GB1470571A - Dispensing instrument and method - Google Patents

Abstract

1470571 Catheters; syringes POPULATION RESEARCH INC 8 March 1974 [9 March 1973 31 Jan 1974] 10593/74 Heading A5R A uterine catheter tube 441 has an expandable member 443 at or near the dental end, the expandable member being made of soft, relaxed, flexible, elastic material having a low modulus of elasticity e.g. rubber, and being of sufficient size relative to the dimensions of the catheter tube to expand longitudinally of the catheter tube at least as far as one end thereof, whereby the expandable member can be expanded to substantially fill the uterine cavity and conform to the shape thereof. The instrument comprises a tube 441 insertable into the uterus and through which a balloon 443 on the innermost end may be inflated via apertures 448 from a container 459 by actuating a piston 463. One or more tubes 453 extend through the tube 441 to an outlet passage 452 in a head 417 at the innermost end of the tube 441 and convey medicaments from one or more containers 474 to the outlet passage 452 on operating a piston or pistons 477. The pistons 463, 477 controlling the inflation of the balloon and the dispensing of the medicaments are operated under the control of a single actuator 468 or a pistol grip trigger (320) Figure 27 (not shown) so that the balloon is first partially inflated, the medicament is then dispensed and, finally, the balloon is inflated sufficiently to fill the uterus and thus drive the medicament into the Fallopian tubes. The actuator 468 is initially connected to the plungers 486, 514 of the pistons 463, 477, respectively, by links 501, 518. On first projecting the actuator 468 the plungers 486, 514 are moved to displace the piston 463 and partially inflate the balloon and to project the medicament container 479 so that its forward end is pierced by a needle 472 which communicates with the dispensing tube 471. On continued movement of the actuator, the link 501 is moved away from the actuator but the plunger 514 continues to be displaced to cause discharge of medicament via the tube 471. The link 518 is then. disconnected from the actuator and the first link 501 reconnected so that projection of the plunger 486 recommences and inflation of the balloon is completed. The inflation fluid may be atmospheric air which enters the container 459 through a hole 466. Two medicament containers may be discharged simultaneously using a bifurcated plunger (514A) Figure 37 (not shown). The head (651) may include a chamber in which the contents of the two containers are mixed before discharge. The medicament and inflation fluid containers (44, 51, 53) Figure 1 (not shown) may be separate and independently operable, each container, Figures 4 to 19, (not shown) comprising a sealed cylinder or collapsible container from which the contents are ejected by a manually operable piston which also causes a needle to pierce a wall of the container. The containers may be contained in the same or separate housings. The balloon may be fully expanded to fill the uterus before the fluid is dispensed into the uterus.