Vaginal applicator

Claim 2

An instrument for irradiative treatment of the genital tract, comprising: an elongated uterovaginal tandem having a curved proximal end, and a distal end; an enlarged intravaginal applicator elongated in a dimension of elongation, and a tandem-receiving bore formed therein along said dimension of elongation, said applicator also including a proximal end, a distal end, an anterior portion and a posterior portion; means for operatively interconnecting said tandem and said intravaginal applicator during use with said tandem received by said tandem-receiving bore so that relative rotational movement therebetween is prevented; means defining at least one cavity in said applicator adjacent the proximal end thereof, and means defining a passageway extending from said cavity to the distal end of said applicator, said passageway and cavity for receipt of a container of irradiative treatment material; and means defining suture receiving openings at said distal end of said intravaginal applicator.

Claim 3

An instrument as recited in claim 1 further comprising means defining suture receiving openings at said distal end of said intravaginal applicator.

Claim 4

An instrument as recited in claim 1 wherein said applicator is essentially quadrate in cross-section, having rounded corners.

Claim 5

An instrument as recited in claim 3 wherein said tandem-receiving bore in said intravaginal applicator is non-concentric, being located closer to said anterior portion of said applicator than said posterior portion thereof.

Claim 6

An instrument as recited in claim 4 further comprising a cap, and means for attaching said cap to said distal end of said applicator with said cap receiving said distal end of said tandem therein, and closing off the open end of said passageway in said applicator.

Claim 7

An instrument as recited in claim 3 wherein said proximal end of said applicator is slanted so that said applicator has a longer posterior surface than anterior surface, and wherein said cavity is dimensioned so that it is generally parallel to said slanted proximal end of said applicator.

Claim 8

An instrument as recited in claim 6 wherein said means defining at least one cavity and said passageway comprises means defining a pair of cavities and a pair of passsageways, one cavity and cooperating passageway being disposed on either side of said tandem-receiving bore; and wherein each of said passageways extends from a position at said distal end of said applicator adjacent said posterior surface thereof to a cavity opening adjacent said proximal end of said applicator and adjacent said anterior surface thereof.

Claim 9

An instrument as recited in claim 7 further comprising a pair of containers of irradiative material, each container generally comprising a cylinder disposed in a respective said cavity; a handle for inserting each container into said cavity, each said handle having a length slightly greater than the length of one of said passageways; and flexible hinge means interconnecting each said handle and said container.

Claim 10

An instrument as recited in claim 8 further comprising a cap, said cap having a bore therein receiving said distal end of said tandem, and said cap operatively interconnected to said applicator at said distal end of said applicator; and means defining a pair of channels in said cap for receipt of portions of said handles extending outwardly from said applicator.

Claim 11

A therapeutic instrument for irradiative treatment of the genital tract comprising: an elongated uterovaginal tandem having distal and proximal ends; an enlarged intravaginal applicator elongated in a dimension of elongation and having a tandem-receiving bore formed therein in said dimension of elongation thereof, said applicator having a slanted proximal end, a distal end, an anterior portion, and posterior portion; means for operatively interconnecting said tandem and said intravaginal applicator during use with said tandem received by said tandem-receiving bore so that relative rotational movement therebetween is prevented; means defining a pair of cavities for receipt of containers of irradiative material adjacent said applicator proximal end, one cavity disposed on either side of said tandem-receiving bore and generally extending from adjacent said posterior portion to adjacent said anterior portion; means defining an elongated passageway associated with each cavity, each pasageway extending from an entrance at said applicator distal end adjacent said posterior portion to an opening for said cavity adjacent said anterior portion and proximal end of said applicator; a pair of containers containing irradiative material and disposed in respective said cavities; a handle for each container, each handle having a length slightly greater than the length of a cooperating passageway; flexible hinge means interconnecting each container and handle; and a cap operatively attached to said distal end of said applicator.

Claim 12

A therapeutic instrument for irradiative treatment of the genital tract comprising: an elongated uterovaginal tandem having distal and proximal ends; an enlarged intravaginal applicator elongated in a dimension of elongation and having a tandem-receiving bore formed therein in said dimension of elongation thereof, said applicator having a slanted proximal end, a distal end, an anterior portion, and posterior portion; means for operatively interconnecting said tandem and said intravaginal applicator during use with said tandem received by said tandem-receiving bore so that relative rotational movement therebetween is prevented; means defining a pair of cavities for receipt of containers of irradiative material adjacent said applicator proximal end, one cavity disposed on either side of said tandem-receiving bore and generally extending from adjacent said posterior portion to adjacent said anterior portion; means defining an elongated passageway associated with each cavity, each pasageway extending from an entrance at said applicator distal end adjacent said posterior portion to an opening for said cavity adjacent said anterior portion and proximal end of said applicator; a pair of containers containing irradiative material and disposed in respective said cavities; a handle for each container, each handle having a length slightly greater than the length of a cooperating passageway; flexible hinge means interconnecting each container and handle; and a cap operatively attached to said distal end of said applicator.

Claim 13

An instrument as recited in claim 10 further comprising means defining suture receiving openings at said distal end of said intravaginal applicator.

Claim 14

An instrument for irradiative treatment of the genital tract, comprising: an elongated uterovaginal tandem having a curved proximal end, and a distal end; an enlarged intravaginal applicator elongated in a dimension of elongation, and a tandem-receiving bore formed therein along said dimension of elongation, said applicator also including a proximal end, a distal end, an anterior portion and a posterior portion; said applicator being a substantially continuous body that is essentially quadrate in cross-section, and has rounded corners; means for operatively interconnecting said tandem and said intravaginal applicator during use with said tandem operatively received by said tandem-receiving bore so that relative rotational movement therebetween is prevented; and means defining at least one cavity in said applicator adjacent the proximal end thereof, and means defining a passageway extending from said cavity to the distal end of said applicator, said passageway and cavity for receipt of a container of irradiative treatment material.

Claim 15

An instrument for irradiative treatment of the genital tract, comprising: an elongated uterovaginal tandem having a curved proximal end, and a distal end; an enlarged intravaginal applicator elongated in a dimension of elongation, and a tandem-receiving bore formed therein along said dimension of elongation, said applicator also including a proximal end, a distal end, an anterior portion and a posterior portion; said applicator being a substantially continuous body that is essentially quadrate in cross-section, and has rounded corners; means for operatively interconnecting said tandem and said intravaginal applicator during use with said tandem operatively received by said tandem-receiving bore so that relative rotational movement therebetween is prevented; and means defining at least one cavity in said applicator adjacent the proximal end thereof, and means defining a passageway extending from said cavity to the distal end of said applicator, said passageway and cavity for receipt of a container of irradiative treatment material.

Claim 18

A method as recited in claim 13 wherein steps (f) and (g) are practiced so that there is no relative rotatable movement between the tandem and applicator once properly inserted.

Claim 19

A method as recited in claim 13 wherein step (i) is practiced by inserting at least one container of irradiative material through a passageway in the applicator opening to the distal end of the applicator, and lodging the container in a cavity formed in the applicator adjacent a proximal end of the applicator.

Claim 20

A method as recited in claim 13 comprising the further step of capping the distal end of the applicator.