Claims for Patent: 3,783,861

Summary for Patent: 3,783,861

Title:	INSERTER FOR INTRAUTERINE DEVICES
Abstract:	An instrument for the insertion into the uterus of a flexible contraceptive device formed from a tubular barrel having a first end for insertion into the uterus and an adjustable stop member for engaging the cervical is at a selected distance for the anterior end of the insertion end. The barrel has diametrically opposed axially extending apertures therein located posteriorly of the stop member for receiving the intrauterine device with the first arm thereof extending through the apertures transversely of the barrel and the second arm extending axially within the barrel toward the posterior portion thereof. A crossbar is provided on the barrel adjacent the apertures for folding the first arm into the barrel adjacent the second arm and substantially parallel thereto. A plunger member, telescopically inserted in the posterior portion of the barrel, has a free end adapted to move the folded intrauterine device from its position adjacent the apertures through the first barrel end to deposit the device in the uterus.
Inventor(s):	Abramson; Harvey J. (New York, NY)
Assignee:	G. D. Searle & Co. (Chicago, IL)
Application Number:	05/152,101
Patent Claims:	1. An instrument for the insertion into the uterus of a flexible contraceptive device including a first transverse arm and a second arm coplanar with said first arm and dependent therefrom, said insertion instrument comprising a tubular barrel having an insertion end, stop means on said barrel for engaging the cervical os, said stop means being located at a distance from the anterior end of said insertion end corresponding to a predetermined depth of insertion of said insertion end in the uterus, said barrel having diametrically opposed axially extending apertures therein located posteriorly of said stop means for receiving said intrauterine device with the first arm thereof extending through said apertures transversely of said barrel and said second arm extending from its point of connection with said first arm through one of said apertures and into said barrel with the major portion thereof extending axially within said barrel towards the posterior portion thereof, means on said barrel adjacent said apertures for folding said first arm into said barrel adjacent said second arm and substantially parallel thereto and a plunger telescopically inserted in the posterior portion of said barrel and having a free end operably engageable with said second arm, said plunger being slidable in said barrel to move the folded intrauterine device from its position adjacent said apertures through said barrel insertion end for depositing said device at a predetermined location in the uterus. 2. An instrument as in claim 1 wherein said folding means comprises a crossbar pivotally mounted on said barrel and selectively rotatable from a position transverse to said barrel to a position substantially in axial alignment therewith, said crossbar having first and second depending abutment means thereon located on opposite sides of said barrel, said first abutment means being positioned to engage said first arm adjacent a first end thereof and said second abutment means being positioned to operably engage a second end of said first arm on the barrel side remote from said first end, whereby rotation of said crossbar from said transverse position to said axially aligned position urges said abutment means into engagement with said intrauterine device and folds said first arm into said barrel adjacent said second arm. 3. An instrument as in claim 2 including means for locking said crossbar in said axially aligned position. 4. An instrument as in claim 3 wherein said locking means holds said crossbar in said aligned position against the bias of said first arm and includes a pair of operably engageable protuberances respectively positioned on said barrel and said crossbar. 5. An instrument as in claim 1 wherein said plunger includes a finger-press portion on the end thereof remote from said intrauterine device. 6. An instrument as in claim 1 wherein said plunger is generally cruciform in cross-section. 7. An instrument as in claim 1 including a thumb rest formed on the surface of said barrel adjacent the posterior portion thereof. 8. An instrument as in claim 1 wherein said insertion end of said barrel is curved to generally conform to the curvature of the uterine cavity. 9. An instrument as in claim 8 including a thumb rest formed on the surface of said barrel adjacent the posterior portion thereof, said thumb rest being located on the side of said barrel towards which said insertion end is curved to provide an external indication to the operator of said instrument of the position of said insertion end in the uterus. 10. An instrument as in claim 1 wherein said stop means is removably mounted on said barrel and is positionable adjacent said insertion end at selected distances from the anterior end of said insertion end to selectively vary the depth of insertion of said insertion end in the uterus. 11. An instrument as in claim 1 wherein said barrel has a plurality of recesses therein at varying distances from the anterior end of said insertion end and said stop means is removably mounted on said barrel and includes means for selectively frictionally engaging said recesses to selectively vary the position of said stop means whereby the predetermined depth of insertion of said insertion end in the uterus may be varied. 12. An instrument as in claim 11 wherein said stop means comprises a generally semi-cylindrical member having an abutment surface at one end thereof and said recess engagement means posteriorly located at the other end thereof, said semicylindrical member having an axial length selected to position said abutment means forwardly of the most anterior of said recesses when said engaging means is located in the most posterior of said recesses, whereby surrounding uterine and vaginal tissues are protected. 13. An instrument as in claim 12 wherein said recesses are generally annular and said recess engaging means comprises a generally semi-cylindrical flange. 14. An instrument as in claim 1 wherein said barrel has an elongated axially extending slot along substantially the entire length thereof and said plunger has an auxiliary stop member extending through said slot, said auxiliary stop member being moved into engagement with the cervical os adjacent said stop means as said plunger moves said intrauterine device from adjacent said apertures, whereby further urging of said plunger towards said insertion end causes said barrel and insertion end to move rearwardly with respect to said plunger, thereby freeing said insertion device and depositing it in the uterus. 15. An instrument as in claim 14 including oppositely extending fingerpieces on said barrel adjacent the posterior end thereof. 16. An instrument as in claim 14 wherein said folding means comprises a crossbar pivotally mounted on said barrel and selectively rotatable from a position transverse to said barrel to a position substantially in axial alignment therewith, said crossbar having first and second depending abutment means thereon located on opposite sides of said barrel, said first abutment means being positioned to engage a first end of said first arm and said second abutment means being positioned to operably engage a second end of said first arm on the barrel side thereof remote from said first end, whereby rotation of said crossbar from said transverse position to said axially aligned position urges said abutment means into engagement with said intrauterine device and folds said first arm into said barrel adjacent said second arm. 17. An instrument for the insertion into the uterus of a flexible contraceptive device including a first transverse arm and a second arcuate arm coplanar with said first arm and dependent from one end thereof, said insertion instrument comprising a tubular barrel having an insertion end and diametrically opposed axially extending apertures at an intermediate portion thereof through which said intrauterine device is received in said barrel with the first arm thereof extending through said apertures transversely of said barrel and said second arm extending from its point of connection with said first arm through one of said apertures and into said barrel with the major portion thereof extending axially within said barrel towards the posterior portion thereof, means on said barrel adjacent said apertures for folding said first arm into said barrel adjacent said second arm and substantially parallel thereto, and a plunger telescopically inserted in the posterior portion of said barrel and having a free end operably engageable with said second arm, said plunger being slidable in said barrel to move the folded intrauterine device from its position adjacent said apertures through said barrel insertion end for depositing said device at a predetermined location in the uterus. 18. An instrument as in claim 20 wherein said folding means comprises a crossbar pivotally mounted on said barrel and selectively rotatable from a position transverse to said barrel to a position substantially in axial alignment therewith, said crossbar having first and second depending abutment means thereon located on opposite sides of said barrel, said first abutment means being positioned to engage said second arm adjacent its point of connection with said first arm and said second abutment means being positioned to engage said first arm on the side thereof remote from said second arm, whereby rotation of said crossbar from said transverse position to said axially aligned position urges said abutment means into engagement with said intrauterine device and folds said first arm into said barrel adjacent said second arm. 19. An instrument as in claim 21 wherein said second abutment means have a recess therein accommodating the point of connection of said second arm with said first arm, and an extension portion received in the adjacent aperture when said crossbar is in its axially aligned position, said extension portion having an inclined surface for engaging said point of connection as said intrauterine device is moved away from said apertures by said plunger to guide said point of connection into said barrel. 20. An instrument as in claim 21 including means for locking said crossbar in said axially aligned position. 21. An instrument as in claim 23 wherein said locking means holds said crossbar in said aligned position against the bias of said first arm and includes a pair of operably engageable protuberances respectively positioned on said barrel and said crossbar. 22. An instrument as in claim 20 wherein said plunger is generally cruciform in cross-section. 23. An instrument as in claim 20 wherein said insertion end of said barrel is curved to generally conform to the curvature of the uterine cavity. 24. An instrument as in claim 26 including a thumb rest formed on the surface of said barrel adjacent the posterior portion thereof, said thumb rest being located on the side of said barrel towards which said insertion end is curved to provide an external indication to the operator of said instrument of the position of said insertion end in the uterus. 25. An instrument as in claim 27 wherein said insertion end of said barrel has a smaller outside diameter than the remainder of said barrel. 26. An instrument for the insertion into the uterus of an intrauterine device, which instrument comprises a tubular barrel receiving said intrauterine device and having an insertion end, stop means on said barrel for engaging the cervical os, said stop means having a groove therein and being located at a distance from the anterior end of said insertion end corresponding to a predetermined depth of insertion of said insertion end in the uterus, said barrel having an axially extending slot along substantially the entire length thereof and in axial alignment with said groove in said stop means, and a plunger slidably and telescopically inserted in the posterior portion of said barrel, said plunger having a free end operably engageable with said intrauterine device and an auxiliary stop member extending through said slot, said auxiliary stop member being located at the anterior end of said plunger and being moved within said slot and groove into engagement with the cervical os as said plunger moves said device toward said insertion end, whereby further urging of said plunger towards said insertion end causes said barrel and insertion end to move rearwardly with respect to said plunger thereby freeing said insertion device and depositing it in the uterus. 27. An instrument as in claim 26 including oppositely extending fingerpieces on said barrel adjacent the posterior end thereof.