Speculum blade extender
View Patent ↗A speculum blade extender apparatus including a body composed of semi-rigid reusable material with first and second walls separated from and coupled together to form a cavity and extending laterally to form opposing lateral lips and extending distally to form a distal lip, such that the contact surface area of the speculum blade is increased, resulting in more efficient and accurate examinations and addressing patient and medical practitioner concerns, collectively.
1. A speculum blade extension apparatus comprising:
a body of semi-rigid, reusable material having a proximal end portion spaced from a closed distal end portion along a longitudinal axis,
the body including a first wall separated from and coupled to a second wall to form a cavity,
the cavity having an opening located at the proximal end portion of the body,
the cavity having opposing lateral boundaries and a distal boundary such that a speculum blade inserted therein is limited from movement,
the first wall coupled to the second wall along the lateral boundaries and the distal boundary to form a compound closed surface,
the compound closed surface extending laterally beyond the opposing lateral boundaries of the cavity to form opposing lateral lips that extend at least 2.0 cm beyond the lateral boundaries of the cavity in opposing directions, such that the contact surface area of speculum blade is increased,
the compound closed surface further extending longitudinally beyond the distal boundary of the cavity to form a distal lip that extends at least 2.0 cm beyond the distal boundary of the cavity, such that the contact surface area of speculum blade is increased,
the opposing lateral lips decreasing in thickness uniformly creating tapered lateral edges,
the distal lip decreasing in thickness uniformly creating a tapered distal edge.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the body is composed of semi-rigid, heat resistant, reusable, sterilizable material.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the material is translucent material.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the material is opaque material.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the distal lip and opposing lateral lips terminate in a tapered edge.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the distal lip and opposing lateral lips terminate in a blunt edge.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the opposing lateral lips extend for a shorter length at distal boundary of extender than at proximal boundaries.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the opposing lateral lips are shaped such that a plano-convex surface area is formed.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the distal lip is shaped such that a piano-convex surface area is formed.