The crowdfunding campaign for the development of an alternative to the speculum (also known as a duckbill) has raised the target amount of 100,000 euros. The amount rose to over a ton within a few hours on Friday evening.
The speculum is an instrument that doctors use for gynecological examinations. Some women experience anxiety or pain during such vaginal examinations.
With a new type of instrument, Tamara Hoveling and Ariadna Izcara Gual from TU Delft want to make vaginal examinations, such as Pap smears or procedures such as inserting an IUD, less unpleasant.
The alternative duckbill has three ‘blades’ that are pushed apart by a tube. Both the healthcare provider and the patient themselves can insert the Lilium, as the alternative is called.
With the money raised from the crowdfunding, the researchers want to make the further development of the instrument possible. One of the researchers told the NOS that she hopes the instrument can be brought to market within five years.