Pessary for treating vaginal prolapse

• US 5,894,842 A
• Filed: 08/11/1998
• Issued: 04/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research (Northwell Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Long Island Jewish Medical Center
• Inventors: Rabin, Jill M., Dayal, Ashlesha
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US09/132,415
• Time in Patent Office: 252 Days
• Field of Search: 128/830-841
• US Class Current: 128/830
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/005 with pressure applied to urethra by an element placed in the vagina
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 6/08 Pessaries, i.e. devices worn in the vagina to support the uterus, remedy a malposition or prevent conception , e.g. combined with devices protecting against contagion

Abstract

An intravaginal pessary for treating prolapses includes a flexible core having a longitudinal axis and being disposed in a three dimensional configuration. The longitudinal dimension of the core along its longitudinal axis is modifiable within limits by manual pressure, both before and after insertion of the pessary into a vagina, the core being non-resiliently expandable and contractible within limits to modify the longitudinal dimension. A first longitudinal portion of the core is meshingly engageable with a second longitudinal portion of the core intersecting the first longitudinal portion of the core to lock within limits the longitudinal dimensions of the core intermediate the first and second longitudinal portions. The first and second longitudinal portions are manually separable, both before and after insertion of the pessary into the vagina, to unlock the longitudinal dimension of the core intermediate the first and second longitudinal portions. A thin flexible casing of bio-compatible and deformable gel encloses the core without precluding such locking and unlocking thereof.

Claims

1. An intravaginal pessary for treating prolapses comprising:

A) a flexible core having a longitudinal axis and being disposed in a twisted three dimensional configuration, the longitudinal dimension of said core along its longitudinal axis being modifiable within limits by manual pressure both before and after insertion of said pessary into a vagina, said core being non-resiliently expandable and contractible within limits to modify the longitudinal dimension of said core;

a first longitudinal portion of said core being meshingly engageable with a second longitudinal portion of said core intersecting said first longitudinal portion of said core to lock within limits the longitudinal dimension of said core intermediate said first and second longitudinal portions, both before and after insertion of said pessary into the vagina;

said first and second longitudinal portions being manually separable, both before and after insertion of said pessary into the vagina, to unlock the longitudinal dimension of said core intermediate said first and second longitudinal portions; and

B) a flexible casing of bio-compatible and deformable material enclosing said core without precluding such locking and unlocking thereof.

7. The pessary of claim 1 wherein said core is hollow.

2. An intravaginal pessary for treating prolapses comprising:

A) a flexible core having a longitudinal axis and being disposed in a twisted three dimensional configuration, the longitudinal dimension of said core along its longitudinal axis being modifiable within limits by manual pressure both before and after insertion of said pessary into a vagina, said core being formed of corrugated tubing defining alternating grooves and ridges, said grooves being non-resiliently expandable and contractible within limits to modify the longitudinal dimension of said core;

at least one of said ridges along a first longitudinal portion of said core being meshingly engageable with an adjacent pair of said ridges along a second longitudinal portion of said core intersecting said first longitudinal portion of said core to lock within limits the longitudinal dimension of said core intermediate said first and second longitudinal portions, both before and after insertion of said pessary into the vagina;

said at least one ridge and said adjacent pair of ridges being manually separable, both before and after insertion of said pessary into the vagina, to unlock the longitudinal dimension of said core intermediate said first and second longitudinal portions; and

B) a flexible casing of bio-compatible and deformable gel enclosing said core without precluding such locking and unlocking thereof.

3. The pessary of claim 2 wherein only one of said ridges along the first longitudinal portion of said core meshingly engages at least an adjacent pair of said ridges along the second longitudinal portion of said core.

4. The pessary of claim 3 wherein said only one ridge and said adjacent pair of said ridges are manually engageable and separable.

5. The pessary of claim 2 wherein at least an adjacent pair of said ridges along the first longitudinal portion of said core meshingly engage at least an adjacent pair of said ridges along a second longitudinal portion of said core.

6. The pessary of claim 5 wherein said two adjacent pairs of said ridges are manually engageable and separable.

8. An intravaginal pessary for treating prolapses comprising:

A) a flexible hollow core having a longitudinal axis and being disposed in a twisted three dimensional configuration, the longitudinal dimension of the core along its longitudinal axis being modifiable within limits by manual pressure, both before and after insertion of said pessary into a vagina, said core being formed of corrugated tubing defining alternating grooves and ridges, said grooves being non-resiliently expandable and contractible within limits to modify the longitudinal dimension of said core;

at least one of said ridges along a first longitudinal portion of said core being meshingly engageable with at least an adjacent pair of said ridges along a second longitudinal portion of said core intersecting said first longitudinal portion of said core to lock within limits the longitudinal dimension of said core intermediate said first and second longitudinal portions, both before and after insertion of said pessary into the vagina;

said at least one ridge and said adjacent pair of ridges being manually separable, both before and after insertion of said pessary into the vagina, to unlock the longitudinal dimension of said core intermediate said first and second longitudinal portions; and

B) a flexible casing of bio-compatible and deformable gel enclosing said core without precluding such locking and unlocking thereof.

9. A method of treating prolapse of a vagina by use of a pessary, comprising the steps of:

A) providing a pessary formed of

i) a flexible hollow core having a longitudinal axis and being disposed in a twisted three dimensional configuration, the longitudinal dimension of the core along its longitudinal axis being modifiable within limits by manual pressure both before and after insertion of the pessary into a vagina, the core being formed of corrugated tubing defining alternating grooves and ridges, the grooves being non-resiliently expandable and contractible within limits to modify the longitudinal dimension of the core;

at least one of the ridges along a first longitudinal portion of the core being meshingly engageable with at least an adjacent pair of the ridges along a second longitudinal portion of the core intersecting the first longitudinal portion of the core to lock within limits the longitudinal dimension of the core intermediate the first and second longitudinal portions, both before and after insertion of the pessary into the vagina;

the one ridge and the adjacent pair of ridges being manually separable, both before and after insertion of the pessary into the vagina, to unlock the longitudinal dimension of the core intermediate the first and second longitudinal portions; and

ii) a flexible casing of bio-compatible and deformable material enclosing the core without precluding such locking and unlocking;

B) manually separating the at least one ridge and the adjacent pair of ridges, thereby to unlock the longitudinal dimension;

C) expanding or contracting the grooves to modify the longitudinal dimension; and

D) meshingly engaging at least one ridge and one adjacent pair of ridges, thereby to lock the longitudinal dimension.