Disclosed are an inserter and an inserter kit for an intrauterine system. The inserter comprises an insertion tube having a first end and an opposite second end, wherein the first end is operable to removably receive the intrauterine system and a handle having a first end portion and an opposite second end portion, the first end portion of the handle is coupled to the second end of the insertion tube. The handle comprises a handling mechanism for controlling movement of the insertion tube with respect to the intrauterine system. The inserter also comprises an indicating mechanism operatively arranged in connection with the insertion tube and the handle, the indicating mechanism is communicably coupled to the handling mechanism and is operable to provide indicative signals corresponding to operational stages of the inserter. The indicative signals comprise at least one light signal and the indicating mechanism comprises a power source.

The present disclosure is related to methods of using an intrauterine system (insertion device) including an intrauterine device (IUD), an insertion device or applicator for inserting the IUD into the cervix of a female patient, methods related to the insertion procedure, and methods of manufacture for the insertion device.

An inserter for an intrauterine system can include a handle having an opening, a slider arranged in the opening, a plunger attached to the handle, an insertion tube attached to the slider and arranged around the plunger, and a lock adapted to reversibly lock at least one removal string of the intrauterine system. The lock can include a main part comprising an opening, the main part being rotatably mounted on a shaft or axle, an extension of the main part, and a counterpart. The at least one removal string passes through the opening of the main part and is immobilized between the main part and the counterpart when the lock is in a locking position. The slider is configured to press against the extension of the main part and turn the main part around the shaft or axle to release the at least one removal string as the slider is moved backwards.

A method for promoting contraception by placing a contraceptive device within a uterus without blocking fallopian tubes may involve advancing a distal end of a delivery device through a cervix, advancing the contraceptive device comprising an elongate shape memory member out of the distal end of the delivery device and into the uterus, and limiting inferior migration of the contraceptive device within the uterus. Inferior migration may be limited by allowing the contraceptive device to assume a shape, when subjected to pressure that tends to cause a downward migration of the device within the uterus, in which an expandable middle portion of the device is expanded to contact the inner wall of the uterus and thus limit the downward migration of the device.

The present invention relates to an inserter for an intrauterine system, comprising a handle (1,11), an insertion tube (4) having a longitudinal direction and connected to the handle, and a plunger (3) arranged inside the insertion tube. The inserter also comprises a force sensor (6, 5 9) arranged between the insertion tube and the handle. The insertion tube is partially arranged inside the force sensor in such a manner that when force is exerted on the insertion tube along its longitudinal direction, the insertion tube is arranged to move with respect to the force sensor.

The invention relates to an inserter for an intrauterine system, comprising a handle (3) having a longitudinal opening (8) at its first end, said opening (8) having a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the inserter, a first end (8a) and a second end (8b), a movable slider (5) arranged in said longitudinal opening (8) and having a first end (5a) and a second end (5b), a plunger (2) attached to the handle (3), an insertion tube (6) arranged around the plunger (2) having a first end and a second end, with its second end attached to the slider (5), wherein the inserter further comprises locking means for reversibly locking the intrauterine system in relation to the plunger (2) via a removal string of the intrauterine system, said locking means being controllable by the slider (5) and/or the insertion tube (6).

A method of manufacturing an intrauterine device (IUD) for contraception that has a desired copper elution rate is described. The method may involve selecting an elongate shape memory member comprising a first metal having a first galvanic potential, selecting at least one attachment member comprising a second metal having a second galvanic potential that is different from the first galvanic potential, attaching the attachment member(s) to the shape memory member, and shaping the shape memory member to form a frame of the intrauterine contraceptive device. The first metal and the second metal are specifically selected as materials for the shape memory member and the attachment member(s), in order to achieve the desired copper elution rate.

An intrauterine device (IUD) with a restricted movement of a string(s), the strings can be either a single string or two or more strings or a filament, emerging from the spherical bulge of IUD. The strings of IUD are of a differential strength so that the strings are soft and the hanging portion of the strings, “feelable” in the vaginal cavity, does not cause discomfort to the woman, nor bruise the organ of the partner during intercourse, at the same time the strings in the endocervical canal are relatively stiffer and not have the tendency to get curled up progressively. The strings optionally have marks to facilitate cutting by a surgeon to an accurate length.

A tray for securing an implantable device to a carrier member includes a slot configured to retain the carrier member and a receptacle adjacent the slot. The carrier member surrounds a shaft of the implantable device. The receptacle has a first width at a proximal end of the receptacle to receive first and second arms of the implantable device in an initial state in which the first and second arms extend substantially perpendicularly from the shaft. The receptacle has a second width at a distal end of the receptacle for receiving the first and second arms of the implantable device in a collapsed state in which the first and second arms are folded against the shaft such that the carrier member can be slid over the first and second arms to retain the first and second arms. The second width is less than the first width.

A method for promoting contraception by placing a contraceptive device within a uterus without blocking fallopian tubes may involve advancing a distal end of a delivery device through a cervix, advancing the contraceptive device comprising an elongate shape memory member out of the distal end of the delivery device and into the uterus, and limiting inferior migration of the contraceptive device within the uterus. Inferior migration may be limited by allowing the contraceptive device to assume a shape, when subjected to pressure that tends to cause a downward migration of the device within the uterus, in which an expandable middle portion of the device is expanded to contact the inner wall of the uterus and thus limit the downward migration of the device.