Patent ID: 9402537
Filing Date: 2016-08-02
CPC Classification: A61B

Claim Text:
1. A compact speculum comprising: a first wing and a second wing; a hinge that forms a housing and that is attached to the first and the second wings, permitting the wings to rotate about the hinge when moving from a closed to an open position; and a ratchet substantially within the housing that releasably holds the wings in the open position; wherein the speculum, the wings, and the hinge each has a proximal end, a distal end, an exterior surface, and an interior surface; wherein the wings and the hinge form a canopy that, when the wings are in the open position, creates and only partially surrounds an interior space that is not surrounded by any other portion of the compact speculum, wherein the ratchet comprises a first ratchet component and a second ratchet component; and wherein the first ratchet component rotates together with the first wing, and the second ratchet component rotates together with the second wing, wherein the first ratchet component is attached to the first wing, wherein no portion of the compact speculum obstructs any portion of a length of the interior space opposite the hinge between the proximal end and the distal end of the compact speculum when the wings are in the open position, and wherein the second ratchet component moves linearly along the hinge's axis of rotation to engage with or disengage from the first ratchet component, thereby releasably holding the wings in an open position.