A vaginal speculum
By designing an inflatable balloon and a vaginal speculum made of transparent silicone material, the problems of mucosal pain and blind spots caused by traditional speculum have been solved. It achieves adaptive fitting of the vagina and cervix and expands the field of vision, improving the comfort and accuracy of gynecological examinations.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- NINGBO MEDICAL CENT LIHUILI HOSPITACL
- Filing Date
- 2025-04-10
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-29
AI Technical Summary
Traditional speculum speculum can easily cause mucosal traction pain when opening the vagina, especially in young, nulliparous women. The routine dilation exceeds the tissue tolerance threshold, resulting in mechanical dilation pain. In addition, the mesh support structure cannot be completely fitted at the cervix or at different stages of the lesion, creating blind spots in the examination.
A vaginal speculum with an inflatable balloon was designed. The balloon is made of transparent silicone material with a lubricant on the surface. The size and shape can be adjusted by inflation to adapt to the vagina and cervix. Combined with the transparent silicone material and the curved tube of the imaging channel, the field of view is improved and the blind spot of lesions is reduced.
It improves the self-adaptive fit of the vagina and cervix, reduces discomfort during the examination, and enhances the comfort and accuracy of the examination, especially in cases of vaginal deformation after cervical cancer radiotherapy, ensuring the integrity and comprehensiveness of the examination.
Smart Images
Figure CN224291879U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of medical device technology, and in particular to a vaginal speculum. Background Technology
[0002] The vaginal speculum is a core instrument in gynecological examinations. Traditional speculums use mechanical dilation to expose the vagina, but the rigid metal structure can easily cause mucosal traction pain during the dilation process. Most patients experience burning pain, tearing sensation and other discomfort after the examination, especially among young women who have not yet given birth. The conventional dilation range of traditional speculums often exceeds the tissue tolerance threshold, resulting in the long-term clinical pain point of "mechanical dilation pain".
[0003] Chinese invention patent application CN118749888A discloses a vaginal speculum, relating to the field of medical device technology. It includes multiple mesh supports and connecting components installed at the joints of the mesh supports, as well as traction and expansion components installed inside the mesh supports. This design offers advantages such as adaptability and ease of use. The mesh supports and expansion components are compact in their contracted state, facilitating user insertion. The expansion components open the mesh supports through injection, making operation simple and convenient. The slow opening process minimizes user discomfort, improving the ease and comfort of use. However, the uniform expansion pattern of its mesh structure cannot completely adhere to the vagina or cervix in diseased or different stages, resulting in blind spots during examination. Utility Model Content
[0004] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to provide a vaginal speculum that can adaptively fit the vagina and cervix during examination, which have significant individual differences, making gynecological examinations more comfortable and comprehensive.
[0005] The technical solution adopted by this utility model to solve the above-mentioned technical problems is as follows: a vaginal speculum includes a catheter, an inflatable balloon is fixedly sleeved on one end of the catheter for entering the vagina, the tightened end of the balloon is tightly fitted to the outer surface of the catheter, an inflation channel and an imaging channel are provided inside the catheter, one end of the inflation channel is closed and the other end is connected to the inside of the balloon, an trachea is integrally provided on the end of the catheter exposed to the human body, one end of the trachea is connected to a medical air source and the other end is connected to the inflation channel, and both ends of the imaging channel are open and one end is located inside the balloon.
[0006] Furthermore, the imaging channel has a curved tube at one end that enters the vagina, and the curved tube is located inside the balloon.
[0007] Furthermore, an air valve is connected to the trachea, the first air port of the air valve is connected to a medical air source, and the second air port of the air valve is connected to the trachea.
[0008] Furthermore, the balloon is made of transparent silicone material, and its surface is coated with medical lubricant.
[0009] Furthermore, an operating ring or operating handle is fixed at the end of the catheter exposed in the human body.
[0010] Furthermore, the outer surface of the operating ring is provided with anti-slip texture.
[0011] Compared with existing technologies, the advantages of this invention are: by adjusting the size and shape of the balloon through inflation pressure, it can adaptively fit the vagina and cervix, improving the cervical exposure integrity rate and adapting to extreme anatomical variations such as vaginal fornix deformation after cervical cancer radiotherapy; the transparent silicone balloon works in conjunction with the curved tube of the imaging channel to improve the field of view, reduce lesion blind spots, and improve the accuracy of gynecological examinations; the outer diameter of the uninflated balloon is not much different from that of the catheter, and the outer surface of the balloon is coated with medical lubricant, thereby reducing discomfort when entering the vagina and promoting the development of painless gynecological diagnosis and treatment. Attached Figure Description
[0012] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the present invention;
[0013] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the present invention;
[0014] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram showing the state of the present invention before it enters the human body;
[0015] Figure 4 This is a diagram showing the usage state of this utility model;
[0016] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the operating handle of this utility model. Detailed Implementation
[0017] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.
[0018] like Figure 1-4As shown, a vaginal speculum is used in conjunction with an endoscope 6. The vaginal speculum includes a catheter 1, with an inflatable balloon 2 fixedly fitted at the end of the catheter 1 for insertion into the vagina. The balloon 2 is made of transparent silicone material, and its surface is coated with medical lubricant. The tightening end 21 of the balloon 2 is tightly fitted to the outer surface of the catheter 1. When the balloon 2 is not inflated, it is almost in contact with the outer surface of the catheter 1. Its small overall diameter and the medical lubricant facilitate insertion into the vagina and reduce pain. The catheter 1 contains an inflation channel 11 and an imaging channel 12. One end of the inflation channel 11 is closed, and the other end is connected to the interior of the balloon 2. An endotracheal tube 3 is integrally formed on the end of the catheter 1 that is not inserted into the vagina. One end of the endotracheal tube 3 is connected to the inflation channel 11, and the other end is connected to... The air valve 4 has a first air port 41 connected to a medical gas source and a second air port 42 connected to a trachea 3. Medical gas enters the balloon 2 from the outside through the air valve 4, trachea 3, and inflation channel 11, inflating the balloon 2 and creating space for the endoscope 6 to observe. The two ends of the imaging channel 12 are connected. A curved tube 121 is provided at the end of the imaging channel 12 that enters the vagina. The curved tube 121 is located inside the balloon 2. The lens end of the endoscope 6 passes through the imaging channel 12 and then exits through the curved tube 121. The design of the curved tube 121 enables the endoscope 6 to achieve a wide field of view coverage, which improves the field of view range compared to traditional endoscopes. An operating ring 5 is fixed at the end of the catheter 1 that is exposed in the human body. The outer surface of the operating ring 5 is provided with anti-slip texture 51.
[0019] like Figure 5 As shown, an operating handle 7 is fixed at the end of the catheter 1 that is exposed on the human body.
[0020] Instructions for use: First insert catheter 1 into the vagina, then inflate balloon 2. Insert endoscope 6 into imaging channel 12 until an image appears on endoscope 6, then begin the examination. Rotate operating ring 5 or operating handle 7 to rotate the curved tube 121, changing the imaging angle of endoscope 6 for a comprehensive examination.
[0021] The air valve 4 used in this embodiment is a known technology and will not be described in detail here.
[0022] The scope of protection of this utility model includes, but is not limited to, the above embodiments. The scope of protection of this utility model is defined by the claims. Any substitutions, modifications, or improvements to this technology that are easily conceived by those skilled in the art shall fall within the scope of protection of this utility model.
Claims
1. A vaginal speculum, characterized in that, The device includes a catheter with an inflatable balloon fixedly fitted at one end for insertion into the vagina. The constricted end of the balloon is tightly fitted to the outer surface of the catheter. The catheter contains an inflation channel and an imaging channel. One end of the inflation channel is closed, and the other end is connected to the interior of the balloon. An integral trachea is provided on the end of the catheter exposed to the human body. One end of the trachea is connected to a medical air source, and the other end is connected to the inflation channel. Both ends of the imaging channel are open, with one end located inside the balloon.
2. A vaginal speculum as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The imaging channel has a curved tube at one end that enters the vagina, and the curved tube is located inside the balloon.
3. A vaginal speculum as described in claim 1, characterized in that, An air valve is connected to the trachea. The first air port of the air valve is connected to a medical air source, and the second air port of the air valve is connected to the trachea.
4. A vaginal speculum as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The balloon is made of transparent silicone material, and its surface is coated with medical lubricant.
5. A vaginal speculum as described in claim 1, characterized in that, An operating ring or operating handle is fixed at the end of the catheter exposed in the human body.
6. A vaginal speculum as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The outer surface of the operating ring is provided with anti-slip texture.