A tampon assembly having a barrel, a plunger, and a pledget is provided. The plunger is slidably received in the barrel. The pledget is in the barrel between the insertion tip and the plunger so that a force applied on the plunger can expel the pledget from the barrel. The barrel has a plurality of petals defining an insertion tip, which has a first taper ratio of more than about 0.3 to less than 1.0. The pledget has a shaped tip that is disposed in the insertion tip.

An applicator for a tampon is provided. The applicator has an inner tube and an outer tube and the inner tube is slideable within the outer tube. The applicator has a forward end, and the inner surface of the outer tube has an annular protrusion near to the rear end of the outer tube. The internal diameter of the outer tube is smaller rearward of the annular protrusion than forward of the annular protrusion.

A tampon apparatus including a tampon having distal, insertion end and a proximal end, and a tampon-withdrawal-string having a tied end and a free end. The tied end of the tampon-withdrawal-string is securely attached to the proximal end of the tampon, At least a portion of the tampon-withdrawal-string is a devised-portion, wherein the devised-portion is either elastic or pliant. While the tampon is in an inserted position, the devised-portion facilitates the user to manipulate the tampon-withdrawal-string or a portion thereof. Typically, the free end of the tampon-withdrawal-string is comfortably reachable to a user when the tampon is in an inserted position.

Generally, a vaginal insert device used to treat urinary incontinence is disclosed. The vaginal insert device includes a support portion, a stabilizing portion, a removal device, and at least one fluid passageway extending though the support portion. The substantially cylindrical support portion has a distal end and a proximal end. In addition, the support portion has a plurality of foldable areas extending from the distal end to the proximal end. Desirably, the plurality of foldable areas helically curve as the plurality of foldable areas extend from the distal end to the proximal end. The largest outer circumference of the support portion has an insertion diameter when the plurality of foldable areas are compressed and foldable inward and an in-use diameter wherein the plurality of foldable areas are extended outward into a maximum in-use diameter position. Desirably, the in-use diameter is larger than the insertion diameter.

Tampons including an elongate body and a removal string extending from a removal end of the elongate body. The tampons may include an absorbent material and a spiral flow path that directs menses across the elongate body. The spiral flow path includes at least one complete turn around the longitudinal axis of the elongate body.

A sublingual dental absorbent pad has a U-shaped body made of a moisture permeable bottom layer, a moisture impermeable top layer, an a moisture absorbent middle layer. The dental absorbent pad has a generally U-shape so that it fits in the mouth under the tongue. The dental absorbent pad has a central portion from which extend two legs which are separated from each other in a divergent manner to form a V-shaped space therebetween. The central portion has a front edge with a generally flat or shallow arcing configuration.

An anally insertable absorptive device for minimizing anal leakage includes a pad that is substantially cylindrically shaped and configured to be inserted through an anus into a rectum of a user. The pad is absorptive and is configured to absorb liquid in the rectum to prevent anal leakage. A string is coupled to and extends from a trailing end of the pad. The string is configured to be grasped in digits of a hand of the user, positioning the user to pull on the string to extract the pad from the rectum through the anus.

A surgical sponge including a sponge material configured an elongate sponge having multiple compressed layers and a flattened shape characterized by a generally flat upper surface, a generally flat lower surface, with the sponge having a thickness that is substantially less than a width of the sponge, one reduced dimension end of the elongate sponge having an end length and reducing in dimension distally along the end length; stitches along the length of the sponge to compress the sponge material and maintain the layers in compression to maintain the flattened shape of the sponge; and a length of stitch material extending from the reduced dimension end to provide a structure that is engageable for use in positioning or removal of the sponge during a surgical procedure.

The present invention relates to a device for insertion into a human or animal cavity, the device comprising an internally wearable plug comprising a pharmaceutically active composition; an externally wearable anchor element; and a sheath joining the plug to the anchor element such that a wearer's finger can be received in the sheath to assist insertion.

A doming tool for manufacturing absorbent tampon includes a plurality of stations made of devices for shaping a tampon pledget tip, and a hollow mandrel engaging with the stations. The stations are supported by at least one mounting plate.