Copper-including contraceptive shield
OwnerKathleen Edmundsinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A contraceptive device for intervaginal use includes a relatively thin, saucer-shaped impermeable body having two opposite side faces wherein one of the two side faces is concave in form and the other of the side faces is convex in form. In addition, the impermeable portion includes an amount of copper-including material which is disposed across the side faces of the impermeable portion so that the copper-including material is exposed at locations across the side faces.
Claims14
A contraceptive device for intervaginal use comprising:
- an impermeable portion having opposite outer surfaces and an outer edge adapted to be inserted into the user's vaginal canal so that when the device is inserted into the vaginal canal for use, the outer edge is positioned against and forms a seal with the walls of the vaginal canal to create a barrier to fluids passing therethrough;
- and
- a copper-including material
- (a) carried by the impermeable portion and
- (b) exposed along the opposite outer surfaces thereof;
- wherein the copper-including material is in a condition to release copper ions therefrom, causing a spermicidal effect;
- and
- wherein one of the opposite outer surfaces is bounded by a sidewall which extends in a direction which corresponds to the direction in which the one of the opposite outer surfaces faces.
A contraceptive device positionable within a vaginal canal and adjacent the cervix, said device comprising:
- a thin fluid-impermeable body having two opposite side faces and an outer edge wherein one of the two opposite side faces is concave in form and the other of the two opposite side faces is convex in form, and the outer edge is adapted to be inserted into the user's vaginal canal so that when the contraceptive device is positioned therein for use, the outer edge is positioned against the walls of the vaginal canal to create a barrier to any fluids passing through the canal;
- and
- wherein the impermeable body includes a mixture of elastomeric material and copper-including material;
- and
- wherein the copper-including material is a) carried by the elastomeric material and is b) exposed at locations across each of the two opposite side faces of the impermeable body;
- wherein the copper-including material is in a condition to release copper ions therefrom, causing a spermicidal effect;
- and
- wherein one of the opposite side faces is bounded by a sidewall which extends in a direction corresponding to the direction faced by the one of the two opposite side faces.
A contraceptive device for intervaginal use comprising:
- a body comprised of an impermeable material having opposite exterior surfaces and an outer edge adapted to be inserted into the user's vaginal canal so that when the contraceptive device is inserted into the vaginal canal for use, the outer edge is positioned against and forms a seal with the walls of the vaginal canal to thereby create a barrier to fluids passing through the vaginal canal;
- and
- a copper-including material carried by the impermeable material and b) exposed along the opposite exterior surfaces thereof;
- wherein the copper-including material is in a condition to release copper ions therefrom, causing a spermicidal effect;
- and
- wherein at least one of the opposite exterior surfaces is bounded by a sidewall which extends in a direction which corresponds to the direction in which the at least one of the opposite exterior surface faces.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.