US3312214A - Intra-uterine device - Google Patents

Intra-uterine device Download PDF

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Publication number
US3312214A
US3312214A US555503A US55550366A US3312214A US 3312214 A US3312214 A US 3312214A US 555503 A US555503 A US 555503A US 55550366 A US55550366 A US 55550366A US 3312214 A US3312214 A US 3312214A
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United States
Prior art keywords
uterine
intra
loops
inert
devices
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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US555503A
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English (en)
Inventor
Burdick Charles Lalor
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Individual
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Individual
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Priority to US555503A priority Critical patent/US3312214A/en
Priority to NL6616483A priority patent/NL6616483A/xx
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3312214A publication Critical patent/US3312214A/en
Priority to GB21805/67A priority patent/GB1152800A/en
Priority to FR1561933D priority patent/FR1561933A/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F6/00—Contraceptive devices; Pessaries; Applicators therefor
    • A61F6/06—Contraceptive devices; Pessaries; Applicators therefor for use by females
    • A61F6/14—Contraceptive devices; Pessaries; Applicators therefor for use by females intra-uterine type
    • A61F6/142—Wirelike structures, e.g. loops, rings, spirals

Definitions

  • the rate of spontaneous expulsion varies considerably between the various types of intra-uterine devices.
  • the normal uterus undergoes rhythmic muscular contractions or peristalsis more or less steadily and continuously and of greater or less extent.
  • the rates of expulsion will vary with this and with the degree of tightness of the cervix opening and, of course, with the design of the device itself.
  • an intrauterine device generally in the shapeof a trefoil which comprises an inert endless material in the shape of three continuous freely-movable adjacently-positioned loops; the loops being inter-connected in such a manner that the two terminating portions of each loop continue smoothly into the terminating portions of the adjacent loops.
  • the intra-uterine device is capable of being deformed by the application of a small amount of force and yet is sufliciently elastic to return substantially to its original shape when the force is removed.
  • each loop is independently capable of motion in a vertical, horizontal, or rotary direction, or in any combination of these.
  • adjacently-positioned means that each loop is adjacent to both of the other loops.
  • a method of preventing pregnancy using an intrauterine device as described above comprises the following steps:
  • the intra-uterine device of this invention has the advantage of having no free ends or cuspate forms which tend to pierce the delicate uterine wall upon insertion of the prior devices or upon the prior devices shifting position after insertion. Another advantage is that the geometrical design of the new intra-uterine device makes it far less susceptible to expulsion from the uterus. A still further advantage lies in the continuous shape of this intra-uterine device which makes it far more adaptable to the uterine cavity than the prior art devices. A ,still further advantage of this device is that the three loops provide ready channels for unimpeded transit of the ovum or blastocyst through the main uterine cavity toward the cervical exit. A still further advantage lies in the ease of forming the intra-uterine device of this invention in a variety of sizes and shapes within the basic configuration of three continuous loops which makes it readily adaptable to insertion in a wide range of uterine cavities.
  • FIGURE 1 is a plan view of inert endless material in the shape of an annulus suitable for forming into the intra-uterine device of this invention.
  • FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a template with three mandrels suitable for forming the intra-uterine device of this invention.
  • FIGURES 3 through 8 are plan views of some of the varieties of the intra-uterine device of this invention.
  • FIGURE 9 is a plan view of a cannula suitable for inserting the intra-uterine device of this invention.
  • FIGURE 10 is a plan view showing how the intrauterine device of this invention is inserted.
  • FIGURE 11 is a plan view of a human uterus and cervical canal with an intra-uterine device of this invention properly lodged in the uterine cavity.
  • FIGURE 12 is a cross-sectional view of an intrauterine device of this invention lodged within the uterine cavity.
  • the trefoil intra-uterine device of this invention can have a variety of shapes and sizes.
  • the geometrical feature characteristic of all of the shapes is that each has three continuous loops and no free ends.
  • species of the trefoil intra-uterine device wherein all of the loops are crossed, none of the loops are crossed, or wherein any combination of crossed loops and uncrossed loops in between these limits is present.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment with three crossed loops
  • FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment with the two upper loops crossed and a lower loop which is uncrossed
  • FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment with two upper uncrossed loops and a lower crossed loop.
  • the intra-uterine device of this invention can be manufactured by starting with an inert endless material approximately circular in cross-section in the form of an annulus 2 as is shown in FIGURE 1.
  • the annulus is fitted to the template by bending and twisting it around the mandrels 12 until the desired shape is obtained.
  • the .inert material is heat set on the template so that it will retain its shape after removal from the mandrels. Heat setting is achieved by heating the material to an elevated temperature below the melting point and then allowing the material to cool to room temperature.
  • a tall can be made from any type of flaccid, strong, inert filament such as nylon or linear polyethylene.
  • any inert endless material can be used for this intrauterine device provided it is physiologically inert and provided it is capable of being deformed by the application of a small amount of force and yet is sufliciently elastic to allow the intra-uterine device to return substantially to its original shape when the force is removed.
  • the device only returns substantially to its original shape because it adapts itself to the configuration of the uterine cavity thereby causing, in some cases, small deformation of the device.
  • a small amount of force is meant the amount of force which a person can exert by squeezing his thumb and forefinger together.
  • the device When this force is exerted on the intra-uterine device, the device is pinched into a flat, double-looped shape 52 which is easily insertable into the flexible end of the cannula 44 of FIGURE 9. Prior threading of the tail 4 through the cannula, or a separate thread looped through the device, can assist materially in drawing the device into the cannula.
  • tail 4 in addition to being fastened at point 27, may have a suitable extension which connects with the cross member between loops 30 and 32. This extension may provide also an additional channel facilitating exit of the ovum from the uterus.
  • the inert endless material can be a single filament or multifilament. Any physiologically inert material having the required elasticity is suitable and some useful examples include polymers of propylene, ethylene, tetrafluoroethylene, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, terephthalic acid, and esters of acrylic, methacrylic, and terephthalic acids, acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, vinyl acetate, butadiene, styrene and interpolymers of these. Other useful materials include any of the well known polyamide compounds such as poly(caproamide) poly(metaphenylene isophthalamide), poly(hexamethylene sebacamide), and poly(hexamethylene) ,adipamide. Natural substances which meet the inertness and elasticity standards such as cat gut and silk worm gut are useful. Silicone rubbers are also useful.
  • a radiation opaque material such as barium sulfate can be added to the inert endless material to make possible the determination by radiology of the exact location of the intra-uterine device after insertion.
  • the cross-section of the inert annular material is not subject to being defined in terms of exact dimensions. In general, it depends upon the modulus of the material used. There are other factors to be considered, of course,
  • the thickness of the device desired which again depends upon the uterine dimensions and size of the cervical opening.
  • a device measuring about 32 millimeters across outside-to-outside of the upper loops and about 30 millimeters outside-to-outside from top to bottom.
  • the cross-section of the inert endless material itself can range from about 0.7 to 2.20 millimeters in diameter, or, if of multifilament, can be conveniently made of ten to twelve turns of a filament of about 0.2 to 0.5 millimeter in diameter. When the inert endless material is not exactly circular in shape, these diameter measurements apply to the major diameter.
  • a convenient shape for the cross-section of the inert endless material is approximately circular.
  • the term approximately circular is meant to include for purposes of this invention shapes which are circular, elliptical, oval or any other cross-sectional shape which is bounded by smooth simple closed curves. Any cross-sectional shape, however, is sufficient.
  • the interior shape of a human parous uterus 20 can best be described as a flattened cavity with upper and lower walls or folds substantially in contact with each other and with edges approximating an isoceles triangle standing upon its apex with the two uterine horns 23 and 25 located at the opposite ends of the base.
  • the three looped intrauterine device of this invention has a natural form to approximate this shape thereby filling almost entirely the uterine cavity 21.
  • the uterine cavity is normally fiat.
  • a preferred separation of the uterine cavity walls can be achieved by selecting an inert endless material of proper diameter and then by fabricating the loops in any of the previously described variations to give a proper separation between the anterior 22 and posterior 24 walls of the uterus without stretching the uterus itself to an extent which would be painful to the woman.
  • the continual contraction and expansion of the fundus muscle located at the top of the human uterus 26 is synchrony with the other musculature is a main cause of the expulsion of the present intra-uterine devices.
  • the upper configuration of the three looped intra-uterine device has opposite loops 30 and 32 connected across by a depressed flexible curvature 28 which gives little opportunity for the heavy musculature in the central portion of the upper uterine wall to press downward against the device.
  • the preferred embodiment of the invention is a three looped intra-uterine device which is constructed from polyethylene mixed with a radiation opaque material.
  • An intra-uterine device constructed with polyethylene of an appropriate diameter can be deformed with a small amount of force and yet is elastic enough to return to its original configuration within a short period of time after the force is removed.
  • Polyethylene is also a material which has been well tested for use in intra-uterine devices and found to be inert.
  • the radiation opaque material makes it possible to determine by the methods of radiology the exact location of the device after it has been inserted.
  • the three looped intra-uterine device of this invention is inserted through the cervix into the uterine cavity by the standard technique which employs a thin-Walled cannula as shown in FIGURE 9.
  • the cannula has a rigid tubular body 42 with a flexible tubular end portion 44 and a push rod 46.
  • the attached tail 4 of the device is threaded through the cannula from the uterine end and the three looped intra-uterine device 52 is pinched together and inserted into the flexilble end portion 44 of the cannula and the push rod is inserted through the other end as shown in FIGURE 9.
  • an appropriate aqueous or gaseous sterilization is now made.
  • the cannula is then inserted through the cervical canal 54 of the woman and into the bottom of the uterus 56 as shown in FIGURE 10.
  • the push rod 46 is pushed manually and gently axially frontwards thereby forcing the intra-uterine device 52, shown partially expelled, from the flexible end portion 44 and into the uterine cavity 21 where the device returns to approximately its original shape as shown in FIGURE 11.
  • the push rod and cannula are withdrawn leaving only the tail extending through the cervix into the vagina.
  • the cannula 42 can have one or more flanges attached to it which can be movable or fixed as desired to aid the physician in inserting the cannula to a proper depth and orientation within the uterine cavity.
  • the laboratory method enables the device to be tailored to any desirable set of dimensions and this is an important feature.
  • the laboratory method also allows the fabrication of various shaped devices still having the basic configuration of three loops. For instance, the mandrels 12 can be set vertically wit-h respect to the plane of the template 10, or at various other angles. The latter gives a sequential angular arrangement having a final shape with the loops angled to the plane of the device somewhat like a ships propeller.
  • a simple annulus of the inert endless material 2 has been shown to be useful as a starting material in the fabrication of these intra-uterine devices, but there can be many other useful modifications of this. For instance, it might be desirable to use a double-looped ring of the inert endless material to start with. The choice of starting material within the limits already described is left to the fabricator who is in a position to best know which initial shape will be easiest to manipulate into the final desired shape.
  • the inert endless material can be treated in any way which will not destroy its inertness or elastic qualities to aid in detecting whether it is in correct position or not.
  • the addition of barium sulfate to make it radiation opaque has been described but many other techniques can be envisioned.
  • One alternate method would be to use a material electrically conductive in nature whereby its presence could be substantiated quickly by an electric induction measuring instrument placed on the lower abdomen.
  • the ultra-uterine device of this invention is useful for preventing pregnancies in women.
  • the three loops are designed to obtain maximum filling of the uterine void while exposing a minimum of the device to the pushing effect of the fundus muscle thereby resulting in a greater resistance to expulsion than any of the prior art devices.
  • the three loop configuration additionally imposes minimum barrier action to the transit of the ovum through the uterine cavity.
  • the free channels offered to the passage of the ovum give it minimum opportunity for contact with the uterine walls thereby resulting in a much lesser likelihood of implantation upon the uterine walls.
  • Another advantage over the prior art is the smooth, continuous nature of this in-tra-uterine device.
  • the elimination of any free ends or any blunt or cuspate forms makes this device much less likely to pierce the delicate uterine walls either upon insertion, removal or while the device is in place.
  • the devices of this invention are also more adaptable to a variety of uterine cavity shapes and dimensions than prior art devices because of their smooth, continuous nature and because of the geometrical configuration of three loops. Each of the three loops is free-moving with respect to the other loops giving the whole device great degree of flexibility.
  • the smooth, continuous nature of the device allows it to find and gently press against the uterine walls without damaging or irritating them.
  • This device has a further advantage over the prior art in that it can readily and easily be formed in a variety of sizes and shapes within the basic configuration of three continuous loops which makes it readily adaptable to insertion in a wide range of uterine cavities.
  • a trefoil intra-uterine device which comprises an inert endless material in the shape of three continuous freely movable adjacently-positioned loops said loops being interconnected such that the two terminating portions of each loop continue smoothly into the terminating portions of the adjacent loops, said intra-uterine device capable of being deformed by the application of a small amount of force and being sufficiently elastic to return substantially to its original shape when the force is removed.
  • the inert endless material comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyamides, polyolefins and polyesters.
  • the inert endless material comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyamides, polyolefins and polyesters.
  • the inert endless material comprises a polymer of a compound selected from the group consisting of ethylene, propylene, tetrafluoroethylene, hexamethylene adip amide, acrylic acid, methaorylic acid, terepht-halic acid, and esters of acrylic, methacrylic and terephthalic acids.
  • the intra-uterine device of claim 3 wherein the inert endless material comprises a polymer of ethylene having a cross-sectional diameter of from about 0.70 millimeter to about 2.20 millimeters.
  • the inert endless material comprises a multifilament of a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyamides, polyolefins and polyesters.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • Vascular Medicine (AREA)
  • Reproductive Health (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Orthopedics, Nursing, And Contraception (AREA)
  • Surgical Instruments (AREA)
US555503A 1966-06-06 1966-06-06 Intra-uterine device Expired - Lifetime US3312214A (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US555503A US3312214A (en) 1966-06-06 1966-06-06 Intra-uterine device
NL6616483A NL6616483A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1966-06-06 1966-11-23
GB21805/67A GB1152800A (en) 1966-06-06 1967-05-10 Inter-Uterine Device
FR1561933D FR1561933A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1966-06-06 1967-06-06

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US555503A US3312214A (en) 1966-06-06 1966-06-06 Intra-uterine device

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US3312214A true US3312214A (en) 1967-04-04

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US555503A Expired - Lifetime US3312214A (en) 1966-06-06 1966-06-06 Intra-uterine device

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US (1) US3312214A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR1561933A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1152800A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
NL (1) NL6616483A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3490446A (en) * 1966-04-07 1970-01-20 Statni Vyzkumny Ustav Textilni Contraceptive
US3628530A (en) * 1969-03-24 1971-12-21 Jerome Schwartz Intrauterine device for contraception
US3690324A (en) * 1970-01-26 1972-09-12 Mayer D Spivack Baby{40 s pacifier
US3789838A (en) * 1971-02-19 1974-02-05 E Fournier Force transmitting intrauterine device
USD475487S1 (en) 2001-07-09 2003-06-03 Deangelis Cindy Pet toy
USD505524S1 (en) 2001-07-09 2005-05-24 Deangelis Cindy Pet toy
US20090149833A1 (en) * 2007-12-11 2009-06-11 Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Implantable Drug Delivery Device and Methods for Treatment of the Bladder and Other Body Vesicles or Lumens
CN110151383A (zh) * 2019-06-19 2019-08-23 辽宁爱母医疗科技有限公司 一种宫内节育器支架
USD1001994S1 (en) 2021-03-11 2023-10-17 Leo Corona Condom

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2150439A (en) * 1983-07-06 1985-07-03 El Madani Hassan An intra-uterine contraceptive device

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2122579A (en) * 1934-06-13 1938-07-05 Louis W Meckstroth Intra-uterine device
US3077879A (en) * 1960-02-27 1963-02-19 Knoch Max Hermann Contraceptive intra-uterine appliance
US3200815A (en) * 1962-04-24 1965-08-17 Mount Sinai Hospital Res Found Coil spring intra-uterine contraceptive device and method of using
US3250271A (en) * 1963-04-29 1966-05-10 Lippes Jack Intrauterine device
US3253590A (en) * 1964-04-24 1966-05-31 Charles H Birnberg Intrauterine device

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2122579A (en) * 1934-06-13 1938-07-05 Louis W Meckstroth Intra-uterine device
US2176559A (en) * 1934-06-13 1939-10-17 Louis W Meckstroth Intra-uterine device
US3077879A (en) * 1960-02-27 1963-02-19 Knoch Max Hermann Contraceptive intra-uterine appliance
US3200815A (en) * 1962-04-24 1965-08-17 Mount Sinai Hospital Res Found Coil spring intra-uterine contraceptive device and method of using
US3250271A (en) * 1963-04-29 1966-05-10 Lippes Jack Intrauterine device
US3253590A (en) * 1964-04-24 1966-05-31 Charles H Birnberg Intrauterine device

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3490446A (en) * 1966-04-07 1970-01-20 Statni Vyzkumny Ustav Textilni Contraceptive
US3628530A (en) * 1969-03-24 1971-12-21 Jerome Schwartz Intrauterine device for contraception
US3690324A (en) * 1970-01-26 1972-09-12 Mayer D Spivack Baby{40 s pacifier
US3789838A (en) * 1971-02-19 1974-02-05 E Fournier Force transmitting intrauterine device
USD475487S1 (en) 2001-07-09 2003-06-03 Deangelis Cindy Pet toy
USD505524S1 (en) 2001-07-09 2005-05-24 Deangelis Cindy Pet toy
US20090149833A1 (en) * 2007-12-11 2009-06-11 Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Implantable Drug Delivery Device and Methods for Treatment of the Bladder and Other Body Vesicles or Lumens
US9586035B2 (en) * 2007-12-11 2017-03-07 Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Implantable drug delivery device and methods for treatment of the bladder and other body vesicles or lumens
US10646691B2 (en) 2007-12-11 2020-05-12 Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Intravesical drug delivery methods and devices
US11612718B2 (en) 2007-12-11 2023-03-28 Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Intravesical drug delivery devices
US12296127B2 (en) 2007-12-11 2025-05-13 Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Intravesical drug delivery devices
CN110151383A (zh) * 2019-06-19 2019-08-23 辽宁爱母医疗科技有限公司 一种宫内节育器支架
USD1001994S1 (en) 2021-03-11 2023-10-17 Leo Corona Condom

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR1561933A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1969-04-04
NL6616483A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1967-01-25
GB1152800A (en) 1969-05-21

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SU932966A3 (ru) Внутриматочный противозачаточный вкладыш