Bouquet Speculum

The modern vaginal speculum, shaped like a duck's bill with two rounded petals, was developed by Dr. J. Marion Sims. While this tool is widely used, it can sometimes cause discomfort for patients during gynecological exams. Some common issues include:

• Pinching sensation when the speculum is closed and removed.
• Discomfort or pain if the wrong size is used.
• Feelings of vulnerability during longer exams, especially if the doctor has trouble seeing the cervix clearly

These challenges motivated Dr. Bouquet, a family physician, to invent a novel plastic, single-use speculum, that opens up radially, holding back the vaginal walls evenly with its 5 petals. This innovative mechanism prevents collapsing of the vaginal walls and allows for an unobstructed view of the complete cervix, faster than commonly used specula allowed. A reusable pen-size LED light can be attached to the speculum’s handle and optimizes the visualization of the cervix. This mitigates the need for a floor lamp that must be continually repositioned to see all of the anatomy.

The Bouquet speculum has been extensively used with key clinicians in Kenya and Cameroon who are dedicated to Cervical Cancer prevention and treatment and to assure women have access to adequate and respectful gynecologic care. Their positive feedback and excitement about using the Bouquet speculum is improving their patient’s experience and streamlining clinic operations.