Surgery – Female reproductory tract shields – supports – or birth...
Patent
1989-11-17
1991-05-14
Hafer, Robert A.
Surgery
Female reproductory tract shields, supports, or birth...
128839, A61F 606, A61F 614
Patent
active
050147226
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
DESCRIPTION
This invention relates to an intra-uterine contraceptive pessary having parts emitting ions in the uterine cavity and having two spreading arms which are in a straightened out configuration for insertion through the cervical canal into the uterine cavity and which assume an annular configuration for retention in the uterine cavity and which for the purpose of insertion in the straightened configuration and spreading into the annular configuration comprises means for resilient bending of the spreading arms.
In a prior-art (U.S. Pat. No. 40 18 220) intra-uterine pessary of this kind, the two spreading arms form a structure which is open at one point both in the straightened configuration and in the annular configuration. The spreading arms are premoulded into a partly circular bowed shape, consist of plastic and are elastically deformed when straightened out so that on being extended, that is when spreading into an annular configuration, will return into their original shape due to this resilience. Both the use of plastic for the spreading arms and the open configuration, i.e. the free ends of the spreading arms, are liable to be a source of trouble when the intra-uterine pessary is used for an extended period of time. The spread of the arms when in the annular configuration is predetermined so that the intra-uterine pessary will have to be available in many different sizes in order to maintain a good fit in view of the varying width of the uterine cavity.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an intra-uterine pessary of the type initially referred to whose spread can be finely adjusted or controlled while avoiding plastic as a material of the spreading arms and avoiding an open spreading arm configuration. In solving this problem, the intra-uterine pessary according to the invention is characterized in that the spreading arms form a substantially closed structure both in the straightened configuration and in the annular configuration, a third arm extending transversely through the structure engaging at one end the spreading arms and, at the other end, an abutment closure joining the spreading arms and which is adapted to be shortened under mechanical control to change from the straightened configuration to the annular configuration for spreading the device and in that the two spreading arms are formed by metal wire adapted to be deformable elastically during spreading and the abutment closure is located at the spreading arms.
The invention provides an intra-uterine contraceptive pessary whose spread or opening width is controlled to adapt to the specific width of the uterine cavity. The closed annular shape may be longitudinally oval in the direction of the third arm, circular or transversely oval in a direction transverse to the third arm. This closed annular shape unfolds on insertion of the intra-uterine pessary through the cervical canal under mechanical control by means of the third arm which is variable in length in fine steps or steplessly. In the process, the spreading arms assume the desired curved shape and the abutment closure lies outside the cervical canal also within the uterine cavity. The intra-uterine pessary is capable of being controlled to assume an insertion shape and a retention shape which differ from each other.
It is specially desirable and advantageous if the intra-uterine pessary is purely metallic. This can be achieved relatively easily because no plastic need be used for the spreading arms.
In the straightened configuration or substantially straight shape for insertion, the intra-uterine pessary according to the invention is similar to a safetY pin having a third arm added which is adapted to be shortened and extends in parallel with the two straightened spreading arms. As the third arm is shortened, the spreading arms are displaced or bowed outwardly by an amount which is variable.
It is specially desirable and advantageous if the third arm comprises a threaded member which is rotatable in a mating thread, e.g. in the abutment closure. Turning of the
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Brown Michael
Hafer Robert A.
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