Devices and methods for capturing and containing menstrual flow

A device for capturing and containing menstrual flow from a female human being, comprising:

• (a) a cup made of flexible material and having a first side shaped to sealingly contact the cervix of the female human being between the anterior and posterior fornices and a port adjacent the os of the covered cervix;
• (b) a pouch shaped wall attached to the cup opposite the first side and defining an intravaginal reservoir for receiving and containing menstrual flow from the port;
• and
• (c) means covering the port for permitting menstrual flow discharged from the cervix to enter but not leave the reservoir so that menstrual flow captured in the reservoir is contained in the reservoir and isolated from the cervix and the vaginal walls.

A method of capturing and containing the menstrual flow of a female human being, comprising the steps of:

• placing in an end of an applicator a device for capturing and containing menstrual flow from a female human being, comprising a cup made of flexible material shaped to sealingly contact the cervix between the anterior and posterior fornices, the cup containing an intravaginal reservoir for receiving menstrual flow and a port permitting menstrual flow discharged from the cervix to enter the reservoir;
• inserting the end of the applicator into the vagina;
• releasing the device from the end of the applicator whereby the device automatically seats itself on the cervix;
• and
• withdrawing the applicator from the vagina.

A method of making a device for capturing and containing the menstrual flow of a female human being, comprising the steps of:

• molding a cup made of flexible material shaped to sealingly contact the cervix between the anterior and posterior fornices and having a port permitting menstrual flow discharged from the cervix to pass through the cup;
• molding a pouch;
• contacting the cup and the pouch so as to define an intravaginal reservoir for receiving and containing menstrual flow that enters the reservoir through the port;
• and
• fusing the pouch to the cup.

An applicator and a device for collecting menstrual flow into the vagina of a female human being, comprising:

• (a) a piston having an inner end and an outer end;
• (b) a sleeve having a distal end and a proximal end and defining a channel between the distal end and the proximal end, the channel being shaped and sized so as to both receive the inner end of the piston so that the piston may move back and forth within the channel in sliding engagement and to store a device for collecting menstrual flow between the inner end of the piston and the proximal end of the sleeve;
• and
• (c) a flange attached adjacent the distal end of the sleeve, whereby the flange may be urged in a distal direction while maintaining the position of the piston with respect to the vagina in order to release the device into the vagina,
• wherein said device comprises a cup made of flexible material shaped to sealingly contact the cervix between the anterior and posterior fornices, the cup containing an intravaginal reservoir for receiving menstrual flow and a port permitting menstrual flow discharged from the cervix to enter the reservoir.