| US 10,376,138 B2 | ||
| Vaginal speculum apparatus | ||
| Michael T. McMahon, Syracuse, NY (US); Allan I. Krauter, Skaneateles, NY (US); Robert L. Vivenzio, Auburn, NY (US); Dale C. Saddlemire, Cortland, NY (US); Dominick Danna, Skaneateles Falls, NY (US); Stephen W. Burnett, Locke, NY (US); Daniel C. Briggs, Memphis, NY (US); Scott G. Spanfelner, Camillus, NY (US); and Jon R. Salvati, Skaneateles, NY (US) | ||
| Assigned to Welch Allyn, Inc., Skaneateles Falls, NY (US) | ||
| Filed by Welch Allyn, Inc., Skaneateles Falls, NY (US) | ||
| Filed on Feb. 5, 2018, as Appl. No. 15/888,248. | ||
| Application 15/888,248 is a continuation of application No. 15/453,436, filed on Mar. 8, 2017, granted, now 9,949,633. | ||
| Application 15/453,436 is a continuation of application No. 15/149,747, filed on May 9, 2016, granted, now 9,883,792. | ||
| Application 15/149,747 is a continuation of application No. 14/169,850, filed on Jan. 31, 2014, granted, now 9,332,898, issued on May 10, 2016. | ||
| Application 14/169,850 is a continuation of application No. 11/910,387, granted, now 8,821,395, issued on Sep. 2, 2014, previously published as PCT/US2006/012116, filed on Apr. 3, 2006. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/667,505, filed on Apr. 1, 2005. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/735,576, filed on Nov. 10, 2005. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2018/0153391 A1, Jun. 7, 2018 | ||
| This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer. | ||
| Int. Cl. A61B 1/303 (2006.01); A61B 1/32 (2006.01); A61B 1/00 (2006.01); A61B 1/06 (2006.01) | ||
| CPC A61B 1/32 (2013.01) [A61B 1/00105 (2013.01); A61B 1/00114 (2013.01); A61B 1/06 (2013.01); A61B 1/0669 (2013.01); A61B 1/0684 (2013.01); A61B 1/303 (2013.01); Y10T 29/49826 (2015.01)] | 31 Claims |
| 1. A vaginal speculum apparatus comprising: a vaginal speculum comprising:
an upper blade,
a lower blade, and
a mechanism for causing relative movement between the upper and lower blade in order to dilate the cervix of a female patient, said lower blade further including a handle having an elongated receiving cavity with an open lower end; and
an illuminator comprising an illuminator housing that retains a light source and at least one battery, in which the illuminator housing has an upper portion and a lower base portion wherein only the upper portion of the illumination housing can be fitted in the receiving cavity of the handle and in which the lower base portion includes a lower surface that enables the apparatus to rest upright on a support surface when the illuminator is fitted in the receiving cavity.
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