Intrauterine contraceptive device and inserter therefor

Claim 2

A combined assembly including an intrauterine contraceptive device and inserter therefor comprising, a. an intrauterine contraceptive device including a central elongated stem and a pair of outwardly extending resilient wings at each end thereof collapsible into linear alignment with the stem, b. an elongate tube positionable in a uterine cervix and having an interior passage at one end thereof to receive the collapsed contraceptive device, c. an elongate rod reciprocable in the tube having one end adapted to engage the contraceptive device in collapsed linear form for ejecting the device and an opposite end projecting from the tube for manual access, d. a pair of opposed apertures in opposite sides of said tube adjacent said one end thereof for receiving a pair of resilient wings at one end of said stem extending outwardly in relaxed condition while the resilient wings at the opposite end of the stem extend outwardly from said one end of the tube, so that the contraceptive device may be stored in relaxed condition, e. a string connecting the contraceptive device and said one end of the rod said tube being of resilient material and having an opening therein spaced from said opposed apertures, and f. a lateral protrusion on said rod positionable in said opening for maintaining the rod in a position in which the string prevents complete removal of the contraceptive device from the tube, whereby said device may be pulled outwardly toward said one end of the tube to linearly align the first-mentioned pair of resilient wings, the device rotated 90* to misalign the said pair of wings with the apertures whereupon said rod may be moved outwardly of the tube to draw said device into said tube to align all of the wings linearly and position the device for insertion in the uterus.

Claim 3

For positioning an intrauterine contraceptive device including a central elongated stem with a pair of outwardly extending resilient wings at each end of the stem, an inserter comprising, a. an elongate tube adapted to receive an intrauterine contraceptive device in collapsed linear form, b. opposed apertures in said tube spaced from one end thereof approximately the length of the stem of the contraceptive device for permitting extension of resilient wings at one end of the stem outwardly in relaxed condition while resilient wings at the opposite end of the stem extend outwardly from said one end of the tube, c. an elongate rod having one end reciprocable in the tube and an opposite end projecting from the tube and having a handle accessible for manipulation of the rod, d. cooperating stop means on the rod and the tube to releasably hold the rod in a storage position, e. flexible means secured to said device and to said rod having a length less than the distance between said one end of the rod with the rod in storage position and said one end of the tube to prevent the device from being withdrawn completely from the tube thereby limiting the outward movement of said device, said limited outward movement of the device serving to flex the wings at said one end from said relaxed position to linear alignment with said stem, said flexible means being operable on movement of said rod outwardly from the tube to draw said device into the tube to flex the wings at said opposite end into linEar alignment with the stem, said rod being movable inwardly of the tube to eject the linearly aligned device into the uterus.

Claim 4

For positioning an intrauterine contraceptive device including a central elongated stem with a pair of outwardly extending resilient wings at each end of the stem, an inserter comprising, a. an elongate tube adapted to receive an intrauterine contraceptive device in collapsed linear form, b. opposed apertures in said tube spaced from one end thereof approximately the length of the stem of the contraceptive device for permitting extension of resilient wings at one end of the stem outwardly in relaxed condition while resilient wings at the opposite end of the stem extend outwardly from said one end of the tube, c. an elongate rod having one end reciprocable in the tube and an opposite end projecting from the tube and having a handle accessible for manipulation of the rod, d. cooperating stop means on the rod and the tube to releasably hold the rod in a storage position, e. flexible means secured to said device and to said rod having a length less than the distance between said one end of the rod with the rod in storage position and said one end of the tube to prevent the device from being withdrawn completely from the tube thereby limiting the outward movement of said device, said limited outward movement of the device serving to flex the wings at said one end from said relaxed position to linear alignment with said stem, said flexible means being operable on movement of said rod outwardly from the tube to draw said device into the tube to flex the wings at said opposite end into linEar alignment with the stem, said rod being movable inwardly of the tube to eject the linearly aligned device into the uterus.

Claim 5

For positioning an intrauterine contraceptive device including a central elongated stem with a pair of outwardly extending resilient wings at each end of the stem, an inserter comprising, a. an elongate tube oval in cross-section and adapted to receive an intrauterine contraceptive device in collapsed linear form, b. opposed apertures in said tube spaced from one end thereof approximately the length of the stem of a contraceptive device for permitting extension of resilient wings at one end of the stem outwardly in relaxed condition while resilient wings at the opposite end of the stem extend outwardly from said one end of the tube, c. an elongate rod round in cross-section and having one end reciprocable in the tube to eject a contraceptive device and an opposite end projecting from the tube and having a handle accessible for manipulation of the rod, and d. a plurality of lateral projections on the rod generally conforming to the interior of the tube to oppose relative rotation between the rod and the tube.

Claim 6

For positioning an intrauterine contraceptive device including a central elongated stem with a pair of outwardly extending resilient wings at each end of the stem, an inserter comprising, a. an elongate tube oval in cross-section and adapted to receive an intrauterine contraceptive device in collapsed linear form, b. opposed apertures in said tube spaced from one end thereof approximately the length of the stem of a contraceptive device for permitting extension of resilient wings at one end of the stem outwardly in relaxed condition while resilient wings at the opposite end of the stem extend outwardly from said one end of the tube, c. an elongate rod round in cross-section and having one end reciprocable in the tube to eject a contraceptive device and an opposite end projecting from the tube and having a handle accessible for manipulation of the rod, and d. a plurality of lateral projections on the rod generally conforming to the interior of the tube to oppose relative rotation between the rod and the tube.

Claim 7

An inserter as defined in claim 3, wherein the tube is comprised of resilient material and has an opening spaced from said opposed apertures, and said rod has a lateral protrusion positionable in said opening for maintaining the rod in the tube in storage position.

Claim 8

An inserter as defined in claim 3, wherein the tube is comprised of resilient material which permits the linearly aligned contraceptive device to be turned in the tube so that the wings at said one end of the stem are not aligned with said opposed apertures and said device may be retracted into the tube.

Claim 9

For positioning an intrauterine contraceptive device including a central elongated stem with a pair of outwardly extending resilient wings at each end of the stem, an inserter comprising, a. an elongate tube of flexible plastic material of oval cross section adapted to receive an intrauterine contraceptive device in collapsed linear form, b. opposed apertures in said tube spaced from one end thereof approximately the length of the stem of a contraceptive device for permitting extension of resilient wings at one end of the stem outwardly in relaxed condition while resilient wings at the opposite end of the stem extend outwardly from said one end of the tube, c. an elongate rod having cross section portions approximately fitting the tube and one end reciprocable in the tube to eject a contraceptive device and an opposite end projecting from the tube and having a handle accessible for manipulation of the rod, said tube having an opening therein spaced from said apertures, and d. a protrusion on said rod positionable in the opening for releasably holding the rod in storage position in the tube, a measuring sleeve on said one end of the tube, and an indicating scale on the tube beginning at a position spaced from said one end of the tube by the length of the sleeve.

Claim 10

For positioning an intrauterine contraceptive device including a central elongated stem with a pair of outwardly extending resilient wings at each end of the stem, an inserter comprising, a. an elongate tube of flexible plastic material of oval cross section adapted to receive an intrauterine contraceptive device in collapsed linear form, b. opposed apertures in said tube spaced from one end thereof approximately the length of the stem of a contraceptive device for permitting extension of resilient wings at one end of the stem outwardly in relaxed condition while resilient wings at the opposite end of the stem extend outwardly from said one end of the tube, c. an elongate rod having cross section portions approximately fitting the tube and one end reciprocable in the tube to eject a contraceptive device and an opposite end projecting from the tube and having a handle accessible for manipulation of the rod, said tube having an opening therein spaced from said apertures, and d. a protrusion on said rod positionable in the opening for releasably holding the rod in storage position in the tube, a measuring sleeve on said one end of the tube, and an indicating scale on the tube beginning at a position spaced from said one end of the tube by the length of the sleeve.

Claim 11

A combined assembly including an intrauterine contraceptive device and inserter therefor comprising, a. an intrauterine contraceptive device including a central elongaged stem and a pair of outwardly extending resilient wings at each end thereof collapsible into linear alignment with the stem, b. an elongate tube of flexible plastic positionable in a uterine cervix and having an interior passage at one end thereof adapted to receive the collapsed contraceptive device, c. an elongate rod reciprocable in the tube having one end adapted to engage the contraceptive device in collapsed linear form for ejecting the device and an opposite end projecting from the tube for manual access, d. a pair of opposed apertures in opposite sides of said tube adjacent said one end thereof for receiving a pair of resilient wings at one end of said stem extending outwardly in relaxed condition while the resilient wings at the opposite end of the stem exteNd outwardly from said one end of the tube, so that the contraceptive device may be stored in relaxed condition, e. a string connecting the contraceptive device and said one end of the rod to retract the contraceptive device into the tube, f. enlargements on the wings at said opposite end of the contraceptive device engageable with the tube to limit movement of the device into the tube, said tube having a first opening spaced from said opposed apertures and a second opening spaced from said first opening, g. a protrusion on said rod engageable in the first opening for holding the rod in storage position and engageable in said second opening for maintaining the rod in a position in which the string prevents removal of the contraceptive device, and h. a sleeve on said one end of the tube and a scale on the tube spaced from said one end by the length of the sleeve.

Claim 12

A combined assembly including an intrauterine contraceptive device and inserter therefor comprising, a. an intrauterine contraceptive device including a central elongaged stem and a pair of outwardly extending resilient wings at each end thereof collapsible into linear alignment with the stem, b. an elongate tube of flexible plastic positionable in a uterine cervix and having an interior passage at one end thereof adapted to receive the collapsed contraceptive device, c. an elongate rod reciprocable in the tube having one end adapted to engage the contraceptive device in collapsed linear form for ejecting the device and an opposite end projecting from the tube for manual access, d. a pair of opposed apertures in opposite sides of said tube adjacent said one end thereof for receiving a pair of resilient wings at one end of said stem extending outwardly in relaxed condition while the resilient wings at the opposite end of the stem exteNd outwardly from said one end of the tube, so that the contraceptive device may be stored in relaxed condition, e. a string connecting the contraceptive device and said one end of the rod to retract the contraceptive device into the tube, f. enlargements on the wings at said opposite end of the contraceptive device engageable with the tube to limit movement of the device into the tube, said tube having a first opening spaced from said opposed apertures and a second opening spaced from said first opening, g. a protrusion on said rod engageable in the first opening for holding the rod in storage position and engageable in said second opening for maintaining the rod in a position in which the string prevents removal of the contraceptive device, and h. a sleeve on said one end of the tube and a scale on the tube spaced from said one end by the length of the sleeve.