Abstract: A vaginal speculum having a handle portion and a set of blade pairs some of which can be removably attached to the distal end of the handle and others can be slidingly inserted through the proximal end of the handle. Both pairs of the blades have snapping engagement with one and the same locking mechanism of the handle. The handle may constitute a permanent part, and the blades may be replaceable.

Abstract: The invention relates to a combination of a vaginal speculum with a single-lens colposcope for use in a screening process for detecting mucosal abnormalities of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or invasive cancer, e.g., in the vaginal cavity or on the external parts of the genitalia, as an addition to a Pap Smear screening process. The vaginal speculum is identical to a conventional speculum in its shape, dimensions, and function and differs from a conventional instrument only by having on the inner surface of the lower blade a small projection with a slot for guiding a single-loop colposcope. The latter consists of a tubular rod that can be slidingly inserted into the aforementioned slot and support on its distal end an optical lens. The lens may have a central opening for insertion of surgical instruments, e.g., a biopsy sampler. The proximal end of the tubular rod may support a rubber bulb for suction fluids from the distal end of the lower blade via the tubular rod.

Abstract: A universal pot and pan lid holder is composed of two cylindrical segments having through aligned circular slots and radial outward projections. The projection of one of the segments passes through the circular slot of the other segment and vise verse. The side edges of the cylindrical segments, which face each other, define an opening between them for access to the interior of the holder. In an assembled state of the segments they form a substantially cylindrical body with open ends and an access opening in the side of the body, so that the holder can rest on a support surface with its lower edge and provide the upper edge for temporary supporting pot or pan covers or lids during cooking. The diameter of the cylindrical body should be smaller than the diameter of the lids to be supported.

Abstract: The method of the invention for measuring positions and dimensions of vaginal prolapses is carried out with the use of a vaginal speculum having at least one removable with a scale. Measurements are carried out by manipulating the pivotally connected parts and the removable blade by inserting the moveable blade into the vagina of a female patient until contact with the reference point, e.g., the top of the cervix, and reading the number on the scale for determining the distance L1 from the reference point to the top of the cervix. The speculum is then withdrawn in a direction away from the cervix and expanded by rotating the pivotal parts for exposing the wall of the vagina on the side of the completely removable blade for observation. The exposed prolapse is evaluated with regard to its severity. The removable blade is shifted to the tip of the prolapse, and the distance L2 from the reference point to the tip of the prolapse is determined with the use of the scale.

Abstract: The invention relates to a combination of a vaginal speculum with a single-lens colposcope for use in a screening process for detecting mucosal abnormalities of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or invasive cancer, e.g., in the vaginal cavity or on the external parts of the genitalia, as an addition to a Pap Smear screening process. The vaginal speculum is identical to a conventional speculum in its shape, dimensions, and function and differs from a conventional instrument only by having on the inner surface of the lower blade a small projection with a slot for guiding a single-loop colposcope. The latter consists of a tubular rod that can be slidingly inserted into the aforementioned slot and support on its distal end an optical lens. The lens may have a central opening for insertion of surgical instruments, e.g., a biopsy sampler. The proximal end of the tubular rod may support a rubber bulb for suction fluids from the distal end of the lower blade via the tubular rod.

Abstract: A universal pot and pan lid holder in the form of an open-top cylindrical body having at least one portion of its cylindrical side wall removable for access to the interior of the body from its side. The diameter of the cylindrical body should be smaller than the diameter of the lids to be supported. The removable portion has on its outer surface radial outward projections. For use as a lid support, the holder is placed onto the table or counter top with its open side up, the removable portion is removed from the cylindrical body and is placed onto the table or counter top, using the aforementioned radial projections as supports for the removed portion. When necessary, the hot or fatty pot or pan lid is placed during cooking onto the open top side of the cylindrical body with the internal (pot or pan covering) side of the lid facing up. Since the internal side of the lid faces up, dripping from the lid to the support surface is completely prevented. The cylindrical side wall may have two removable portions.

Abstract: A vaginal speculum consists of two pivotally interconnected disconnectable parts. Each part slidingly supports a movable blade moveable in the longitudinal direction of the speculum. In addition to longitudinal movement, one of the blades can be moved circumferentially. Each blade can be completely withdrawn from the speculum, even during the procedure, i.e., without removing the speculum from the vagina. As a result, the same speculum can be used in procedures requiring both as well as only one blade. Furthermore, the entire upper part of the speculum, i.e., the guide portion together with the removable blade, can be completely disconnected from the speculum without removing the latter from the vagina. The remaining lower part can be used as a spatula. Circumferential displacement of one of the blades in both directions makes it possible to observe the vaginal cavity over the entire periphery without rotating the entire speculum or replacing it with another tool.

Abstract: A female urethral catheter for self-catheterization with catheter guiding means comprising: a tubular catheter body having a distal end for insertion into the patient's urinary bladder through the urethra, said distal end having a urine inlet opening; an opened proximal end not insertable into the urethra and used for discharging the urine taken from the urinary bladder; a sterile infection protective cap slidingly fit onto said distal end of said catheter, said cap having a slit on its distal end for possibility of pushing said catheter through said sterile tip into the bladder without physical contact of the catheter with the infectious front part of the urethra; and a combined mirror and catheter attachment means on the distal end of said cap to facilitate the patient in finding the position of the urethra meatus and for attachment of the catheter to the patient's after insertion of the cap into the urethra.

Abstract: The method of the invention for measuring positions and dimensions of vaginal prolapses is carried out with the use of a vaginal speculum having at least one removable with a scale. Measurements are carried out by manipulating the pivotally connected parts and the removable blade by inserting the moveable blade into the vagina of a female patient until contact with the reference point, e.g., the top of the cervix, and reading the number on the scale for determining the distance L1 from the reference point to the top of the cervix. The speculum is then withdrawn in a direction away from the cervix and expanded by rotating the pivotal parts for exposing the wall of the vagina on the side of the completely removable blade for observation. The exposed prolapse is evaluated with regard to its severity. The removable blade is shifted to the tip of said prolapse, and the distance L2from the reference point to the tip of the prolapse is determined with the use of the scale.

Abstract: An inflatable vaginal pessary of the invention, which can be mechanically inserted into and removed from the patient's vagina, comprises a tapered body inflatable at its large-diameter side and having an axial channel inflation of the pessary. This channel passes from the small-diameter end to the inflatable chamber and has a check valve at the outer end of the channel for inflation of the pessary. The pessary can be connected to and disconnected from a mechanism for insertion and removal of the pessary into and from the vaginal cavity. This mechanism has a hollow tubular housing with a funnel-like finder for engagement with the tapered end of the pessary. On the bottom of the finder the pessary installation mechanism has a threaded tubular stem that could be screwed into the threaded opening on the tapered end of the pessary.

Abstract: A vaginal speculum consisting of two blades pivotally interconnected through a fork-like member so that the blades can be expanded and fixed in an expanded state in order to dilate the vagina for observing the condition of the vaginal cavity. The device is characterized by having a removable ruler, which slides in guides formed on the inner surface of at least one of the blades and can be withdrawn partially or completely or shifted forward beyond the limits of the distal end of the blade. The ruler has a scale applied onto its surface. The blade is made from metal or a transparent plastic and also may have a scale for use separately or in combination with the scale of the ruler. The vaginal speculum with a removable ruler can be used for measuring severity and positions of vaginal prolapses or for other measurements associated with urological or gynecological procedures without the use of additional instruments.

Abstract: A universal pot and pan lid holder in the form of an open-top cylindrical body having at least one portion of its cylindrical side wall removable for access to the interior of the body from its side. The diameter of the cylindrical body should be smaller than the diameter of the lids to be supported. The removable portion has on its outer surface radial outward projections. For use as a lid support, the holder is placed onto the table or counter top with its open side up, the removable portion is removed from the cylindrical body and is placed onto the table or counter top, using the aforementioned radial projections as supports for the removed portion. When necessary, the hot or fatty pot or pan lid is placed during cooking onto the open top side of the cylindrical body with the internal (pot or pan covering) side of the lid facing up. Since the internal side of the lid faces up, dripping from the lid to the support surface is completely prevented. The cylindrical side wall may have two removable portions.

Abstract: An optical system comprising a first array of individual beam shaping elements and a second array of beam shaping elements placed between a light source, e.g., a linear array of individual laser diodes and a reshaped beam receiver, e.g., an optical fiber cable. The inhomogeneous beams emitted from the laser diodes are passed in sequence through the first and second stages so that the first stage reshaped the cross section of the beam, e.g., in the fast-axis direction and the second stage reshapes the cross section of the beam, e.g., in the slow-axis direction. As a result, the output beams of the system may have a cross section reshaped to any desired configuration, e.g., suitable for inputting into the optical fiber cable and having divergences individually adjusted in mutually perpendicular directions.

Abstract: A vaginal speculum consisting of two blades pivotally interconnected through a fork-like member so that the blades can be expanded and fixed in an expanded state in order to dilate the vagina for observing the condition of the vagina cavity. The device is characterized by having adjustable blades, which can be withdrawn partially or completely for replacement with blades of other dimensions without withdrawing the entire speculum from the vagina. In a closed state, the distal ends of the blades form a bifocal lens, which can be used for visually detecting changes, associated with an earlier stage of cancer or erosion. Provision of retractable blades makes it possible for a physician to withdraw the blades in an alternating sequence for exposing one of the walls of the vagina cavity by pressing down with the longer blade on the opposite wall.

Abstract: A vaginal speculum consists of two pivotally interconnected disconnectable parts. Each part slidingly supports a movable blade moveable in the longitudinal direction of the speculum. In addition to longitudinal movement, one of the blades can be moved circumferentially. Each blade can be completely withdrawn from the speculum, even during the procedure, i.e., without removing the speculum from the vagina. As a result, the same speculum can be used in procedures requiring both as well as only one blade. Furthermore, the entire upper part of the speculum, i.e., the guide portion together with the removable blade, can be completely disconnected from the speculum without removing the latter from the vagina. The remaining lower part can be used as a spatula. Circumferential displacement of one of the blades in both directions makes it possible to observe the vaginal cavity over the entire periphery without rotating the entire speculum or replacing it with another tool.

Abstract: A multiple-cell plasma source consists of a pair of perforated plate-like cathodes and a perforated plate-like anode between the both cathode plates. Perforations in all three plates are coaxial and form a plurality of cells in which a Penning discharge plasma is generated due to the passage of axial components of the magnetic field through the individual cells. Since in all cells the plasma flow components are generated and work independently, there are no limitations for an increase in the surface area of the upper cathode plate, which has plasma emitting holes, so that the plasma source can treat objects of a large surface area. The plasma source of the invention has various means for controlling and adjusting the plasma pattern, distribution, parameters, and shape.

Abstract: A cold-cathode type ion-beam source with a closed-loop ion-emitting slit and electrons drifting in crosses electric and magnetic fields is characterized by the absence of a metal anode which is replaced by a pair of positively charged bodies, such as concentric rings of a conductive material which are located inside a hollow housing of the ion source and are connected to a source of a positive potential. The ion-emitting slit is located between these rings in an upstream position in the direction of propagation of the ion beam. Replacement of a metallic anode with an anodic plasma, i.e., with a “virtual anode”, which is formed by a Penning-type discharge, descreases contamination of the ion beam by products of erosion of a metallic anode and increases the ion beam current, which results in more effective ionization of the workout gas.

Abstract: The invention provides a multiple-cell ion-beam source in which magnetic poles of all adjacent cells have alternating polarities, i.e., the cells arranged in a single row from the center to the periphery of the cathode plate have polarities in the order of N-S-N-S-N . . . , etc. As a result, the direction of magnetic lines of forces in the aforementioned rows alternates, and therefore the magnetic flux is not accumulated towards the center. This means that the source of such a construction does not have dimensional limitations and ensures uniform distribution of the ion-beam current density over the entire surface of the object. Intensity of the magnetic field for each individual cell can be controlled individually. This allows adjustment in the distribution of the ion-beam current density over the surface of the object.

Abstract: The invention provides a sputtering system which consists of an ion beam and a target of a sputterable material. A distinguishing feature of the system of the invention is that the sputtering target forms a guide channel for an ion beam and sputtered particles, so that a portion of the ions collides with the walls of the target inside a closed volume of the target and forms neutral sputterable particles impinging the object. The other part of the ions goes directly to the object and participates in an ion-assisted overcoating. Thus, the special form of the target improves efficiency of sputtering, prevents scattering and the loss of the sputterable material. The system can be realized in various embodiments. One of the embodiments provides a multiple-cell system in which each cell has an individual ion-emitting slit formed by the end of a cathode rod of one cathode plate and the opening in the second cathode plate.

Abstract: A multiple-beam ion-beam assembly consisting of two or more concentrically arranged ring-shaped ion-beam sources having ion-beam slits that emit a plurality of ion beams which overlap on the surface being treated and thus ensure uniformity in distribution of ion currents on the treated surface. Since the ion-beam assembly consists of a plurality of individual source, uniform treatment can be performed on a large surface area. Several embodiments of the invention cover the systems with individual sources adjustable with respect to one another, with an oblique angle of incidence of beams emitted from individual source, and with combination of oblique angles and adjustable sources.