US3234938A - Intra-uterine u stem pessary - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 15, 1966 R. R. ROBINSON INTRA-UTERINE U STEM PESSARY Filed May 27, 1963 IN V EN TOR. Ra/ph R. Robinson United States Patent 3,234,938 liNTRA-UTERHNE U STEM PESSARY Ralph R. Robinson, Seattle, Wash. (322 Englewood Road, Middleshoro, Ky.) Filed May 27, 1963, Ser. No. 233,326 4 Claims. (Cl. 128-130) This invention relates to a pessary for use in correcting anatomical defects, and has as its primary object the provision of a pessary of improved construction which may be inserted and worn within the uterine cavity with a minimum of irritation to the wearer thereof and which substantially eliminates cramping and the complications associated therewith experienced by wearers of pessaries heretofore utilized.

Another important object of the present invention is the provision of a pessary which may be readily inserted within and removed from the uterus while at the same time providing means for substantially blocking the Fallopian tubes leading to the uterus and preventing any substantial implantation of ovum in the uterus even if such Fallopian tubes are not completely blocked.

Still another important object of the present invention is the provision of a pessary having a pair of resilient normally arcuate elements coupled with a shank and being capable of distortion relative to the latter into a configuration with the elements being disposed straight and parallel so that the pessary may be quickly and easily inserted in and removed from the uterus with the elements in the aforesaid configuration notwithstanding the fact that the elements resume their normal, arcuate shape when the pessary is fully inserted within the uterus.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a pessary of the type described which may be carried completely within an insertion tube prior to the insertion of the pessary within the uterus, whereby the tube may be extended through the cervical opening of the uterus to serve as a guide for the pessary as the same is directed out of the tube and into the uterus.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a pessary having generally arcuate elements presently convex, outermost surfaces which are engageable with the inner wall of the uterus for supporting the same to maintain the proper shape thereof, notwithstanding the fact that the elements are normally disposed to substantially block the Fallopian tubes when the pessary is disposed within the uterus.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a pessary of the type described which may be disposed completely within the uterus and cervix thereof and which may be removed therefrom without requiring the use of additional structure carried by the pessary and projecting outwardly from the cervix of the uterus as has been heretofore required with conventional pessary devices.

ln the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a pessary constructed pursuant to the concepts of the present invention and illustrating the same in an insertion tool prior to the insertion of the pessary into the uterus;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view of the tube inserted into the cervical opening of the uterus and further illustrating the normal disposition of the pessary when the same is disposed within the uterus;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 and showing the tube removed from the cervical opening of the uterus;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the pessary; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of an instrument for removing the pessary from the uterus.

The pessary which forms the subject of the present invention is broadly denoted by the numeral and includes "ice a relatively rigid shank l2 and a pair of oppositely looped elements 114 secured to and extending outwardly from oneend 15 ofshank 12 as is clear in FIGS. 2 and 3. Preferably,elements 14 are integral with shank l2 and are formed from a nonmetallic, yieldable material such as a suitable plastic. In this respect it is conceivable that pessary ill may be molded by any of the well know molding techniques so that theelements 14, although being substantially resilient, will normally assume the relative dispositions thereof as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Eachelement 14 includes an elongated, upwardly-extending, slightly arcuate upwardly-bowed arm 16 and an arcuate extension 13 merging smoothly witharm 16 at the extremity of the latter remote fromshank 12 witharms 16 tangent toextensions 18. It is clear that the radius of curvature of eacharm 16 is substantially greater than that of the corresponding extension 13, the radius of curvature of eachextension 18 being substantially constant throughout the arcuate length of the latter. Thearms 14 converge asend 15 ofshank 12 is approached and theextensions 18 project outwardly fromarms 14 in opposite directions.

Each extension 1% has anarcuate portion 17 extending downwardly therefrom and eachportion 17 has an arcuate, inwardly-extendinglength 19 thereon. Eachlength 19 terminates at an extremity ofterminus 20 which is normally in relatively close proximity to the medial zone of thecorresponding arm 16. In addition,extremity 20 is disposed intermediate a line extending fromend 15 ofshank 12 to the major portion of thecorresponding extension 18.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3,arms 16 ofelements 14 are substantially divergent as the same recede fromend 15. In addition, theelements 14, as is clear in FIG. 4, are each provided with a pair of opposed, arcuate edges 22 extending throughout the length thereof.

Pessary 16 is to be utilized within theuterine cavity 26 defined by theuterine walls 28, 3t and 32. In this position,pessary 10 is disposed so that the end of shank l2 remote fromend 15, protrudes slightly at thevertical opening 34 at the outer ring of thecervix 36, as shown in FIG. 3.

Eachelement 14 is disposed such that outer,convex surfaces 24 and 25 ofextensions 18 andportions 17 respectively are in relatively close proximity to or in engagement with theproximal walls 28 and 30-32. For instance, each extension 13 is disposed with itssurface 24 in tengential engagement withwall 28. Similarly, eachpor tion 17 is disposed with itssurface 25 in tengential engagement with corresponding walls 3t) and 32. The interengagement ofelements 14 withwalls 28, 3t) and 32 provides a substantial support for such walls so as to maintain the normal shape ofcavity 26. Moreover,elements 14 are disposed withincavity 26 so as to substantially block the path of ovum directed intocavity 26 from theFallopian tubes 38 at the normal extremities ofcavity 26. This is apparent sincesurfaces 24 and 25 tengentially engagerespective walls 28, 3t and 32.

Each terminus 2% is disposed inwardly ofsurface 25, outwardly ofarm 16 and downwardly ofsurface 24, preferably spaced from the inner surface of the coil segment which constituteselement 14.

It has been found that even ifelements 14 do not completely block the path of ovum passing fromtubes 38, pessary It) prevents the implantation of the ovum on theuterine walls 28, 3t and 32. This is believed due to a stimulated foreign body reaction. Such reaction causes no substantial tissue changes in the walls themselves and, therefore, the same can be considered a benign condition.

Means for insertingpessary 10 withincavity 26 includes a tube 49 having a pair ofopen ends 42 and 44 and provided with aplunger 46 movable into and out oftube 40 atend 44 thereof. Pessary is of such a nature thatelements 14 may assume straight and parallel configurations as they are inserted intotube 40 atend 42. As shown in FIG. 1,pess'ary 10 is completely received withintube 40 wit-h theshank 12 ofpessary 10 being first received therein, theelements 14 thereupon becoming unlooped into side-by-side,elongated members 27.

In use,tube 40 is extended through thecervix 36 and partially intocavity 26 as shown in FIG. 2. Plunger 46 is then urged intotube 40 and againstshank 12 to forcepessary 10 into cavity 2 6. As themember 27 move out oftube 40 and intocavity 26, theelements 14 re-loop and resume their normal arcuate coil segments. Plunger 46 continues to force thepessary 10 out oftube 40 until surfaces 24- ofextensions 18contact wall 28. Tube 40 is then retracted from withincervix 36 andpessary 10 assumes the disposition illustrated in FIG. 3.

The method of insertion ofpessary 10 withincavity 26 results in a minimum of irritation since thepessary 10 automatically assumes the normal configuration as the same emanates fromtube 40. Also,tube 40 may be of a material and of a construction to minimize any irritation to the adjacent walls forming thecervix 36 as the tube is inserted and removed therefrom.

To removepessary 10 fromcavity 26, aninstrument 48 is utilized, the latter including a resilient,tubular shank 50 having asleeve 52 secured thereto at one end thereof, and a finger engaging bar 54 at the opposite end thereof. Arod 56 of small diameter extends through and is shiftable withinshank 50. One end ofrod 56 is coupled to a pair ofresilient jaws 58 which are carried withinsleeve 52 and normally diverge asjaws 58 move out ofsleeve 52. The opposite end ofrod 56 is coupled with agrasping ring 60, the latter being normally spaced from bar 54 by abias spring 62. As ring 69 is urged toward bar 54,jaws 58 move out of and project outwardly fromsleeve 52.

To removepessary 10 fromcavity 26, instrument .8 is disposed with the outer end ofsleeve 52 in relatively close proximity to the end ofshank 12 at opening 34.Ring 60 is then urged toward bar 54 to forcejaws 58 outwardly until the same surround the corresponding end ofshank 12.laws 58 are then moved intoposition grasping shank 12, andshank 50 is then shifted in a direction to drawpessary 10 out ofcavity 25.

It is to be noted that aspessary 10 is drawn out ofcavity 26,walls 39 and 32 are of such rigidity as to causeelements 14 to unloop and assume the straight configuration ofmembers 27 as illustrated in FIG. 1. Thus, aselements 14 pass through thecervix 36, they will be in the nature of substantially straight andparallel members 27. To this end, the extremities may be sufficiently rounded to minimize any irritation to walls and 32 and thewall forming cervix 36.

The present invention provides a pessary which may be inserted in and removed from the uterus with a minimum of irritation to the walls of the uterus while at the same time providing means for substantially blocking the Fallopian tubes leading to the uterus and for preventing any substantial implantation of ovum in the uterine cavity. Thematerial forming pessary 10 is of a nature such thatpessary 10 does not erode the uterine cavity so as to cause cramping and other complications associated therewith.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An infra-uterine pessary comprising:

a shank having a pair of oppositely looped elements on the upper end thereof,

said elements having upwardly-extending arms converging as said end of the shank is approached,

said arms having extensions thereon projecting outwardly in opposite directions,

each of said extensions having a portion extending downwardly therefrom,

each of said portions having an inwardly-extending length thereon,

the extensions and the portions each having an outer,

uterus-engaging surface, each of said lengths having a terminus disposed inwardly of said surface of the corresponding portion, outwardly of the corresponding arm, and downwardly of said surface of the corresponding exten- :sion,

said elements being of resilient, self-sustaining material,

permitting the same to be unlooped into side-byside, elongated members extending upwardly from said end of the shank, and thereafter, in response to the memory of said material, to re-loop upon release of said members from the upwardly-extending condition thereof.

2. The invention of claim 1, said surfaces being convex.

3. The invention of claim 1, said extension and portion of each element comprising an arcuate coil segment and said arm of each element being disposed tangentially to the extension thereof.

4. The invention of claim 1, said extension, said portion and said length of each element comprising an arcuate coil segment and said arm of each element being upwardly bowed and disposed tangentially to the extension thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 662,716 11/1900 Gaedeke 128-130 709,675 9/1902 Holloweg 128-130 1,982,001 11/1934 Haas 128130 2,122,579 7/1938 Meckstroth l28130 3,077,879 2/1963 Knoch 128-130 RICHARD A. GAUDET, Prinmry Examiner.

DALTON L. TRULUCK, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. AN INTRA-UTERINE PESSARY COMPRISING: A SHANK HAVING A PAIR OF OPPOSITELY LOOPED ELEMENTS ON THE UPPER END THEREOF, SAID ELEMENTS HAVING UPWARDLY-EXTENDING ARMS CONVERGING AS SAID END OF THE SHANK IS APPROACHED, SAID ARMS HAVING EXTENSIONS THEREON PROJECTING OUTWARDLY IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS, EACH OF SAID EXTENSIONS HAVING A PORTION EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY THEREFROM, EACH OF SAID PORTIONS HAVING AN WARDLY-EXTENDING LENGTH THEREON, THE EXTENSIONS AND THE PORTIONS EACH HAVING AN OUTER, UTERUS-ENGAGING SURFACE, EACH OF SAID LENGTHS HAVING A TERMINUS DISPOSED INWARDLY OF SAID SURFACE OF THE CORRESPONDING PORTION, OUTWARDLY OF THE CORRESPONDING ARM, AND DOWNWARDLY OF THE SURFACE OF THE CORRESPONDING EXTENSION, SAID ELEMENTS BEING OF RESILIENT, SELF-SUSTAINING MATERIAL PERMITTING THE SAME TO BE UNLOOPED INTO SIDE-BYSIDE, ELONGATED MEMBERS EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID END OF SHANK, AND THEREAFTER, IN RESPONSE TO THE MEMORY OF SAID MATERIAL, TO RE-LOOP UPON RELEASE OF SAID MEMBERS FROM THE UPWARDLY-EXTENDING CONDITION THEREOF.

Images