US 12,262,878 B2
Vaginal speculum apparatus
Michael T. McMahon, Syracuse, NY (US); Allan I. Krauter, Skaneateles Falls, NY (US); Robert L. Vivenzio, Skaneateles Falls, NY (US); Dale C. Saddlemire, Skaneateles Falls, NY (US); Dominick Danna, Skaneateles Falls, NY (US); Stephen W. Burnett, Skaneateles Falls, NY (US); Daniel C. Briggs, Skaneateles Falls, NY (US); Scott G. Spanfelner, Skaneateles Falls, NY (US); and Jon R. Salvati, Skaneateles Falls, NY (US)
Assigned to Welch Allyn, Inc., Skaneateles Falls, NY (US)
Filed by Welch Allyn, Inc., Skaneateles Falls, NY (US)
Filed on Mar. 23, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/701,800.
Application 17/701,800 is a continuation of application No. 16/537,726, filed on Aug. 12, 2019, granted, now 11,291,359.
Application 16/537,726 is a continuation of application No. 15/888,248, filed on Feb. 5, 2018, granted, now 10,376,138, issued on Aug. 13, 2019.
Application 15/888,248 is a continuation of application No. 15/453,436, filed on Mar. 8, 2017, granted, now 9,949,633, issued on Apr. 24, 2018.
Application 15/453,436 is a continuation of application No. 15/149,747, filed on May 9, 2016, granted, now 9,883,792, issued on Feb. 6, 2018.
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 60/735,576, filed on Nov. 10, 2005.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/667,505, filed on Apr. 1, 2005.
Prior Publication US 2022/0211262 A1, Jul. 7, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 1/303 (2006.01); A61B 1/00 (2006.01); A61B 1/06 (2006.01); A61B 1/32 (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)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vaginal speculum apparatus comprising:
a speculum having an upper blade, a lower blade and a handle portion, the handle portion having an enclosed receiving cavity with the exception of an open lower end; and
an illuminator including an illuminator housing retaining a light source and at least one battery, the illuminator being sized to fit within the receiving cavity through the open lower end, wherein the illuminator includes at least one exterior feature on the illuminator housing that is configured to automatically energize the retained light source when the illuminator is slidingly advanced through the open lower end to a predetermined distance within the enclosed receiving cavity.