GB1403393A — Inserters for intrauterine devices

USPTO Abstract

1403393 I.U.D. inserters A H ROBINS CO INC 6 Oct 1972 [7 Oct 1971] 46263/72 Heading A5R An inserter for an intrauterine device (I.U.D.) comprises a tube 10 and a plunger 12 mounted co-axially therein. As shown, the plunger 12 includes a handle portion 14 at one end, the tube 10 having an integral flange 24 at the corresponding end. The tube 10 has a pair of windows 28 formed opposite one another near to the front (cervix entry) end of the tube which allows an I.U.D. 20 to be accommodated in the tube 10 in its expanded form. The plunger 12 is hollow to accommodate a withdrawal cord 18 of the I.U.D. 20. The upper end of the plunger 12 is formed into a concave seat 48 and a thin neck (58) extends from this seat to a second saddle-shaped seat 16 which supports the upper edge of the I.U.D. Means to ensure correct depth positioning of the I.U.D. comprise equispaced hemispherical projections 38 formed on the outer surface, of the plunger 12 co-operating with a mating set of equispaced axially aligned recesses (40) on the inner surface of the tube 10. As tube 10 slides over the plunger 12 a tactile click will be felt by the operator as the projections 38 and recesses 40 click into each other. The I.U.D. is inserted using the following procedure (Figs 5-8 not shown); the plunger 12 is moved upwardly relative to the tube 10 so that the I.U.D-. is forced into an elongate form inside the tube while the tube 10 is inserted into the uterus against the fundus (36) of the uterine cavity (34). The tube 10 is then withdrawn while the plunger 12 is kept still thus exposing the I.U.D. which springs back to its undeformed shape after the tube has been removed. The tube and plunger are then withdrawn leaving the I.U.D. with its withdrawal string in the uterus. The inserter (Figures 22, 23 not shown) may have a single window 28 and have a solid plunger with a convex end (70). The inserters may also be used with alternative intrauterine devices (Figures 9-20, not shown).