Patent ID: 6669654
Filing Date: 2003-12-30
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A method for measuring positions and dimensions of vaginal prolapses comprising the steps of:providing a vaginal speculum having a first member with a proximal part and a distal part arranged in a longitudinal direction, a second member slidingly attached to said proximal part for moving in a direction transverse to said longitudinal direction, said second member having means for fixing thereof to said proximal part of said first member, and a third member having a proximal part and a distal part arranged in a longitudinal direction, said third member being pivotally connected to said second member for rotation with respect to said first member when said second member is moved in said direction transverse to said longitudinal direction, at least one of said first and third members having said distal part in the form of a completely removable element moveable in said longitudinal direction, said speculum having a closed state when said first and third members are in contact with each other and an expanded state when said first and third members are spread apart under effect of said rotation; providing a scale on said completely removable element; selecting a reference point on a patient's body or on said speculum for reading the numbers on said scale with respect to said reference point; inserting said vaginal speculum in said closed state into the vagina of a female patient until contact with the top of the cervix; reading the number on said scale and determining the distance L1 from said reference point to said top of the cervix; withdrawing said completely removable element in a direction away from the cervix; expanding said speculum due to said rotation thus exposing the wall of the vagina on the side of said completely removable element for observation; observing a prolapse on said wall of the vagina and visually determining its severity; moving said completely removable element to the tip of said prolapse; reading the number on said scale and determining the distance L2 from said reference point to said tip of said prolapse; subtracting L2 from L1, thus determining the position of said prolapse.