Abortion facilitating device and process

Claim 2

A process for performing an abortion to a uterus containing at least one human fetus during approximately the first 24 weeks of pregnancy, comprising steps of: a. Inserting into the undilated cervix a radially expandable dilating member which is substantially coextensive therewith; b. Substantially radially uniformly and gradually enlarging the expandable portion of said dilating member by the introduction therein of a fluid until the cervix is dilated an amount in the range from about 1.5 cm. to about 4 cm.; C. Exhausting said dilating member; and d. Removing said dilating member from the cervix.

Claim 3

A process for performing an abortion to a uterus containing at least one human fetus during approximately the first 24 weeks of pregnancy, comprising the steps of: a. Inserting substantially into the uterine cavity an abortion facilitating device extending from the vagina into the uterine cavity and comprising a radially expandable cervical dilating member and an expandable foreign body member; b. Seating in the undilated cervix the radially expandable dilating member and seating in the uterus the foreign body member; c. Expanding the foreign body in the uterus; d. Substantially radially uniformly and gradually enlarging the expandable dilating member until the cervix is dilated an amount in the range from about 1.5 cm. to about 4 cm.; e. Exhausting said dilating member and said foreign body member; and f. Removing said abortion facilitating device from the uterus.

Claim 4

A process for performing an abortion to a uterus containing at least one human fetus during approximately the first 24 weeks of pregnancy, comprising the steps of: a. Inserting substantially into the uterine cavity an abortion facilitating device extending from the vagina into the uterine cavity and comprising a radially expandable cervical dilating member and an expandable foreign body member; b. Seating in the undilated cervix the radially expandable dilating member and seating in the uterus the foreign body member; c. Expanding the foreign body in the uterus; d. Substantially radially uniformly and gradually enlarging the expandable dilating member until the cervix is dilated an amount in the range from about 1.5 cm. to about 4 cm.; e. Exhausting said dilating member and said foreign body member; and f. Removing said abortion facilitating device from the uterus.

Claim 5

A process as set forth in claim 2, wherein said enlarging of said dilating member occurs during a period of up to about four hours.

Claim 6

A process for performing an abortion to a uterus containing at least one human fetus during approximately the first 24 weeks of pregnancy, comprising the steps of: a. Inserting substantially into the uterine cavity an abortion facilitating device and simultaneously seating in the substantially undilated cervix a radially expandable dilating member; b. Substantially radially uniformly and gradually enlarging the expandable portion of said dilating member during a period of up to about 4 hours until the cervix is dilated an amount in the range from about 1.5 cm. to about 4 cm.; c. Exhausting said dilating member; and d. Removing said abortion facilitating device from the uterus.

Claim 7

A process for performing an abortion to a uterus containing at least one human fetus during approximately the first 24 weeks of pregnancy, comprising the steps of: a. Inserting substantially into the uterine cavity an abortion facilitating device and simultaneously seating in the substantially undilated cervix a radially expandable dilating member; b. Substantially radially uniformly and gradually enlarging the expandable portion of said dilating member during a period of up to about 4 hours until the cervix is dilated an amount in the range from about 1.5 cm. to about 4 cm.; c. Exhausting said dilating member; and d. Removing said abortion facilitating device from the uterus.

Claim 8

A process as set forth in claim 4, including the final step of inserting an aborting device into the uterus to complete the abortion.

Claim 9

A process as set forth in claim 5, including the step, after insertion of the abortion facilitating device into the uterus, and prior to expansion of the dilating member, of relatively fixedly immobilizing said abortion facilitating device with respect to the cervix by expanding an anchoring member of said device within the uterus.

Claim 10

A process as set forth in claim 4 including the step of allowing the expanded dilating member to remain in the cervix for at least several hours prior to removal of the abortion facilitating device.

Claim 11

A process as set forth in claim 4, including the step of introducing medication directly into the uterus through the portion of said device extending into the uterine cavity.

Claim 12

Apparatus for cervical dilation for and facilitation of an abortion, comprising: a. An elongated, firm, flexible shaft member having a proximal end and a distal end and defining at least two conduits commencing proximate its proximal end; b. An expandable peripheral dilating member integral with said shaft member and having a length in the range from about 5 cm. to about 6 cm., said dilating member having a transverse dimension in the unexpanded condition of approximately the same size as the transverse dimension of the remainder of the shaft; c. Said dilating member when inserted in the cervix of a human up to about 24 weeks pregnant being expandable in the cervix substantially in the form of a cylinder with rounded ends in the fully expanded condition and in all partially expanded conditions and having a transverse dimension in the expanded condition in the range from about 1.5 cm. to about 4 cm.; d. An expandable peripheral anchoring member integral with said shaft member formed on the distal side of the dilating member and spaced at least in the range from about 2 cm. to about 6 cm. therefrom, and having a fully expanded transverse dimension which is approximately equal to the expanded dimension of the dilating member; and e. One of said two conduits communicating with the interior of said dilating member and the other of said two conduits communicating with the interior of said anchoring member.

Claim 13

Apparatus for cervical dilation for and facilitation of an abortion, comprising: a. An elongated, firm, flexible shaft member having a proximal end and a distal end and defining at least two conduits commencing proximate its proximal end; b. An expandable peripheral dilating member integral with said shaft member and having a length in the range from about 5 cm. to about 6 cm., said dilating member having a transverse dimension in the unexpanded condition of approximately the same size as the transverse dimension of the remainder of the shaft; c. Said dilating member when inserted in the cervix of a human up to about 24 weeks pregnant being expandable in the cervix substantially in the form of a cylinder with rounded ends in the fully expanded condition and in all partially expanded conditions and having a transverse dimension in the expanded condition in the range from about 1.5 cm. to about 4 cm.; d. An expandable peripheral anchoring member integral with said shaft member formed on the distal side of the dilating member and spaced at least in the range from about 2 cm. to about 6 cm. therefrom, and having a fully expanded transverse dimension which is approximately equal to the expanded dimension of the dilating member; and e. One of said two conduits communicating with the interior of said dilating member and the other of said two conduits communicating with the interior of said anchoring member.

Claim 14

Apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said dilating means includes an inflatable wall having a fabric scrim substantially incorporated therein.

Claim 15

Apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said shaft member defines a third conduit extending from a point proximate the proximal end thereof to a point proximate the distal end thereof, said third conduit communicating with the surface of said unit proximate the distal end thereof, whereby fluid can be drained from the uterus or introduced into the uterus through said third conduit.

Claim 16

Apparatus as set forth in claim 9, including a stop member formed on said shaft member proximate and spaced about 1 cm. from the proximal end of said dilating member, and extending transverse to said shaft member and defining at least one aperture extending axially through said stop member to permit the affixation of said member in situ.

Claim 17

Apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said shaft member has a rounded distal end and the proximal end terminates in three separate, spaced conduits.

Claim 18

Apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said shaft member is formed of a sterilizable, smooth material.

Claim 19

Apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein the proximal end of each of said two conduits is closed by a resealable membrane.

Claim 20

Apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said expandable anchoring member has a proximal end and said dilating member has a distal end and wherein the spacing therebetween is in the range from about 1 cm. to about 2 cm.