ABORTIFACIENT

• US 3,810,456 A
• Filed: 04/03/1972
• Issued: 05/14/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Harvey Karman
• Original Assignee: Harvey Karman
• Inventors: Karman, Harvey
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaudet, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US05/240,529
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 128/1R,130,127,128,129 205/53-55
• US Class Current: 128/830
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/42 Gynaecological or obstetrical instruments or methods ligaturing clamps or clips for the umbilical cord A61B17/122; curettage A61B17/320708; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 6/142 Wirelike structures, e.g. loops, rings, spirals

Abstract

An intrauterine device for use as an abortifacient, a method of making the device, and method of inducing an abortion. The device is a strip or ribbon of plastic material set in a coiled configuration. The coiled strip retains a memory of its generally circular form and tends to maintain a coiled planar configuration after insertion into the uterus.

Claims

1. An intrauterine device for use as an abortifacient, comprising in combination:

a retainer having a bottom and a circumferential rim fixed to said bottom, said rim having a slot therein;

a strip of plastic material of generally rectangular cross section and set in a multiturn coil with free inner and outer ends, with said coil positioned in said retainer with the outer turn urged outwards engaging said rim in coil restraining relation; and

a string affixed to said strip outer end and projecting through said slot for withdrawing said strip from said retainer through said slot.

2. An intrauterine device for use as an abortifacient, including in combination:

a flexible tube having an outer end and an inner end, with said inner end having a tapered flexible tip;

a retainer having a bottom and a circumferential rim, with a slot in said rim;

a strip of plastic material set in a multiturn coil within said retainer, with the outer end of said coiled strip projecting through said retainer slot into said tube inner end, with said tube tip overlying said retainer slot; and

a string affixed to said strip outer end and extending through said tube and out said tube outer end.

3. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein said tube has an arcuate configuration with an open side of the tapered tip on the concave side of said tube, and wherein said strip has a tapered flexible tip at its inner end.