Speculum with secondary bills
The disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses relating to a speculum. The speculum includes a handle, a first bill and a second bill, where a proximal end portion of the first bill and the second bill are coupled to an upper portion of the handle and configured to open along a first axis, a third bill and a fourth bill, where a proximal end portion of the third bill and the fourth bill are coupled to the upper portion of the handle and configured to open along a second axis substantially orthogonal to the first axis and an actuation mechanism that causes the first bill and the second bill to move between an open position and a closed position. In some embodiments, the speculum includes a locking mechanism with a rocker mechanism, a lock strip contained in a handle of the speculum, and a pawl coupled to the handle.
1 . A speculum comprising:
a handle comprising:
a distal side configured to accommodate one or more fingers of a user; and
a proximal side opposite the distal side;
a first bill and a second bill, wherein a proximal end portion of the first bill is coupled to an upper portion of the handle, wherein the proximal end portion of the first bill further comprises a window frame defining a viewing window; and
a thumb tab coupled to the window frame, wherein a force in a first direction on the thumb tab causes the first bill to move relative to the second bill and the handle along a first axis between a closed position and an open position, the thumb tab comprising an exterior surface having a lateral curvature to maintain the viewing window for the user, the thumb tab extending from the viewing window to a lower-most portion of the thumb tab; wherein the distal side of the handle is configured to contact with the one or more fingers of the user and the proximal side of the handle is accessible to a palm of the user when the thumb tab is depressed by a thumb of the user; and wherein the distal side of the handle is in contact with the one or more fingers of the user and the proximal side of the handle is accessible to the palm of the user and the thumb of the user; and
a third bill and a fourth bill sized to fit inside the first bill and the second bill in the closed position, wherein a proximal end portion of the third bill and a proximal end portion of the fourth bill are coupled to the upper portion of the handle and configured to open along a second axis orthogonal to the first axis, the third bill and the fourth bill configured to improve the comfort of a patient and improve a line of sight of the user, and wherein
the third bill and the fourth bill are coupled to a slide having a top surface with an indentation configured to match a curvature of the second bill; and
the handle comprising a slide coupler that is configured to receive the slide, wherein the slide is configured to contact the proximal end portion of each of the third bill and the fourth bill and configured to cause outward rotation of the third bill and the fourth bill, thereby causing the third bill and the fourth bill to open.
2 . The speculum of claim 1 , wherein the force in the first direction on the thumb tab further causes the third bill and the fourth bill to move between a closed position and an open position.
3 . The speculum of claim 2 , wherein the third bill and the fourth bill open simultaneously with the first bill and the second bill.
4 . The speculum of claim 1 , further comprising an angle between the handle and at least one of the first and the second bill, wherein when the first and the second bill are in a closed position, the angle is in a range of 100 degrees to 180 degrees.
5 . The speculum of claim 1 , wherein all edges and shape transitions on an outer surface of the handle are rounded.
6 . The speculum of claim 1 , the handle further comprising a gripping portion.
7 . The speculum of claim 6 , wherein the gripping portion comprises at least a portion made of a different material than a material of the speculum.
8 . The speculum of claim 7 , wherein the gripping portion comprises an overmold placed over the handle.
9 . The speculum of claim 1 , further comprising a lighting module.
10 . The speculum of claim 1 , wherein a forward motion of the slide causes the third bill and the fourth bill to open.