CA1158124A

CA1158124A - Vaginal tampon

Info

Publication number: CA1158124A
Application number: CA000351314A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Pierre Langlois; Marc Mollet
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1979-05-07
Filing date: 1980-05-06
Publication date: 1983-12-06
Also published as: FR2455902A1; FR2455902B1

Abstract

VAGINAL TAMPON

Abstract of the Disclosure A vaginal tampon is disclosed which is made out of a cellular material having semi-open cells and impregnated with a compound of a contraceptive composition and of a delaying medium having gelifying properties when moistened by internal secretions and by preliminary dipping within water, the tampon thus swelling to realize an efficient mechanical barrier whilst the dry compound is progressively and durably released.

Description

The present invention relates to novel contra-ceptive means and more specifically to a vaginal tampon impregnated with contraceptive composition.
In addition to the mechanical contraceptive means of the vaginal or intra-uterine type, different temporary contraceptive means are known which make use of spermicidal compositions in the form of creams or gels conditioned in distributing tubes or in capsules.
With such a conditioning, a convenient application of the gel or the cream is frequently difficult or unsatisfactory, and in any case, the thus applied spermicidal composition is submitted to an excessive solubility affecting considerably the efficiency thereof. On the other hand, with such a conditioning, the application of the spermicidal medium, which is achieved by the finger, may induce risks of contamination, when the conditioning in the form of capsules additionally raises problems of storage in hermetic cells.
A general feature of the present invention is to avoid and overcome the foregoing difficulties by the provision of contraceptive means of a compact configura-tion including a spermicidal composition impregnating an improved cellular support which permits an easy and efficient insertion in the body while ensuring a progressive, durable and controlled releasing of the spermicidal composition so as to combine in an improved manner the effects of both mechanical and spermicidal contraceptive means.
According to one aspect of the invention, there is broadly claimed herein a vaginal contraceptive tampon, comprising a synthetic sponge member made of a cellular material having semi-open cells and impregnated with a compound of a spermicidal composition and of a delaying medium having gelifying properties when moistened; the semi-open cells providing only sinuous $~

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intricate internal communication paths among the cells and to exterior, thereby lowering emission of the com-pound when gelified and acting to delay releasing action of the delaying medium and due to which the sponge member, if compressed in a not-mois-tened condition remains more durably compressed yet rapidly swells when moistened, all in comparison with the same sponge member if made of open cell foam.
According to a further aspect of the invention, there is broadly claimed herein a method of manufacturing a vaginal contraceptive tampon, comprising a synthetic sponge member made of a cellular material having semi-open cells and impregnated with a compound of a spermicidal composition and of delaying medium having gelifying properties when moistened, said method comprising the steps of form shaping and sterilizing said sponge member, preparing the gelifying compound of said spermicidal composition and of said sterilized delaying medium, impregnating the sterilized sponge member with said compound, drying the impregnated sponge member in a drying process, and compressing said impregnated and dried sponge member.
According to a preferred feature of the invention, a string in the form of a loop is provided for easy removal of the tampon.
In another preferred form of the invention, the tampon is normally presented in a compressed configuration, the impregnation compound therein being in a dried state.
The vaginal tampon or sponge of a cellular material having semi-open cells impregnated with a com-pound of a spermicidal agent and of a delaying medium adapted to form a gel when being moistened provides for a vaginal application which is simple to manufacture, store and handle, which can be easily inserted within the body wherein, under the effect of the internal secretions, realizes an immediate swelling for a convenient adaptation to the geometry of the vagina and for occulting the cervix of the uterus while providing for an immediate but continuous, progressive and durable releasing of the spermicide agent so as to submit the ejaculated spermatozoldes to a mechanical barrier and to a continuous bio-chemical action resulting in an improved efficiency of the tampon.
Still according to another aspect of the invention, there is claimed herein a vaginal tampon comprising a sponge member out of a cellular material and an extracting means, said extracting means consisting in a non-wicking string in the form of a closed loop, the binding knot of which is embedded within the bulk of said sponge member, whereby a substantial portion of said closed loop extends outwardly from said sponge member.
Still another feature of the present invention is to provide an applicator means for housing the impregnated tampon with a view of moistening same and easy insertion thereof.
The aforesaid features and others will become apparent ~

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from the roilowing description made in reference with the accompa~
nying draw-ngs, wherein :
~igure 1 is a perspective view of a tampon in accordance with the irs:ention, and Figure 2 is a perspective view of an applicator for a tampon in accordance with the invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIME~TS OF THE I~VENTION

There is known in Figure 1 a tampon according to the present invention, which is generally designated by reference lo 1 and comprises a body 2 out of a cellular material, having semi-open cells ~nd preferably including essentially semi-open cells, which is impregnated with a compound of a spermicidal composition and of a delaying medium having gelifying properties when moistenea and, optionally, of additives authorized in pharmaceutics and including for instance antiseptic agents . The body or sponge member

2 is made out of a plastic material compatible with the body and - more particularly with the vaginal mucus and includes pores having dimensions comprised between about .5mm and 1 mm .
The sponge member 2 is conferred an anatomic shape so as to be conveniently received within the vagina adjacent the uterus cervix without the tendency of occupying an off-set position so as not to inconvenience the woman or the penis of the partner during copulation. Preferably, the sponge member 2 has a spherical shape or pseudo-spherical shape with an intermediate cylindrical portion but, practically, for manufacturing purposes, the sponge member, as illustrated in Figure 1, has advantageously the form of a thick cylinder having a height close to the diameter D in the expanded con_iguration of the tampon, said diameter D being comprised between about 4 cm and 4,5 cm, In a specific embodiment of the invention, the tampon 1 is normally presented in a compressed confi-guration which makes easier its insertion within the vagina, moiste-ning and impregnation thereof by the vaginal secretions causing same to rapidly fully expand after location within the vagina.
To allow easy extraction of the tampon, there is further provided an e~traction means 3 consisting in a non-wicking string out of cotton or polyamide fibers According to a feature of the invention, t-.e string 3 is in the form of a closed loop, the closing knot being embedded within the bulk of the sponge member 2, whereby a main portion of the loop extends outwardly from one end of the tam-lo pon. In a preferred embodiment, the maximum sag Q of the free outer portion of the loop is comprised between about 3 and 5 cm.
The cellular material of the sponge member 3 may be made out of fibrine or of expanded polyethylene having a low or medium molecular weight~ comprised between 15,000 and 35,000 and totally devoid of residues of foaming agent In a preferred embodiment, the sponge member 2 is made out of polyvinyle formal or polyvinilic alcohol rendered insoluble with formol and rinsed. Said latter mate-rials are advantageous in that they provide for sinuous intricate internal communication paths between the semi-open cells in the sponge, whereby lowering emission of the gelified active agents con-tained in the tampon and adding to the delay releasing action of the delaying medium, and in that, when compressed, the sponge member retains durably its compressed configuration when not moistened, and rapidly swells when moistenèd.
The spermicidal composition in the compound impregnating the sponge member comprises steroidal or non-steroidal agent~, such as benzethonium chloride or phenyl-mercury nitrate and includes preferably alXylbenzalkonium. The delaying medium having a gelifying action when moistened for time delaying releasing of the spermicidal agent and prolongating the action thereof is advantageously a sterile ~1S8124 gel of carbox ~etlyl cellulose stabilized by a conservator such as methyl-parahydroxybenzoate.
The manufacture of the contraceptive tampon in accordance with the in~ention is the f~ ing : The sponge member 2 is ~aped, e.g. by molding the cellular material, sterilized in a sterilizer with a sterilizing gas or a convenient irradiation, and the sterilized sponge member is impregnated with the above mentioned compound by immersing samQ within a solution of said compound, the impregnated sponge member being slightly squeezed if necessary.The impregnated sponge memeber is dried, for example lyophilized by being fro2en lo and sublimated The sponge member with its dried impregnating com-pound may be ulteriorly compressed for easy direct insertion within the vagina The thus realized tampon is imputrescible to the orga-nic secretions, is heat- and cold-proof by reason of its dried condition, is not resorbable , neutral and compatible with the tissues of the vaginal mucus With respect to sa-d latter, the tampon does not show any adhering tendency and its flexibility when expanded makes its practically imperceivable by the woman or her partner The tampon in its dry and eventually pre-compressed condition may be stored or momentarily inserted within the applicator illustrated in Figure 2. Said applicator 5 comprises a cylindrical housing tube 6 wherein the sponge member 2 is arranged in a compressed condition and a pushing tube 7, the housing tube 6 further advanta-geously comprising holes or openings 8 formed within its lateral wall. It is thus possible, with such an applicator, to prealably dip the housing cylindrr~l tube 6 containing the tampon 2 within water for moistening same and achieving a pre-expansion of the cellular material of the sponge member 2, the sponge member 2, the introduction and setting of the tampon being made in a conven-tional manner, whereby the thus initiated swelling thereof makes same quasi immediately efficient, independently of theamount of the internàl secretions of the woman. The tampon is thus operative less than one minute af-ter its insertion, its contraceptive action being prolongated over a period of at least 5 hours.
For clarification purposes, it is believed useful to add the following comments.
The word pores used namely in page 3, line 17, above, is meant to designate the cells and not the communication orifices between the cells which are much smaller. In fact, the expression acellular material having semi-open cells (page 1, line 32) in fact means a cellular material having almost completely closed cells.
As is known, reference is in fact made to fissures in the wall of the cells which is very soft in humid medium, fissures that tend to open or spread out, for most of them only under the pressure exerted on the sponge when the tip of the male organ hits the bottom of the vagina. It must be specified, at this time, that formalpolyvinylic, material that constitutes the sponge, is a material well known under the trade name IVALON.
From the above remarks, it follows that when copulation has reached this point, a pressure is exerted on the sponge, pressure which determines the ejection out of this sponge of a certain quantity of gel which spreads over the adjacent walls of the vagina under the form of a film having a molecular thickness. This film will thereafter be re-absorbed by the sponge as soon as the latter will no longer be subjected to the pressure resulting from copulation, meaning that almost of the product will remain available for the next copulation.
These considerations do not however eliminate a certain natural diffusion effect of the spermicide gel on the intra-vaginal wall as soon as the sponge is put ) into place since the cells are not quite completely closed and that, in practice, certain of them remain slightly open thus allowing slow seeping of the gel.
Although the present invention has been disclosed with reference to preferred embodiments, other embodiments and modifications may be contemplated without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

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Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A vaginal contraceptive tampon, comprising a synthetic sponge member made of a cellular material having semi-open cells and impregnated with a compound of a spermicidal composition and of a delaying medium having gelifying properties when moistened;
the semi-open cells providing only sinuous intricate internal communication paths among the cells and to exterior, thereby lowering emission of the compound when gelified and acting to delay releasing action of the delaying medium and due to which the sponge member, if compressed in a not-moistened condition remains more durably compressed yet rapidly swells when moistened, all in comparison with the same sponge member if made of open cell foam.

2. The tampon of claim 1, wherein said sponge member is made out of polyvinyl formal.

3. The tampon of claim 1, wherein said sponge member is made out of expanded polyethylene having a molecular weight comprised between about 15,000 and 30,000 and devoid of any residues of foaming agents.

4. The tampon of claim 1, wherein said sponge member is normally in a compressed formed configuration.

5. The tampon of claim 1, wherein said sponge member and said impregnating compound are normally in a dried condition.

6. The tampon of claim 4, wherein said impregnating compound and said sponge member are prealably dried before said sponge member is compressed.

7. The tampon of claim 1, wherein said delaying medium comprises a sterile gel of carboxymethyl cellulose.

8. The tampon of claim 7, wherein said spermicidal composition comprises alkylbenzalkonium.

9. The tampon of claim 1, wherein said sponge member has the form of a thick cylinder, the diameter of said sponge member in its expanded state being comprised between 4 and 4.5 cm.

10. The tampon of claim 1, further comprising an extracting means connected to said sponge member and consisting in a non-wicking string.

11. The tampon of claim 10, wherein said string is in the form of a closed loop, a portion of which extends outwardly from said sponge member, the binding knot of said string being embedded within the bulk of said sponge member.

12. The tampon of claim 1, further associated with a tubular applicator within which it is received in a compressed condition.

13. The combination of claim 12, wherein the peripheral wall of said applicator is formed with openings.

14. A method of manufacturing a vaginal contraceptive tampon, comprising a synthetic sponge member made of a cellular material having semi-open cells and impregnated with a compound of a spermicidal composition and of delaying medium having gelifying properties when moistened, said method comprising the steps of form shaping and sterilizing said sponge member, preparing the gelifying compound of said spermicidal composition and of said sterilized delaying medium, impregnating the sterilized sponge member with said compound, drying the impregnated sponge member in a drying process, and compressing said impregnated and dried sponge member.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said sponge member is normally in a compressed formed configuration.