Apparatus for insertion of an intravaginal article
AssigneeNew Mexico State University Foundation
InventorDavid L. Zartman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for insertion of an intravaginal article into a mammalian female comprises a sleeve, a tube movably received within the sleeve, and a plunger adapted to release an intravaginal article from the tube. An anterior portion of the sleeve is adapted to be inserted within a segment of the reproductive tract of the female that is adjacent to the vulva and an anterior portion of the tube is adapted to be inserted within the tract to a point deeper than the segment, such that contaminants in the segment are not carried to the deeper point by the tube. A method for inserting an intravaginal article is also described.
Claims18
An apparatus for insertion of an intravaginal article into a mammalian female, said apparatus comprising
- a sleeve having an anterior end and a posterior end, said anterior end being releasably closed,
- a tube having an anterior end and a posterior end and being movably received within said sleeve, wherein a force caused by a movement of said anterior end of said tube towards said anterior end of said sleeve opens said anterior end of said sleeve, and
- a release means adapted to release an intravaginal article from said tube,
- wherein an anterior portion of said sleeve is of such a length as to be insertable within a segment of the reproductive tract of said female that is adjacent to the vulva and an anterior portion of said tube is of such a length as to be insertable within said tract to a point deeper than said segment, such that, when so inserted, contaminants in said segment are not carried to said deeper point by said tube.
A method for inserting an intravaginal article within the reproductive tract of a mammalian female comprising the steps of
- selecting an inserting apparatus having a sleeve, a tube movably received within said sleeve, and a release means adapted to release said article from said tube,
- positioning said tube such that an anterior end of said tube does not extend beyond an anterior end of said sleeve,
- inserting said sleeve within a segment of the reproductive tract that is a distance from the cervix and adjacent to the vulva,
- moving said tube forward such that its anterior end passes through said anterior end of said sleeve and to a point deeper in said reproductive tract than said segment, and
- releasing said article from said tube.
A method for inserting an intravaginal article within the reproductive tract of a mammalian female comprising the steps of
- selecting an insertion apparatus having a sleeve, a tube movably received within said sleeve, and a release means adapted to release said article from said tube,
- positioning said tube such that an anterior end of said tube does not extend beyond an anterior end of said sleeve,
- releasably closing said anterior end of said tube,
- inserting said sleeve within a segment of the reproductive tract that is a distance from the cervix and adjacent to the vulva,
- moving said tube forward such that its anterior end passes through said anterior end of said sleeve and to a point deeper in said reproductive tract than said segment, and
- releasing said article from said tube by inserting a plunger through said tube to push said article through said anterior end of said tube, whereby said closed anterior end of said tube is opened with a force delivered by said article.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.