IUD loading device
AssigneeFEI Products, Inc.
InventorsPhilip J. Blyskal, Lance J. Bronnenkant, George A. Clark
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides an IUD loading device which folds the extended portions of an IUD such that the IUD may be placed into an insertion tube.
Claims22
An IUD loading device adapted for loading an IUD having at least one first portion attached to a body into an insertion tube said loading device comprising:
- a stage on which is releasably positioned the IUD;
- a folding device which is movable relative to said stage and the IUD, said folding device having at least a first IUD engaging surface adapted to engage the first portion of the IUD, said folding device being positively movable from a first position at which the first portion of the IUD is an expanded position to a second position at which the first portion of the IUD is urged into a folded position;
- and an insertion tube movably arranged with respect to said stage for temporarily retaining at least the first portion of the IUD after it has been urged to said folded position.
An IUD loading device adapted for loading into an insertion tube an IUD having at least a first and a second portion attached to a body, said loading device comprising:
- a stage on which is releasably positioned the IUD;
- a folding device which is movable relative to said stage and the IUD, said folding device having a first IUD engaging surface adapted to engage the first portion of the IUD and having a second IUD engaging surface adapted to engage the second portion of the IUD, said folding device being positively movable from a first position at which said first IUD engaging surface and said second IUD engaging surface are in divergent positions and the first and the second portions of the IUD are in expanded positions, to a second position at which said first IUD engaging surface and said second IUD engaging surface are in convergent positions and the first and the second portions of the IUD are in folded positions.
An IUD loading device adapted for loading into an insertion tube an IUD including at least a first and a second foldable portion and a body, said device comprising:
- a positioning means for releasably retaining and positioning an IUD, a folding means which is positively movable with respect to said positioning means and said IUD for engaging a first and a second portion of the IUD and folding same and an insertion tube movably arranged with respect to said positioning means for temporarily retaining at least the first and second portions of the IUD after the portions have been folded.
An IUD loading device adapted for folding a generally "T" shaped IUD, said IUD including at least a first foldable portion having a first end, a second foldable portion having a second end and a body having a set thickness, said first end, said second end and said body defining a plane, said device comprising:
- a positioning means for releasably retaining and positioning an IUD, a folding means which is positively movable with respect to said positioning means and said IUD for engaging said first and said second portion of the IUD and folding same such that at least one of said first end, said second end and said body no longer occupy said plane.
An IUD insertion kit comprising:
- an IUD having at least one first portion attached to a body, an IUD loading device adapted for loading into an insertion tube an IUD having at least one first portion attached to a body, said loading device including:
- a stage on which is releasably positioned the IUD;
- a folding device which is movable relative to said stage and the IUD, said folding device having at least a first IUD engaging surface adapted to engage the first portion of the IUD, said folding device being positively movable from a first position at which the first portion of the IUD is an expanded position to a second position at which the first portion of the IUD is urged into a folded position;
- and an insertion tube movably arranged with respect to said stage for temporarily retaining at least the first portion of the IUD after it has been urged to said folded position.
A method of loading an IUD into an insertion tube comprising the steps of providing an IUD retained in a stationary position on a stage;
- postively a folding device by moving the folding device relative to said IUD and said stage such that said folding device engages at least a portion of said IUD and urges the engaged portion of said IUD into a folded position;
- and inserting at least said folded portion of said IUD into an insertion tube in such a manner that said IUD is retained in said folded position by said insertion tube once said folding device is retracted.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.