Patent ID: 8690767

Claim:
A speculum comprising: a body; an opening; a first blade and a second blade that are each secured to the body at opposed sides of the opening, wherein the first blade is pivotally secured with respect to the body and movable between a first retracted position in which the first blade lies adjacent to the second blade and a second extended position in which it is spaced apart from the second blade; and a mechanism configured to move the first blade from the first position to the second position, the mechanism comprising a member that is movable along a path that lies outside the opening and wherein the member is configured to move the first blade from the retracted to the extended position as it moves along the said path, wherein, when the first blade is in the extended position, there is an inspection channel formed that extends through the opening and between the blades; wherein the first blade is pivotable with respect to the body and the second blade is integral with the body and wherein the first blade is pivotally connected to the body by an opposed pair of hinge pins that engage in corresponding sockets; wherein the movable member is provided on a ring that is rotatable along the path that lies outside the opening and wherein said ring has a cam surface; wherein as the ring is rotated in a first direction by one hand of the user an end of the first blade engages the cam surface to pivot the first blade with respect to the body from the first retracted position to the second extended position; and wherein as the ring is rotated in an opposite direction by one hand of the user the first blade pivots back to the first retracted position when the end of the first blade does not engage the cam surface.