Orchid Speculum Standard - Single-Use Medical Speculum for Gynaecology

Orchid Spec – Single-Use Medical Speculum for Gynecology

The Orchid Spec is the clinically trusted, single-use medical speculum designed to optimise gynecological examinations by making cervical procedures safer, smoother, and faster. Developed in close collaboration with leading women’s health specialists, the Orchid Spec represents a complete redesign of the traditional device, moving beyond outdated technology and maximizing user functionality and patient comfort.

The Orchid Spec is widely adopted, being used by 95% of Dutch hospitals and 35% of NHS trusts in the UK. Over 90% of Dutch hospitals use the Orchid Spec five years after its launch.

Key Features of the Standard Orchid Speculum

The design, reimagined by industrial designer Bob Roeloffs, focuses on providing optimal ease of use and innovative patient-friendly comfort.

• Faster Procedures: The device facilitates a 50% faster procedure. It allows for single-handed operation and locking.
• Enhanced Safety: As a sterile, single-use speculum, it eliminates the risk of cross-contamination, which significantly reduces liability for hospitals.
• Patient Comfort: The plastic material does not feel cold, avoiding the thermal shock associated with metal specula, meaning no preheating is required. The design is "friendlier," featuring soft rounded edges. A key design element is the gap between the blades, which prevents undesirable "pinching" of protruding tissue.
• Unbreakable Strength: The speculum is designed with excellent product strength through optimized engineering. It is virtually unbreakable plastic and was tested at the NHS Surgical Materials Testing Laboratory (SMTL) testing facility to resist breakage.
• Simplified Handling: The hands are free after placement due to the reduced weight and optimized design. Inwardly folded edges facilitate optimal Cervix orientation and allow for simplified inspection and manipulation.

Standard Speculum Sizes

The standard Orchid Speculum is available in four sizes, catering to different patient needs:

1. Virgo
2. Medium
3. Wide
4. Long

Colour Options: White vs. Clear

The standard speculum is offered in both Clean White and Crystal Clear versions.

• White Speculum (The Doctor's Choice): Most doctors prefer the white speculum. Research demonstrates specific advantages to white plastic, including vastly improved light reflection and visibility for examination. Using a white surface can help avoid misdiagnosis, which can occur when diagnosing through a clear speculum due to local tissue depression and discolouration. Additionally, patients perceive white instruments as high quality, hygienic, and friendly.
• Clear Speculum: The clear vaginal speculum provides a visible advantage for specific indications, such as inspecting sutures or bleeding.

The Eco-Friendly Alternative

For hospitals seeking further reduction in environmental impact, the Orchid Spec Bio is available. This eco-friendly BioBased Speculum range maintains all the benefits of the standard Orchid Speculum while being manufactured from BioBased material that has an up to 7x lower CO2 footprint compared to other disposable brands. The production and disposal of the Orchid Spec are less environmentally impacting than the sterilization process required for reusable specula.