part and said proximal end of said first blade, and wherein said second snapping mechanism comprises an opening in one of said distal end of said second handle part and said proximal end of said second blade and a second detent on the other of said distal end of said second handle part and said proximal end of said second blade. 
   
   
       4 . The vaginal speculum of  claim 3 , wherein said proximal end of said first blade comprises a first inner semicircular portion and a first outer semicircular portion which is concentric with respect to the said first inner semicircular portion, said first detent being formed on said first inner semicircular portion, and said opening being formed on said first outer semicircular portion, and wherein said proximal end of said second blade comprises a second inner semicircular portion and a second outer semicircular portion which is concentric with respect to the said second inner semicircular portion, said second detent being formed on said second inner semicircular portion; when said proximal end of said first blade being attached to said first handle part, said distal end of said first handle part being telescopically inserted between said first outer semicircular portion and said first inner semicircular portion, and when said proximal end of said second blade being attached to said second handle part, said distal end of said second handle part being telescopically inserted between said second outer semicircular portion and said second inner semicircular portion; in an assembled state of the blades, said first outer semicircular portion of the first blade is made in the form of a protective hood over the distal end of said first handle part and is telescopically fitted onto the outer surface of the first handle part in order to prevent contact thereof with the patient's body, while said second outer semicircular portion of the second blade is made in the form of a protective hood over the distal end of said second handle part and is telescopically fitted onto the outer surface of the second handle part in order to prevent contact thereof with the patient's body. 
   
   
       5 . The vaginal speculum of  claim 4 , wherein said first detent is spring-loaded and wherein said second detent is spring-loaded. 
   
   
       6 . The vaginal speculum of  claim 1 , further comprising: a third blade slidingly insertable into said first handle part from the proximal end of said first handle part, said third blade having a detent for disconnectable attachment of said third blade to said first handle part due to engagement with said means for disconnectable attachment of said first blade to said distal end of said first handle part; and a fourth blade slidingly insertable into said second handle part from the proximal end of said second handle part, said fourth blade having a detent for disconnectable attachment of said fourth blade to said second handle part due to engagement with said means for disconnectable attachment of said second blade to said distal end of said second handle part. 
   
   
       7 . The vaginal speculum of  claim 1 , further comprising: a third blade slidingly insertable into said first handle part from the proximal end of said first handle part, said third blade having a detent for disconnectable attachment of said third blade to said first handle part due to engagement with said first snapping mechanism; and a fourth blade slidingly insertable into said second handle part from the proximal end of said second handle part, said fourth blade having a detent for disconnectable attachment of said fourth blade to said second handle part due to engagement with said second snapping mechanism. 
   
   
       8 . The vaginal speculum of  claim 3 , further comprising a set of additional disconnectable blades in addition to said first blade and said second blade, said additional blades have the same detents as said first blade and said second blade, respectively, but have a width different from said predetermined width of said first blade and said second blade. 
   
   
       9 . The vaginal speculum of  claim 8 , wherein said set of additional disconnectable blades further comprises: a third blade slidingly insertable into said first handle part from the proximal end of said first handle part, said third blade having the same detent as said first blade and said second blade, and a fourth blade slidingly insertable into said second handle part from the proximal end of said second handle part, said fourth blade having the same detent as said first blade and said second blade.