Introducer for urinary incontinence

An introducer used to insert a urinary incontinence device into a vagina, comprising:

• a housing including a vaginal insertion tube at a proximal end of the housing and a storage section at a distal end of the housing, wherein the storage section is shaped and dimensioned for storage of the urinary incontinence device in a non-compressed state prior to insertion, while the vaginal insertion tube is shaped and dimensioned to contact the urinary incontinence device and reduce the urinary incontinence device to a size sufficient for the passage of the urinary incontinence device therethrough in a compressed state, the vaginal insertion tube including a proximal first end and a distal second end that is secured to the storage section, and the storage section and the vaginal insertion tube are in communication with each other such that the urinary incontinence device may be passed from the storage section into the vaginal insertion tube and out of the housing, wherein a diameter of the storage section is greater than a width dimension of the vaginal insertion tube, and a changing shape of the storage section adjacent the distal second end of the vaginal insertion tube causes the urinary incontinence device to transition from the non-compressed state to the compressed state;
• and
• a plunger which travels within the housing, the plunger including a top wall, a bottom wall, and lateral side walls extending between the top wall and the bottom wall, the top wall, bottom wall, and lateral side walls defining an internal cavity extending from a proximal first end of the plunger for housing part of the urinary incontinence device, wherein the plunger travels through the storage section to push the urinary incontinence device into the vaginal insertion tube such that the urinary incontinence device becomes compressed before the urinary incontinence device is deployed.

An introducer used to insert a urinary incontinence device into a vagina, comprising:

• a housing including a vaginal insertion tube at a proximal end of the housing and a storage section at a distal end of the housing, wherein the storage section is shaped and dimensioned for storage of the urinary incontinence device in a non-compressed state prior to insertion, while the vaginal insertion tube is shaped and dimensioned to contact the urinary incontinence device and reduce the urinary incontinence device to a size sufficient for the passage of the urinary incontinence device therethrough in a compressed state, the vaginal insertion tube including a proximal first end and a distal second end that is secured to the storage section, and the storage section and the vaginal insertion tube are in communication with each other such that the urinary incontinence device may be passed from the storage section into the vaginal insertion tube and out of the housing, wherein a diameter of the storage section is greater than a width dimension of the vaginal insertion tube, and a changing shape of the storage section adjacent the distal second end of the vaginal insertion tube causes the urinary incontinence device to transition from the non-compressed state to the compressed state;
• and
• a plunger which travels within the housing, the plunger is an elongated member and includes a proximal first end and a distal second end with a handle secured thereto, the plunger including a first plunger portion of a first dimension adjacent the distal second end thereof and a second plunger portion of a second dimension different from the first dimension adjacent the proximal first end thereof with a gripping area at an intersection of the first plunger portion and the second plunger portion, the gripping area allowing pushing of the plunger in two steps, wherein the plunger travels through the storage section to push the urinary incontinence device into the vaginal insertion tube such that the urinary incontinence device becomes compressed before the urinary incontinence device is deployed.

A method of introducing a urinary incontinence device into a vagina, comprising:

• obtaining an introducer with a urinary incontinence device in a non-compressed state stored within a storage section of the introducer therein;
• inserting an insertion tube of the introducer within the vagina;
• pushing a plunger of the introducer to move the urinary incontinence device from the storage section of a housing into contact with the insertion tube to compress the urinary incontinence device and reduce the urinary incontinence device to a size sufficient to fit within the insertion tube as the plunger moves the urinary incontinence device from the storage section of the housing into the insertion tube, the insertion tube including a proximal first end and a distal second end that is secured to the storage section, and the storage section and the insertion tube are in communication with each other such that the urinary incontinence device may be passed from the storage section into the insertion tube and out of the housing, wherein a diameter of the storage section is greater than a width dimension of the insertion tube, and a changing shape of the storage section adjacent the distal second end of the insertion tube causes the urinary incontinence device to transition from the non-compressed state to the compressed state;
• and
• pushing the plunger farther to force the urinary incontinence device from the insertion tube and into the vagina, wherein resilience of the urinary incontinence device forces the urinary incontinence device toward deployment once more than half of the urinary incontinence device is exposed.