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Design and manufacturing aspects of a vaginal speculum of antiquity, as investigated by computer tomographies

This paper presents the investigation of a vaginal speculum, found during excavations in Dion, Greece, by means of computer tomographies. Based on this technique, the solid geometry of the structural elements of this medical instrument was reconstructed and a simulation of its operating mechanism was further conducted. Additionally important design and manufacturing data related to the vaginal speculum mechanism and its parts were obtained. The analysis provides various significant insights and further documents utilization of high level technical mechanical engineering procedures and technological sophistication in the Hellenic antiquity period.