Abstract: A combination fish scaling and dressing device having a handle portion with roughened outer surfaces and an extendible and retractable knife enclosed within said handle, said knife being manually retracted and extended by a thumb or finger activated button attached to said blade and extending through the housing. A modification has an open blade fixed in the handle with a roughened surface on one or more portions of the handle.

Abstract: A surgical instrument adapted to probe body orifices of different sizes is disclosed. The instrument comprises a post defining a central axis and a plurality of separate probe members mounted in a side-by-side arrangement axially along the post. The probe members rotate freely and individually around the post axis. Each probe member comprises a mounting portion having a transverse opening receiving the post, and an elongate dilator extending radially outwardly from the mounting portion. Each dilator has a size different from that of the other dilators in the instrument. Means are provided for maintaining the axial positioning of the probe members on the post.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for obtaining specimens of endometrial tissue and which comprises an elongate tubular member having a forward end adapted to be inserted into the cervical opening, and a curettage member slideably and rotatably disposed within the tubular member. The curettage member has a blade portion at the forward end and a crank at the rearward end, whereby the blade portion may be advanced into the uterine cavity and rotated about the axis of the cavity to sever tissue specimens along substantially the full length of the cavity. Also, the tubular member includes a connector for coupling a syringe, whereby a solution may be injected into the uterine cavity and subsequently aspirated back into the syringe along with the entrained severed tissue specimens.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing an electrosurgical operative procedure which is particularly useful in sterilizing a human female by cutting and coagulating the fallopian tubes. The procedure includes inserting an active terminal of an electrosurgical apparatus through the abdominal wall, and inserting the ground terminal through the vagina and into the uterine cavity. Thus when the surgical current is applied to the fallopian tubes, the current travels a very short distance through the body to the ground terminal to thereby reduce the possibility of burns or other injury which is often associated with the use of conventional ground plates which contact the exterior surface of the patient's body. Also, the ground terminal may include means for manipulating the uterus into an anterior position to facilitate the visualization of the uterus and fallopian tubes by the surgeon through a laparoscope.

Abstract: An apparatus for moving a retroverted uterus to an anterior position to facilitate visualization of the uterus during laparoscopic procedures and the like. The apparatus comprises an elongate rod having an arcuately curved manipulating arm pivotally mounted at the forward end of the rod. The arm is adapted to be inserted into the uterine cavity, and may then be manually pivoted into an upright position to reposition the uterus by manipulating a lever arm carried at the rearward end of the rod. The apparatus is adapted to be releasably attached to a standard tenaculum so as to become self-retained after the arm is inserted in the uterine cavity, and a latch is provided for releasably locking the arm in the repositioned setting.