A combination of disposable medical instruments is provided which can be used when performing an abortion including a speculum comprising metal jaw members and disposable plastic tip members. The plastic tip members are fitted on the jaw members in snap-fit relationship and are shaped so that they adequately expose the cervix and tend to bring it forward toward the vaginal opening. A disposable curette or cannula for a suction aspirator is also provided and comprises a tube of plastic material which is sufficiently flexible to permit relatively easy bending of the tube during use and yet sufficiently rigid to maintain the desired tubular configuration during such bending. The tube is provided at its operative end with a pair of holes on opposite sides thereof, each of a size sufficient to pass the embryonic tissue therethrough.
This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 65,816, filed Aug. 21, 1970, entitled Medical Instruments now abandoned.
The invention concerns an instrument for retrieval of retracted threads of intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUD), the instrument being characterized by a relatively stiff handle part (1) connected to an archedly curved distal part (2), which has a rounded cross-section, is flexible, and, on its concave surface, is provided with a number of notches at relative distances along the curved distal part (3,4,5) these notches to be used for gripping the threads at the insertion and turning of the instrument within the uterus.
A vacuum sleeve is disclosed for removing severed tissue from a surgical site. The vacuum sleeve is used in conjunction with a surgical appliance having a cutting element and the vacuum sleeve is connected to a vacuum source. The vacuum sleeve includes an elongated body member having a distal and a proximal end. The body member defines an internal passageway which extends between the distal and proximal ends of the body member. The internal passageway removably receives therein the surgical appliance and the distal end of the body member defines a aperture such that when the surgical appliance is disposed within the internal passageway, the cutting element of the surfical appliance extends through the aperture thereby enabling the cutting element to sever tissue from the surgical site. The internal passageway is connected to a vacuum source such that in use of the surgical appliance, when tissue is severed from the surgical site, the severed tissue is drawn from the surgical site through the aperture and along the internal passageway towards the source of vacuum.
A vacuum curet of novel design having a central portion which is tapered and an internal lumen which is preferably also tapered. This provides a curet which is rigid over its central and proximal end (i.e. the end that fits into a vacuum source) and maximal flexibility and small external diameter at its distal end portion. Further advantages of this arrangement are reducing the possibility of perforation (due to the flexibility of the distal end portion), better "feel" (due to the rigidity of the central and proximal end portion), and decreased trauma due to the thin wall thickness of the proximal end portion and a corresponding reduction in outside diameter for a given or required lumen diameter. The lumen of this design may also be mass produced. In an additional embodiment, there is a novel design on the tip openings at the distal end, which further minimizes the possibility of perforation.
An endometrial sampler is provided for obtaining an endometrial sample for clinical analysis which is safe to use and reduces patient discomfort. The sampler includes a handle and a flexible plastic probe having grooves on diametrically opposite sides adjacent the distal end of the probe. Each groove has a pair of sharp edges with each edge formed at the intersection of the periphery of the probe and a sidewall of the groove with the two forming an acute angle at their intersection. The probe is of solid plastic, relatively small in diameter and can be bent before insertion into the uterus of a patient to reduce patient discomfort.
The invention relates to a vaginal speculum comprising two spoon blades, which are intended for insertion into the vagina, and which are elongated and are located along side and opposite one another;--are mutually hinging in a clamped plane and through the longitudinal direction between a closed and open position; in which a handle is provided with operating means, in which the speculum is constructed in modular fashion with a first and a second module, the first module comprising the spoon blades, and the second module comprising the handle, and in which--the speculum further comprises transmission means that connect the operating means to the spoon blades, for opening and/or closing the spoon blades by means of the operating means; and in which--the speculum comprises connecting means, for connecting the first and second module together is a disconnectable manner. The invention also relates to an assembly comprising a second module for a vaginal speculum and two or more first modules for a vaginal speculum, the two or more first modules comprising at least two first modules with mutually differing dimensions.
