Surgery – Female reproductory tract shields – supports – or birth... – Pessaries
Patent
1997-06-02
1998-07-28
Dawson, Glenn K.
Surgery
Female reproductory tract shields, supports, or birth...
Pessaries
606119, A61F 0606, A61B 1742
Patent
active
057850534
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an inserter for the positioning of an intrauterine device. The invention also relates to an assembly of the inserter and the intrauterine device.
An intrauterine contraceptive device (also called an intrauterine device or IUD) in common use is a T-shaped object fabricated of plastic material, which object consists of an elongate member having at one end a transverse member comprising two wings, the elongate member and the transverse member forming a substantially T-shaped piece when the device is positioned in the uterus. The elongate member has a copper wire wound partly around it, said wire being capable of releasing copper ions. The device has an attached thread long enough to protrude out of the cervical canal when the device is in position in the uterus. The device is introduced into the uterus by means of a separate inserter, the device being in a contracted state during insertion in order to facilitate the introduction of the device through the cervical canal. The tips of the wings of the transverse member are hemispherical in order to facilitate the introduction of the device, contained within the inserter, through the cervical canal.
In addition to T-shaped IUD's also devices shaped like a ring, a "7" or an "S", for example, are known.
Also IUD's capable of releasing hormones or other active agents exist, and they are used either for contraception or for the treatment of hormonal troubles.
Several types of inserters exist for the positioning of intrauterine devices. The most common inserter for T-shaped IUD's consists of a plunger with a handle, inside a protective tube. Preparative to the positioning the device in the uterus, the IUD, which is located at the end of the plunger, is retracted towards the handle so that the device enters the tube, and the wings of the transverse member of the device bend towards each other. Then the protecting tube with its contained IUD are introduced through the cervical canal. When the device is correctly positioned it is released by retracting the protecting tube towards the outside. The wings of the transverse member then expand, and the device assumes the shape of a "T".
A contraceptive device, which is available on the market and which releases levonorgestrel, consists of a T-shaped IUD having an elongate member fabricated of polyethylene equipped with a reservoir adjusted around it and containing the hormone levonorgestrel. The device is sold in sterile packaging together with the inserter with the plunger, which is a solid piece, contained within the protecting tube. The T-shaped device is positioned at the forward end of the plunger with the hormone-containing elongate member protected by the tube. The wings of the transverse member, on the other hand, are expanded in order to prevent fatigue. The strings by which the T-shaped device is retracted towards the outside run between the plunger and the protective tube and end at the end of the handle. FIG. 1 illustrates one such device. The T-shaped IUD's having an elongate member wound with copper wire are packaged in a similar manner.
A problem associated with the inserters of T-shaped devices containing active compounds regards the attainment of the correct positioning of the IUD within the protective tube. The difficulty is due to the greater diameter of the elongate member of these devices as compared to the copper wire-containing IUD, which means that the diameter of the protective tube also is greater. The hemispherical end pieces of the wings of the transverse member are small in relation to the diameter of the protective tube. It is therefore extremely important that these end pieces are in the exactly correct position in relation to the edge of the protective tube at the moment of introducing the device in the uterus. FIG. 2A shows an example of the correct positioning of the T-shaped device in the protective tube of the inserter. If the IUD is pulled into the protective tube by means of the removal string, which is the case with the devices descri
REFERENCES:
patent: 3678947 (1972-07-01), Soichet
patent: 3750661 (1973-08-01), Knoch
patent: 4026281 (1977-05-01), Mayberry et al.
patent: 4143656 (1979-03-01), Holmes
patent: 4353363 (1982-10-01), Quesada
patent: 4721105 (1988-01-01), Wildemeersch
Conway John
Gardner Richard
Lehtinen Matti
Macandrew John
Paton Michael
Dawson Glenn K.
Leiras Oy
LandOfFree
Inserter for the positioning of an intrauterine device does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Inserter for the positioning of an intrauterine device, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Inserter for the positioning of an intrauterine device will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-15244