An Improved Surgical or like Speculum.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Oct., 1899-Accepted, 2nd Dec., 1899
An Improved Surgical or like Speculum.
I, WILLIAM CHARLES PRESTON, of No. 86, William Street, Rochester, in the
County of Monroe and State of New York, U.SA, Gentleman, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My present invention has for its object to provide an improved speculum adapted
particularly for making examinations of cavities or passages of the body, and
for treatment by local application to a diseased tissue, and has for its further
abject to provide a means of lighting the inner or working end of the instrument.
To these ends my invention consists in certain improvements and combinations
of parts, all as will be hereinafter fully described, and the novel features pointed
out in the claims at the end of this specification.
In the drawings:-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved instrument.
Figure 2, a longitudinal-sectional view.
Figure 3, an end elevation.
Figure 4, a sectional view on the line --r of Fig 1.
Figure 5,
a side elevation of the plug.
Similar reference numerals indicate similar parts.
In the construction of my device, I employ a hollow cylindrical tube 1 pointed
upon its forward end and provided with the apertures 2, preferably triangular,
having the webs 3 between them converging toward the point 4 and serving to
support the tissue or membrane and by preventing the latter from collapsing a
much larger sui face is presented for examination or treatment without moving
the instrument longitudinally in the passage The webs 3 may be very light
and narrow so as not to obstruct the view materially, and the instrument may be
revolved slightly to expose any part hidden or covered thereby.
Upon the underside of the body 18 a chamber 5 formed by the casing 6 extend-
ing from near the point to the rear end of the instrument and communicating
with the interior of the body through an aperture 7 located at the forward end
of the chamber A small low voltage incandescent lamp 8 is mounted upon a
wue or handle 9 and adapted to be inserted into the chamber and to lie beneath
the aperture 7 for the purpose of lighting the parts exposed through the apei-
tures in the forward or operating end of the instrument A thumb-sciew 10
airanged at the rear end of the instrument projects into the chamber and 18
adapted to engage the handle 9 and prevent the accidental displacement of the
lamp 11 indicates a disc or plate mounted upon the body and forming the reat
or outer end of the instrument, making a convenient means for handling or mani-
pulating the same, and also serves as a support upon which a magnifying attach-
iment may be secured. 12 indicates an aim pivoted in the plate 11 caying a
sleeeve 14 provided with the adjustable sliding eye-piece 15 carrying a suitable
lens and adapted to be held in line with the body of the instrument for purposes
of examination, as shown in Figure 1, but capable of being turned to the side by
reason of the pivotal connection between the arm and support, when it is desired
to operate through the interior of the instrument
To permit the easy insertion of the device and to prevent the apertures from
tearing or otherwise injuring a delicate membrane, provide a plug 16 connected
by a rod 17 to a handle 18 and adapted to be removed or withdrawn through
the inside of the tube 1 Raised portions 19 are provided upon the face of the
plug, raised sufficiently to correspond to the thickness of the material composing
D

page_text: the sides of the body and are adapted to fit between the webs 3 and to fill out the
spaces formed by the apertures, making a perfectly round and smooth point, as
shown in Figure 2
With this construction I am enabled to examine a large area of membrane and
to have the same properly illuminated By providing a separate chamber upon
the body of the instrument, it is possible to have the light in proximity to the
working end of the instrument without obstructing the interior of the instrument
by a reflector or mirror as is the case where the light is arranged at the rear of
the instrument. The difficulty of overheating the instrument by the heat radiated
from the lamp making it impossible to use the device for examination upon
sensitive tissues is entirely overcome by the arrangement of the parts in my con-
struction The lamp being located beneath the aperture 7 at the inner end of
the chamber 5, which latter is smaller in area than the body of the instrument
and located upon the underside theirof, causes a slight current of air to circulate
through the chamber into the body of the instrument and out at the ear, pre-
venting the temperature of the latter being raised above that of surrounding
membrane or tissue
While this instrument is particularly adapted by reason of its small size to
examination and treatment of the methia, it may be made of large size and used
for other oficial examinations and treatment, as will be understood
Haung now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim 18-
1 In a speculum, the combination with the hollow body, of a chamber extend-
ing upon the side of the latter, and connected thereto by an aperture arranged
near their forward ends, and a lamp adapted to be introduced into the chamber and
in proximity to the aperture
2 In a speculum, the combination with a hollow body open upon its rear end,
having a perforated point upon its opposite extremity, of a plug adapted to close
the apertures in the point and form a smooth joint with the edges thereof, and a
chamber arranged upon the underside of the body and connected thereto, and a
lamp located in the chamber beneath the aperture.
3 In a speculum, the combination with a hollow body open upon its rear end
and having a perforated point upon its opposite extremity, of a plug having
raised portions upon its surface corresponding to the apertures in the point and
adapted to fill the same to conform with the contour of the latter, and a chamber
upon the underside of the body, and an aperture in the side thereof communicat-
ing with the chamber, and the lamp in the chamber beneath the aperture.
4. In a speculum, the combination with a hollow body open upon its rear end,
and having a plate or disc mounted thereon, and a perforated point upon its
opposite extremity, of a plug mounted upon a handle and adapted to close the
apertures in the point, and capable of removal through the body of the instru-
ment, and a chamber formed upon the underside of the body, the aperture between
the body and chamber, and a lamp adapted to be inserted within the latter and
arranged below the aperture
5 In a speculum, the combination with a hollow body having a plate or disc
mounted upon its rear end, of a pivotally connected magnifying attachment
arranged in line with the center of the body and capable of being turned to the
Ride, said body having a perforated pointed end, of the plug closing the apertures
in the point, the chamber formed upon the underside of the body, the apertura
connecting the former with the latter, and the lamp located in the chamber
Dated this 22nd day of October 1899
BOULT, WADE, & KILBURN,
Agents for the Applicant