Disposable contraceptive cervical barrier

Abstract

A disposable contraceptive cervical barrier includes a bowl-shaped thin flexible member and a substantially thicker circular rim unitary with the flexible member. The rim provides a spring tension effect for helping to maintain the barrier in position. A plurality of cavities are formed in the rim and are equidistantly spaced therearound. The cavities are open so as to be capable of receiving and holding a quantity of a spermicide. Alternatively, the flexible member itself can be provided with a plurality of grooves for holding the spermicide. Preferably, the barrier is made from a mixture of a hydrophilic foam polymer and a more conventional polyurethane polyether prepolymer-catalyst system. The mixture is molded in a closed mold having a volume of about ten percent of the volume which the material would occupy if allowed to foam freely. The finished product is similar to an elastomer except that internally it has a dense cellular structure and is bounded by an impermeable skin.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.