Intravaginal anchor
First Claim
1. An intravaginal anchoring device for a mammalian female comprising(a) an elongated tubular body provided with a plurality of slots disposed substantially parallel to each other and to the length of said body such that, in an expanded position, the ends of said body are moved towards each other and flange portions of said body between adjacent pairs of said slots are distended away from an axis of said body and, in a collapsed position, the ends of said body are moved away from each other and flange portions are retracted towards said axis and(b) a biasing means for urging said body into said expanded position,wherein, in said expanded position, the greatest distance between distal vertices of opposing flange portions is less than an expanded internal diameter of an anterior portion of said female'"'"'s vagina but greater than a contracted internal diameter of a posterior portion of said vagina prior to the onset of fetal delivery so that the device is free and mobile therein.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An intravaginal anchoring device for mammalian females comprises an elongated tubular body provided with a plurality of slots disposed substantially parallel to each other and to the length of the tubular body such that, in an expanded position, the ends of the body are moved towards each other and flange portions of the body between adjacent pairs of slots are distended away from an axis of the body and, in a collapsed position, the ends of the body are moved away from each other and the flange portions are retracted towards the axis. The device further comprises a biasing means for urging the body into the expanded position. A purpose of the anchor is to contain any payload appropriate to the interior of a female mammal'"'"'s vagina.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An intravaginal anchoring device for a mammalian female comprising
(a) an elongated tubular body provided with a plurality of slots disposed substantially parallel to each other and to the length of said body such that, in an expanded position, the ends of said body are moved towards each other and flange portions of said body between adjacent pairs of said slots are distended away from an axis of said body and, in a collapsed position, the ends of said body are moved away from each other and flange portions are retracted towards said axis and (b) a biasing means for urging said body into said expanded position, wherein, in said expanded position, the greatest distance between distal vertices of opposing flange portions is less than an expanded internal diameter of an anterior portion of said female'"'"'s vagina but greater than a contracted internal diameter of a posterior portion of said vagina prior to the onset of fetal delivery so that the device is free and mobile therein.
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14. An intravaginal anchoring device for a mammalian female comprising
(a) an elongated tubular body provided with a plurality of slots disposed substantially parallel to each other and to the length of said body such that, in an expanded position, the ends of said body are moved towards each other and flange portions of said body between adjacent pairs of said slots are distended away from an axis of said body and, in a collapsed position, the ends of said body are moved away from each other and said flange portions are retracted towards said axis and (b) a biasing means for urging said body into said expanded position, wherein, in said expanded position, the greatest distance between distal vertices of opposing flange portions is less than an expanded internal diameter of an anterior portion of said female'"'"'s vagina but greater than a contracted internal diameter of a posterior portion of said vagina prior to the onset of fetal delivery, said biasing means comprising at least one elongated elastic memnber attached at one end to a first end of said body and at the other end to a second end of said body.
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15. An intravaginal anchoring device for a mammalian female comprising
(a) an elongated tubular body provided with a plurality of slots disposed substantially parallel to each other and to the length of said body such that, in an expanded position, the ends of said body are moved towards each other and flange portions of said body between adjacent pairs of said slots are distended away from an axis of said body and, in a collapsed position, the ends of said body are moved away from each other and said flange portions are retracted towards said axis, (b) a biasing means for urging said body into said expanded position, and (c) a distancing means for maintaining a minimum distance between ends of said flange portions in said expanded position, wherein said distancing means comprises a protrusion affixed adjacent to first ends of said flange portions and extending toward second ends of said flange portions and at least one stop affixed adjacent to said second ends of said flange portions, such that said protrusion rests against said stop to maintain said minimum distance.
- 16. An intravaginal anchoring device for a mammalian female comprising a flexible flanged area capable of assuming an expanded diameter and a collapsed diameter, and a biasing means to urge said area into said expanded diameter, wherein said expanded diameter is less than an expanded internal diameter of an anterior portion of said female'"'"'s vagina and greater than a contracted internal diameter of a posterior portion of said female'"'"'s vagina prior to the onset of fetal delivery, such that said device is retained in said anterior portion, and wherein said collapsed diameter is less than said internal diameter of said posterior portion prior to the onset of fetal delivery.
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18. A method of anchoring a device within an anterior portion of the vagina of a mammalian femal comprising the steps of
selecting an anchor having an elongated tubular body provided with a plurality of slots disposed substantially parallel to each other and to the length of said body such that, in an expanded position, the ends of said body are moved towards each other and flange portions of said body between adjacent pairs of said slots are distended away from an axis of said body and, in a collapsed position, the ends of said body are moved away from each other and said flange portions are retracted towards said axis, and a biasing means for urging said body into said expanded position, wherein, in said expanded position, the greatest distance between distal vertices of opposing flange portions is less than an expanded internal diameter of an anterior portion of said female'"'"'s vagina but greater than a contracted internal diameter of a posterior portion of said vagina portion to the onset of fetal delivery, configuring said body into said collapsed position, inserting said body through said contracted internal diameter and into said anterior portion, expanding said body into said expanded position, and biasing said body into said expanded position such that said anchor is retained within said anterior portion.
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23. A method of anchoring a device within an anterior portion of the vagina of a mammalian female comprising the steps of
selecting an anchor having an elongated tubular body provided with a plurality of slots disposed substantially parallel to each other and to the length of said body such that, in an expanded position, the ends of said body are moved towards each other and flange portions of said body between adjacent pairs of said slots are distended away from an axis of said body and, in a collapsed position, the ends of said body are moved away from each other and said flange portions are retracted towards said axis, and a biasing means for urging said body into said expanded position, wherein, in said expanded position, the greatest distance between distal vertices of opposing flange portions is less than an expanded internal diameter of an anterior portion of said female'"'"'s vagina but greater than a contracted internal diameter of a posterior portion of said vagina prior to the onset of fetal delivery, configuring said body into said collapsed position, inserting said body through said contracted internal diameter and into said anterior portion, expanding said body into said expanded position, and biasing said body into said expanded position such that said anchor is retained within said anterior portion, said biasing step comprising the step of affixing at least one elongated elastic member to both ends of said body.
Specification